Quicksilver (Software)

Quicksilver is a free software for Mac OS X that allows users to quickly navigate through heterogeneous data to launch applications and scripts and open files. The basic idea of Quicksilver is as simple as it is impressive: The files on the hard drive to be indexed at regular intervals in the background. When you open the program can be found via a keyboard input a desired file within the indexed area, then choose an action and for some actions eventually add another parameter. The action is performed with the appropriate parameters from the system ( or one of the corresponding action program). The composition an action in Quicksilver in the form of the triple can be thought of subject, predicate, object. The functionality of Quicksilver can be expanded in the form of plugins.

Beginning of December 2007 declared the Quicksilver developer, no longer wanting to work on Quicksilver and recommended switching to alternatives, especially LaunchBar. Since early November 2007 Quicksilver is available as free open source software in the source code under the terms of version 2.0 of the Apache License, so that the possibility for other developers is that software to maintain on.

Interface and functionality

Quicksilver primarily runs in the background and indexed regularly the files on the hard disk. The management unit within Quicksilver is called " Catalog". Under settings you can adjust the granularity of indexing. The interface is started using a keyboard shortcut ( by default, C - Space). The user interface can appear a panel; while you type a word on the keyboard, Quicksilver displays a list with the hit objects. Once you have found the desired object, you change Tab to the next field and select an action. An action can for example be running a program or open a file. Some actions to process a third parameter (see also Example applications). Quicksilver will internally to the already performed search and uses this information to shorten the search path.

Sample Applications

In addition to the starting of programs and finding files Quicksilver can use for more versatile purposes. The following examples are illustrative of the basic functionality.

Integration

Quicksilver also integrated by means of freely available plugins interfaces to different programs: