QuickLaunch - macOS App Launcher

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A signed and notarized native macOS app launcher. A faster, more practical Launchpad alternative with pinyin search, folders, instant launch feedback, and zero external dependencies.

Why QuickLaunch?

macOS Launchpad lacks pinyin search, category-based organization, context menus, and customizable hotkeys. QuickLaunch fills these gaps while keeping the same smooth, native feel. When you launch an app, QuickLaunch disappears immediately so slow target-app startup never feels like launcher lag.

Latest Release

v1.0.6 focuses on folder drag-and-drop polish:

• Apps can now be dragged out of folders back to the main grid.
• Folder apps can be dragged directly into another folder or onto a loose app to create a new folder.
• Canceling a drag no longer removes the app from its original folder.
• The distributed DMG is Developer ID signed, notarized, and stapled.
• SHA256: 31d7d75c5663b04d51a991aaa5270a332d5adcff766e920f7b0f3253b0e02411

vs. Native Launchpad

Feature	Launchpad	QuickLaunch
Full-screen blur	✅	✅
Drag & drop / folders	✅	✅
Search	✅	✅
Jiggle delete mode	✅	✅
Auto-detect installs	✅	✅
Pinyin search	❌	✅
Auto organize by category	❌	✅
Usage-based sorting	❌	✅
Context menu	❌	✅
Status bar access	❌	✅
Custom global hotkey	❌	✅

Features

• Full-screen Launchpad - Blurred wallpaper background, just like native macOS
• App Grid - Display all installed applications with smooth animations
• Drag & Drop - Reorder apps, create folders, and move apps in or out of folders
• Folders - Organize apps into folders, rename them, dissolve them, or drag apps back out
• Search - Real-time filtering with Chinese pinyin support
• Instant Launch Feedback - QuickLaunch hides immediately after you click an app
• Auto Organize - One-click automatic organization by app category
• Global Hotkey - Press Cmd+Shift+Space to launch from anywhere
• Status Bar - Quick access from menu bar
• Auto Update - Automatically detects newly installed/removed apps
• Bilingual - Chinese and English based on system language
• Context Menu - Right-click for Show in Finder, Get Info, Move to Trash

Installation

Method 1: Direct Download (Recommended)

1. Download the latest QuickLaunch.dmg
2. Open the DMG and drag QuickLaunch.app to Applications folder
3. Double-click to launch

The release DMG is signed and notarized with Apple Developer ID.

Method 2: Homebrew Cask Recipe

The repository includes a cask recipe at Casks/quicklaunch.rb for tap or submission workflows. The public Homebrew cask may not be available in every registry yet.

Usage

Action	How
Open Launchpad	Cmd+Shift+Space or click status bar icon
Close Launchpad	Esc or click outside
Launch App	Click on app icon
Search	Start typing
Quick Launch	Type and press Enter
Create Folder	Drag one app onto another
Rename Folder	Click folder to open, then click name
Reorder Apps	Drag and drop
Delete Mode	Long press on any app
Context Menu	Right-click on app

Performance

Metric	Value
App Bundle	1.4 MB
DMG Size	476 KB
Memory	~36 MB
Idle CPU	0.0%
Dependencies	None

Pure Swift, zero external dependencies. Icons are pre-rendered at launch for instant display with no frame drops.

System Requirements

• macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
• Apple Silicon or Intel Mac

Build from Source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/vorojar/QuickLaunch.git
cd QuickLaunch

# Build and create app bundle + DMG
./scripts/build.sh

# Maintainer release packaging: build, remote-sign, notarize, staple, and validate
./scripts/release.sh

# Run
open QuickLaunch.app

Data Storage

User data is stored in ~/Library/Application Support/QuickLaunch/:

• grid_layout.json - App arrangement and folders
• usage_stats.json - App usage statistics
• hidden_apps.json - Apps removed from Launchpad

License

MIT License

Links

• Website
• Releases

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Keywords: macOS launcher, Launchpad alternative, Mac app launcher, macOS application launcher, Swift macOS app, pinyin search launcher, Launchpad replacement