Raycast (software)
| Raycast | |
|---|---|
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing App icon | |
| Developer | Raycast Technologies Ltd |
| Initial release | 2020 |
| Stable release | v1.100
/ 11 June 2025[1] |
| Repository |
|
| Engine | |
| Operating system | macOS, Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Type | Application launcher (utility software) |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | raycast |
Raycast is an application launcher and productivity software developed for macOS and Windows by Raycast Technologies Ltd. It offers fast access to applications, dictionaries, files, text snippets, clipboard, and more.[2] Raycast is an alternative to the macOS's built-in Spotlight function, with a richer interface and the option to install extensions, providing additional ways to display varied content.[3]
As of 20th November 2025, Raycast entered the Public Beta phase for the Windows port.[4][5]
Features
[edit | edit source]Interface
[edit | edit source]Activated with a keyboard shortcut (⌥ Option+Space by default but can be changed), Raycast displays a window at the center of the screen, awaiting the user's input and displaying a list of suggested apps.[6]
Raycast uses incremental search as the user types to predict the action the user intends to perform and display the corresponding result.[7] The application outputs the data in different formats such as lists and grids with a single or two-pane layout, supporting various data types like text with Markdown, media, and additional input fields. Each result might have more than one action available.[8]
Built-in functions
[edit | edit source]Raycast comes with many built-in features that can have a shortcut or an alias assigned, most notably:
- Application search
- File search
- Clipboard history[9]
- Floating notes
- Calculator
- Changing volume, brightness, hibernating
- Word definitions
- Window management
- Snippets and text expansion[10]
- Access to calendar events
- Quick access to ChatGPT (paid feature)[11]
Extensibility
[edit | edit source]While Raycast itself is a closed-source application, it includes a built-in store that offers open-source extensions to extend its functionality.[12] The API is open for developers and simple scripts could be written without extensive programming knowledge.
Some noteworthy extensions include managing GitHub repositories, controlling Spotify,[13] language translation through Google Translate, accessing browser bookmarks, connecting to Jira, and more.[14][15]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
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