Vicinae — Native Open-Source Desktop Launcher

Introduction

Vicinae is an open-source desktop launcher that combines application launching, file search, clipboard history, and extensible plugins in a single keystroke-activated interface. Built natively in C++23 with Qt, it delivers sub-50ms response times while remaining fully customizable.

What Vicinae Does

• Launch applications, open files, and run system commands from a single search bar
• Search files and folders across your filesystem with instant results
• Manage clipboard history with pinned items and search
• Execute custom workflows through a TypeScript-based plugin system
• Provide quick-access calculator, unit converter, and dictionary

Architecture Overview

Vicinae is built with C++23 for the core engine and Qt for the native UI layer. Plugins run in an embedded Node.js runtime with a React-based UI toolkit, allowing community extensions without compromising the native performance of the host application. An index service runs in the background to keep file and app search instant.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via Homebrew on macOS or download AppImage/deb for Linux
• Configure the global hotkey and appearance in the settings panel
• Install plugins from the built-in plugin store or load local plugins
• Customize search paths and indexing rules for file search
• Set up custom web search shortcuts and quick links

Key Features

• Sub-50ms launch time thanks to native C++ implementation
• Cross-platform support for macOS and Linux with consistent behavior
• Plugin ecosystem built on React and TypeScript for easy extension development
• Clipboard history with search, pinning, and rich content preview
• Fully open source under a permissive license with no telemetry

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Raycast — macOS-only and closed source; Vicinae is cross-platform and fully open
• Alfred — macOS-only with paid powerpack; Vicinae is free with all features included
• Ulauncher — Python-based Linux launcher; Vicinae offers native performance and richer plugins
• Albert — C++/Qt launcher for Linux; Vicinae adds a modern plugin system and clipboard manager
• Spotlight — built into macOS; Vicinae extends beyond search with workflows and plugins

FAQ

Q: Does Vicinae support Windows? A: Windows support is on the roadmap. Currently macOS and Linux are supported.

Q: How do I write a plugin? A: Plugins are TypeScript/React projects. The CLI scaffolds a starter template with hot-reload for development.

Q: Does it phone home or collect data? A: No. Vicinae has zero telemetry and all data stays on your machine.

Q: Can I migrate from Raycast or Alfred? A: There is no direct migration tool, but most workflows can be recreated using Vicinae's plugin API.

Sources

• https://github.com/vicinaehq/vicinae
• https://vicinae.app