'Quicksilver' Launch Utility Comes Out of Beta 10 Years Later

[MacRumors]

After more than 10 years in beta, the open source launch utility Quicksilver has finally reached version 1.0.

The utility is a Spotlight-on-steroids type utility, that allows power users to open and manipulate files quickly from the keyboard.

After almost 10 years of testing, Quicksilver lays the beta tag to rest. (If the lack of an eszett brings a tear to your eye, you can always reminisce by hitting ?S on your keyboard). What does this release mean? It means more than just a change in the version numbering system - it signifies a maturity of Quicksilver and a sign of what's to come.

For more info on this historic release day, you can read an interview with the lead developers where they discuss their thoughts on Quicksilver, but now it's time to dive right in and see what Quicksilver's getting on its release birthday.

Quicksilver is a free download, but the developers welcome donations from users who find it useful.

Article Link: 'Quicksilver' Launch Utility Comes Out of Beta 10 Years Later

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

A ten year beta!...but free.

 

[Goftrey]

...Still better than Launchpad.

 

[quaternio]

Always my first download on a new Mac.

 

[bobringer]

And the folks at Alfred were scared...

Said nobody... ever.

 

[Drinahn]

Wow! Quicksilver exists!? It's like it's 2005 all over again!

 

[Feed Me]

I actually forgot this program existed, I'm going to download it and then watch cartoons from my childhood to get the full nostalgia kick.

 

[50548]

I also thought it was buried with 10.2 or so...welcome back!

 

[kirky29]

Since using Alfred, I've never even given Quicksilver a second thought!

 

[Brian Y]

Alfred all the way for me.

 

[allbrokeup]

I have been a long time user of Quicksilver. Since I bought my first iMac running 10.4.4 in 2005. I'm a little bit sad at seeing something I've used for so long come out of Beta.

They're right actually. The lack of an esszet will be a big change. And I think I might even rename the app to have it for nostalgic reasons when I download the new version today on my MacBook.

It still never fails to baffle me why Apple never thought of this for Mac OS X itself. It would've been a KILLER feature to advertise.

 

[jshbckr]

Aaaaaaand everyone is using Alfred now.

 

[Baklava]

About time !!!

 

[CTYankee]

Another Alfred user who is more than happy. Just the other day someone used my computer and said, "what is this utility"? He had used QS and in a few users wanted to switch to Alfred.

 

[macaddict06]

The utility is a Spotlight-on-steroids type utility

Isn't the idea behind Quicksilver what Spotlight was based on? So, really, "Spotlight is a Quicksilver on Valium" moniker may be more fitting.

 

[huythanhv2]

Althought QuickSilver is the first, maybe it's a bit late now.

Alfred user.

 

[slu]

I tried quicksilver several years back, but couldn't get much value out of it. I even watched a long YouTube video demo given by the guy that developed it (back then).

But either way, good for them for coming out of beta.

 

[designgeek]

I pretty much can't use my computers without Quick Silver. On the rare occasions it would crash many many builds ago it was like I suddenly didn't have thumbs or something, like the OS was completely opaque and I couldn't accomplish anything. I'm glad to see it keep going, long live open source!

 

[LoveQuicksilver]

Not Spotlight

Isn't the idea behind Quicksilver what Spotlight was based on? So, really, "Spotlight is a Quicksilver on Valium" moniker may be more fitting.

Quicksilver is not Spotlight (although it can mimic some of its functionality).

It's more like a replacement Finder and OS X rolled into one. Browse folders, move multiple files, use iTunes, do image processing, run scripts, append text to documents, search contacts and email them, get passwords, find the latest download, search websites, use Services, save snippets (including text, images and file locations) to a shelf, take screenshots, do a whole lot more, and… launch apps.

OS X lets you do all this. The point is, Quicksilver does it for you.

(And its fuzzy matching algorithm beats Spotlight hands down.)

@LoveQuicksilver

 

[pianophile]

LaunchBar

LaunchBar rules.

 

[sniffies]

Been using Alfred for almost 8 years now.

 

[mainstreetmark]

Been using Alfred for almost 8 years now.

A full five years before alfredapp.com was registered?

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

That's great! I didn't actually know it was still in development...

Quicksilver was an amazing app and its structure was pretty interesting. Basically Quicksilver was a syntax and plugins, files, text, etc were the nouns and verbs. It was basically an OS replacement.
These days Alfred and really taken over the market, but the uses and philosophy behind the app are a little different. From the get-go Alfred was just a launcher and basically useless when Quicksilver was a launcher and so much more.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

A ten year beta!...but free.

LOL


That's all I can say

 

[lseven]

It still never fails to baffle me why Apple never thought of this for Mac OS X itself. It would've been a KILLER feature to advertise.

I think it would be a horrible feature to advertise. Not advertising all these super geeky features is why Apple has beaten Microsoft in UX design.