oliverschwendener/ueli

★ 4,514TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 1/5Setup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((ueli))
    What it does
      Keystroke launcher
      Cross-platform search
      Quick actions
    Extensions
      File and app search
      Calculator
      Web search
      VS Code workspaces
    Tech stack
      TypeScript
      Electron
      React
    Audience
      All desktop users
      Developers

mindmap root((ueli)) What it does Keystroke launcher Cross-platform search Quick actions Extensions File and app search Calculator Web search VS Code workspaces Tech stack TypeScript Electron React Audience All desktop users Developers

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Launch apps, open files, and run terminal commands instantly with Alt+Space without touching the mouse.

USE CASE 2

Do quick math, currency conversions, and color format conversions directly from the launcher prompt.

USE CASE 3

Search browser bookmarks and open system settings pages without switching windows.

USE CASE 4

Translate text, generate passwords, and create UUIDs on demand from a single keyboard shortcut.

Tech stack

TypeScriptElectronReactFluent UI

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

macOS binaries are unsigned, macOS blocks the app on first launch and you must manually allow it in System Settings.

In plain English

Ueli is a keystroke launcher for Windows, macOS, and Linux. A keystroke launcher is a small app that pops up with a keyboard shortcut, lets you type to search for something, and launches it instantly. The idea is to reach apps, files, and tools faster than clicking through menus or the desktop. Ueli is similar in concept to Spotlight on macOS or PowerToys Run on Windows, but works across all three platforms. The default shortcut to open Ueli is Alt+Space. You type what you are looking for, navigate the results with arrow keys, and press Enter to open it. A secondary actions menu (Ctrl+K or Cmd+K) gives additional options for whatever result is selected, and frequently used items can be pinned as favorites so they appear at the top of results every time. Ueli is built around extensions, and almost all of its functionality comes from them. Extensions can be toggled on or off in settings. The built-in set covers a wide range of common tasks: searching for files, launching apps, doing math in a calculator, converting currencies, converting colors between formats, generating passwords and UUIDs, translating text with DeepL, searching the web, opening browser bookmarks, running terminal commands, and opening system settings. There are also extensions for specific tools like VS Code and JetBrains Toolbox. On Windows, the app is available through the Microsoft Store or via winget. On macOS and Linux, you download the binary from the GitHub releases page. The README notes that the macOS binaries are not signed or notarized, so macOS will block the app on first launch and you have to allow it manually in system settings. The project is built with Electron, React, TypeScript, and Fluent UI. On Linux under Wayland sessions, global hotkeys may not work due to Wayland limitations, the README suggests binding a custom system shortcut as a workaround.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

How do I configure Ueli to add a custom web search that opens results on a specific site like GitHub or Jira?

Prompt 2

How do I set up Ueli on Linux under a Wayland session where global hotkeys don't work by default?

Prompt 3

How do I pin a frequently used file or command to the top of Ueli's results as a favorite?

Prompt 4

Show me how to enable only specific extensions in Ueli, like the VS Code workspace extension and file search, and disable the rest.

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