Raycast, which is free for particular person customers, is my favourite Highlight alternative. That is an utility you’ll be able to launch with a easy keyboard shortcut to see a easy textual content field. Sort just a few characters to do absolutely anything. There’s loads of performance in-built—you’ll be able to launch any utility simply by starting to sort its title and hitting “Enter,” for instance, or you’ll be able to sort a URL and hit “Enter” to open it in your default browser. You may also seek for information or toggle numerous system settings.
That performance alone would make Raycast value putting in. The actually wonderful thing about Raycast, nevertheless, is the plugins. Now, Raycast is much from the primary launcher app to supply plugins, however the utility is exclusive for providing a built-in retailer that lets you add these plugins in just some keystrokes. Simply sort “Retailer,” hit “Enter,” and you may browse the gathering. Failing that, you’ll be able to browse the Raycast retailer on-line.
There are loads of actually helpful instruments right here, and which of them are greatest goes to fluctuate relying in your workflow. Listed below are essentially the most helpful kinds of plugins I’ve discovered.
Search your notes
Credit score: Justin Pot
I brew beer and principally retailer my recipes in OneNote. I am additionally an enormous Obsidian consumer—my private journal and work life each dwell there. Raycast makes it straightforward to look these and different note-taking functions. There are extensions for Apple Notes, OneNote, Obsidian, and even Bear. All of those let you search your notes proper in Raycast and preview them proper there. If you wish to open the word, no downside: Simply hit enter. It’s so nice with the ability to rapidly discover and pull up such data.
Shortly seize passwords
Credit score: Justin Pot
Trendy password managers combine nicely within the browser however it may be annoying to tug up passwords if you’re not searching. The Raycast extensions for Bitwarden, 1Password, Dashlane, and KeePassXC all make it straightforward to repeat any password in a few keystrokes. Simply open the plugin, sort the password you are in search of, and hit enter.
You’ll be able to take this even additional and rapidly seize two-factor authentication codes. There’s an extension for Authy, which notably nonetheless works despite the fact that that utility now not gives a desktop app. There’s additionally an extension that may seize 2FA codes from iMessage, which means you will not should open up your messages simply to repeat and paste a code. Each work rather well.
Management music
Credit score: Justin Pot
I often know which album I wish to take heed to subsequent. The Raycast extension for Spotify permits me to rapidly sort the title of an album and play it. It additionally works for playlists, artists, and songs. I like with the ability to rapidly begin any music with out having to fuss round within the Spotify consumer interface. There is a related extension for Apple Music, if that is your go-to participant.
Learn Wikipedia
Credit score: Justin Pot
Wikipedia is a wonderful start line for researching principally something. The Wikipedia extension for Raycast lets you seek for a web page and even learn it, all with out transferring your palms from the keyboard. You may also open the article in your default browser by hitting enter.
Eject drives
Credit score: Justin Pot
Ejecting a drive on the Mac means opening the Finder and clicking the eject button within the left-hand sidebar. It is annoyingly gradual. The extension Single Disk Eject exhibits you all presently related exterior drives and lets you disconnect by hitting Enter. It is nice.
Preserve your Mac awake
Credit score: Justin Pot
There aren’t any finish to the variety of Mac functions that do nothing however hold your Mac awake. The extension Espresso gives this with out the necessity to set up an utility. You’ll be able to set off it from Raycast or you’ll be able to allow a menu bar icon when you favor.
A lot extra
I might go on for a very long time. Here is just a few extra fast highlights:
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System monitor helps you to rapidly look over CPU, reminiscence, and disk use.
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MyIP exhibits you your present IP handle.
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Speedtest helps you to rapidly take a look at your web connection pace.
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Shell lets you run any Terminal command with out truly opening the Terminal.
That is only a begin: There are such a lot of extra instruments. I like to recommend trying out the shop to get a greater thought of what you are able to do.
