Alternatives / Competition

[GSz]

FARR has been my companion for years now.
Along with Screenshot Captor they are the essential DonationCoder software I MUST have on any machine I call 'home'.

But, I'm a software geek, and I always check out alternatives (alternativeto.net has been a dream come true when it started out).

Today I've learned about 2 projects, which I feel this is the only place I would rather discuss them. However they are 'competition', so if anyone feels it's inappropriate, I'll happily remove this post.

The software:
1. An open-source project named Wox
2. A freeware named Keypirinha

First (and very early) impression:
One thing I found in Wox (still checking out Keypirinha) is an automated package manager.

I'm unclear yet about the amount of actively developed plugins, but Everything integration seems to be shipped with the basic build (which FARR supports with an excellent plugin of it's own).

Have anyone here had experience with any of those?
Any insights about those projects, what are the main differences to FARR?

Any other alternatives?

[tomos]

Any other alternatives?

-GSz (May 03, 2016, 10:16 AM)

go to FARR help -- down at the bottom of the TOC is 'Related Programs'

Spoiler

Related Programs Top  Previous  Next 
Related Applications:

 

 

· Tray Command Line - http://traycl.chat.ru/ - shareware, $10

Very nice, *tiny* application - the inspiration for this program;  does not search for files, but allows you to manually create aliases to launch from they keyboard.

 

· Key Launch - http://software.xfx....lities/kl/index.html - shareware, $12

Similar to this program, incrementally searches through the start menu. Felt a bit clunky to me, and short on configuration options.

 

· Key Launch - http://www.konradp.c.../products/keylaunch/ (freeware)

 

· RunIt! - site unknown

Very good program - has similar search functionality as Find and Run Robot and additional features for terminating apps, etc.  Runs as a toolbar.

 

· ShellSearch - http://www.harmonyhollow.net/ss.shtml - freeware

Very similar in spirit to Find and Run robot, but not quite as fast to use.  Free though, and lots of nice other apps by this developer too.

 

· WinConsole - http://galan.dogmala...&item=winconsole - shareware $10

Similar to Tray Command Line, with support for hotkeys and lots of options.

 

· Meta Launcher - http://www.codesecto....com/commandline.asp - shareware $15

Nice looking app which also comes with a startmenu replacer and app launch bar type feature

 

· OpenExpert - http://www.baxbex.com/openexpert.html -  freeware

Adds context menu to open files with a menu of applications.

 

· LaunchItNow - http://www.gemiscorp...ish/launchitnow.html - freeware

Launch bar type app.

 

· Stargate Link Boss - http://www.lincolnbeach.com/stargate.asp - shareware $20

Launch panel app.

 

· Shell Search - http://www.harmonyhollow.net/ss.shtml - freeware

Similar to find and run robot.

 

· MCL - http://mlin.net/MCL.shtml - freeware

Similar to Tray Command Line but with some nice addons.

 

· CMDBar - http://www.pitrinec.com/pcb_index.htm - shareware

Persistent bar on screen that lets you type commands and has other functions.

 

· Smart Launch - http://www.pxcompany...om/en/sl/index.shtml - shareware $18

 

· 1st TurboRun - http://www.turborun.com - shareware $25

 

· CrossLaunch - http://methodik.pixe...army.org/readme.html - freeware

 

· JetStart - http://www.codesector.com/jetstart.asp - shareware $19.95

 

· ESP - http://www.espsw.com/index.php - shareware $10 - very close in functionality and approach.

 

· SlickRun - http://www.bayden.com/SlickRun/ - freeware

 

· Run! - http://crimsonfan.altervista.org/ - freeware

 

· AppRocket - http://www.candylabs.com/approcket/ - shareware (.net)  $18

 

· QuickFind - http://mitglied.lycos.de/quickfind/ - freeware

 

· Rock-It-Launcher - http://www.brunswim.com/RIL/

 

· Ava Find - http://www.think-les...do-more.com/avafind/

 

· Luanch-n-go - http://www.tethyssol....com/launch-n-go.htm - shareware

 

· FileTracer - http://www.filetracer.com/ - shareware

 

· Task Tracker - http://tasktracker.w...tions.com/index.html - shareware

 

· Instant Document Search - http://www.sowsoft.c.../document-search.htm - shareware

 

· Getchoo - http://alilm.needlem...com/drupal/?q=node/2 - donationware

 

· CuteType - http://www.tooto.com/cutetype/ - shareware

 

· RunFast - http://www.idiogenso...om/runfast/index.htm - freeware

 

· ZenKey - http://www.camiweb.com/zenkey/index.htm - freeware

 

· KbStart - http://www.kbstart.com/ - shareware

 

· Mayk - http://www.beotel.net/~darkdst/ - freeware

 

· Locate - http://locate32.webhop.org/ - Freeware

 

· FastFind - http://www.guyswitht...v/apps/fastfind.html - Freeware

 

· 99 Useful Run Commands - http://www.fixmyxp.c.../content/view/20/42/

 

· Type and Run - http://galanc.com/in...l?page=5&lang=en - Freeware

 

· Filehand - http://www.filehand.com/

 

· Trip - http://trip.glenmurphy.com - freeware

 

· Launchy - http://www.launchy.net/ - freeware open source

 

· VistaGlance - http://www.vistaglan.../vg_screenshots.html

 

· Triniaut - http://trininaut.sourceforge.net/

 

· Faster Than Ever - http://www.yazalim.c...oducts/fte/index.htm - freeware

 

· yubnub - http://www.yubnub.org/ - free web service

 

· Semex - http://smx.wickedorange.com/?page_id=3

 

· Direct Access - http://www.nagarsoft.com - shareware

 

· FindOnClick - http://www.2brightsp...s.com/foc/index.html

 

· StartEase - http://www.pcmag.com...,1895,2064854,00.asp - shareware

 

· SmartStartMenu - http://www.planethar...ucts/smartstartmenu/

 

· Guillotine - http://www.zchromosome.com/ - freeware

 

· SmartStartMenu - http://www.planethar...ucts/smartstartmenu/ - freeware

 

· SpeedStart - http://www.speedstart.net/ - freeware

 

· Enzo - http://www.humanized...ducts/enso/launcher/ - shareware

 

· QT and MGES - http://members.at.in...reeware/indexEn.html - freeware

 

· AcceleRun - http://www.svarsoft.com/ - shareware

 

· KeyBreeze - http://www.keybreeze.com/

 

· Path - http://www.xtort.net...xtort-software/path/ - freeware

 

· Executor - http://www.executor.dk/ - freeware

 

· Trininaut - http://trininaut.sourceforge.net/ - open source free

 

· Pretty Run - http://delphistep.cis.si/prettyrun.htm - freeware

 

· Skylight - http://www.candylabs.com/skylight/ (from makers of approcket) - free for now?

 

· Dash - http://trydash.com/home/ - shareware+freeware

 

· Google Desktop Extreme - http://www.podsync.com/gdx.htm - freeware

 

· Faster Than Ever (FTE) - http://www.yazalim.c...oducts/fte/index.htm - freeware

 

· DOMercury - http://www.odierno.c...mercury/Default.aspx - freeware

 

· QiiNinja - http://www.qiininja.com/

 

· Giraffe - http://www.ric.hi-ho...raffe/index_en.shtml - open source free

 

· Keyboard Extensions - http://www.saleensof...boardExtensions.aspx

 

· Speed Launch - http://www.officelab...h/Pages/default.aspx

 

· Serk - http://kailashrocks.googlepages.com/

 

· Google Gadget "Run" - http://desktop.googl...ins/i/run.html?hl=en

 

· Fingertips - http://www.getfingertips.com/

 

· Google Search Box - http://www.google.co...swer.py?answer=81305

 

· TheSearchMan - http://venussoftcorp...08/thesearchman.html

 

· Snow Bird - http://lmadhavan.com/software/snowbird/

 

· Blaze - http://blaze-wins.so...eforge.net/index.php

 

· Start++ - http://brandontools....t/StartPlusPlus.aspx

 

· Launch-n-go - http://www.tethyssol....com/launch-n-go.htm

 

· JumpTo - http://sites.google....oftworks/home/jumpto

 

· UltraSearch - http://www.jam-software.com/ultrasearch/

 

· Promptu - http://www.promptulauncher.com/

 

· neoSearch - http://www.koshyjohn.../software/neosearch/

 

· Fingertips - http://www.getfingertips.com/

 

· TypeAndRun - http://www.totalcmd....ring/TypeAndRun.html

 

· CraftLaunch - http://sites.google....site/craftware/clnch

 

· DocFetcher - http://sourceforge.n...projects/docfetcher/

(I didnt check if your two are in there)

[Jibz]

I must admit I have been using the Win10 start menu alongside FARR recently. It is okay for launching some programs.

[Tuxman]

Any other alternatives?

-GSz (May 03, 2016, 10:16 AM)

Listary features a quick-start pop-up in its recent versions.

[skajfes]

I like the integrated plugin manager in wox, being completely keyboard driven, even though it is a bit needy with all the confirmation dialogs (do you want to install plugin xxx? will now download plugin xxx? will now install plugin? will now restart wox?)

However, I found that a number of plugins that looked interesting to me just didn't work. And I couldn't get it to target a search to a specified folder (ie. just search my folder with code for solution files or something like that).

I also like the fact that it is open source and written in c#, to which I could actually contribute something.

But I also think that FARR is a much stronger beast than wox, with powerfull aliases and plugins, and a simple but really flexible search model (with custom scoring, targeted folders etc).

[wraith808]

I like the integrated plugin manager in wox, being completely keyboard driven, even though it is a bit needy with all the confirmation dialogs (do you want to install plugin xxx? will now download plugin xxx? will now install plugin? will now restart wox?)

However, I found that a number of plugins that looked interesting to me just didn't work. And I couldn't get it to target a search to a specified folder (ie. just search my folder with code for solution files or something like that).

I also like the fact that it is open source and written in c#, to which I could actually contribute something.

But I also think that FARR is a much stronger beast than wox, with powerfull aliases and plugins, and a simple but really flexible search model (with custom scoring, targeted folders etc).

-skajfes (May 05, 2016, 02:02 AM)

You can contribute to FARR, also.  You can write plugins in C#, which contribute to it as a whole.  If there are capabilities needed in the plugin that the interface does not provide, I think that mouser would be more than willing to comply, unless there are reasons that it is not feasible.

[GSz]

The responses here are great! This is why I love this community.

I agree with the insights here.
The only thing working for WOX is the integrated plugin distribution system.

Things I like, but are a matter of taste: it's 'cleaner', and seems to be very quick.

As for the other one, Keypirinha, it's just 'nice'.

Neither of them provides a way to copy the path to the clipboard, and FARRs weighted search model is 2nd to none.

Once again, FARR leads the way, and becomes the golden standard of launchers (at least for me).

As for some of the other suggestions:
- Windows 10 - a nice idea, but very flawed, it's only 'merit' is that 'it is already there' (a bit like M$ browsers).
- I'll check out the others.

Again, thanks to this community which started with Mouser, the tools provided here are the best, and they keep improving.