# Albert — Fast Keyboard Launcher for Linux Desktops

> A fast and flexible keyboard launcher for Linux that finds apps, files, and runs commands instantly. Extensible with Python plugins and customizable themes.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Albert — Fast Keyboard Launcher for Linux Desktops

## Quick Use
```bash
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install albert

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S albert

# Launch with a configured hotkey (default: Ctrl+Space)
```

## Introduction
Albert is a keyboard-driven launcher for Linux that lets you search and launch applications, find files, perform calculations, and run custom scripts from a single input box. Inspired by Alfred on macOS, it brings the same fast-launch workflow to the Linux desktop. Its Qt-based interface is snappy, and its Python plugin system makes it straightforward to extend.

## What Albert Does
- Launches applications and opens files with fuzzy search matching
- Performs inline calculations, unit conversions, and dictionary lookups
- Searches browser bookmarks, SSH hosts, and system settings
- Runs shell commands and custom scripts directly from the input box
- Supports Python and C++ plugins for extending functionality

## Architecture Overview
Albert is written in C++ with Qt 6 for the frontend. The core maintains an index of installed applications and file metadata that it queries using a fuzzy-matching algorithm. Plugins register query handlers that receive user input and return ranked results. The query pipeline runs asynchronously so the UI never blocks, even when plugins fetch external data.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install from official repos on Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, or build from source
- Configure the global trigger hotkey and input behavior in settings
- Enable or disable individual plugins from the plugin manager
- Customize the appearance with built-in themes or custom QSS stylesheets
- Set file indexing paths and exclusion patterns for the files plugin

## Key Features
- Sub-50ms response time for application and file search
- Python plugin API for rapid extension development
- Theme system with several built-in looks and custom CSS support
- Frecency-based ranking that learns from your usage patterns
- Clipboard history and snippet management via plugins

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Wox** — cross-platform Go launcher; Albert is Linux-native with deeper desktop integration
- **Ulauncher** — Python-based Linux launcher; Albert is faster due to C++ core
- **Rofi** — X11 window switcher and launcher; more minimal, less plugin support
- **dmenu** — ultra-minimal X11 menu; no fuzzy search or plugins
- **KRunner** — KDE's built-in launcher; tightly coupled to KDE Plasma

## FAQ
**Q: Does Albert work on Wayland?**
A: Yes. Albert supports both X11 and Wayland display protocols via Qt 6.

**Q: Can I write my own plugins?**
A: Yes. Python plugins are the easiest way to extend Albert. Place a plugin file in the designated directory and enable it in settings.

**Q: How does Albert compare to Alfred?**
A: Albert brings the core Alfred workflow to Linux — quick launch, search, and extensibility — though Alfred's macOS-specific features like Apple Script integration are not replicated.

**Q: Is Albert resource-heavy?**
A: No. Albert uses minimal memory and CPU when idle, activating only on the trigger hotkey.

## Sources
- https://github.com/albertlauncher/albert
- https://albertlauncher.github.io/

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-b8780916
Author: Script Depot