What are some alternative launchers that can be used to launch programs in Ubuntu's default Unity desktop?
10 Answers
One that I use and like is Albert.
It's very similar to OS X's Spotlight Search, especially in how it looks, but I've found it to be invaluable if you're a keyboard-heavy power user.
You have to install it via a PPA (not in the official repos yet):
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:flexiondotorg/albert
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install albert
On the first launch you will have to set the hotkey to launch Albert, but that's fairly easy:
I've set it to Ctrl-Space
.
Docky is a great app, you can install it with:
sudo apt-get install docky
GNOME Pie is another great one that can be installed with:
sudo apt-get install gnome-pie
(Launch with CTRL + ALT + A - this hot key is customizable.)
Cairo-Dock is also good, and can be installed with:
sudo apt-get install cairo-dock
Plank is another good one that can be installed with:
sudo apt-get install plank
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I may update this answer with more.– user364819Nov 7, 2015 at 12:45
Here are some more ways to launch and organize applications:
GnomeDO
sudo apt-get install gnome-do gnome-do-plugins
Duck Launcher
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:the-duck/launcher
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install duck-launcher
Launcher Folders:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:asukhovatkin/unity-launcher-folders
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unity-launcher-folders
Slingscold Launcher
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/apps
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install slingscold
You also have dockbarx. You can install it with:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dockbar-main/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install dockbarx
More info here.
My personal favorite is the Classic Menu Indicator
In addition to other answers, me and @JacobVlijm have tried to script launchers as an answer to Launch app only if not already open question
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2Now I know why you're not in the chat room: in the mean time, your battery ran out! :D– FabbyNov 7, 2015 at 20:12
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@Fabby actually this screenshot is not from my desktop, but my battery is really running out , so had to be quick. Also I'm not in the chat because i am running around, covering people Nov 7, 2015 at 20:47
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Gnome-Do works with the keyboard as Unity. Press Super + Space and then you type the name of the program you want to run. Don't know about the project status and haven't used it since 2009. Hope this can help.
Consider Synapse:
Just start typing the program, file or directory you're looking for.
Installation:
sudo apt install synapse
Cairo Dock has launchers too.
To install it click below
I use Compiz with Cairo dock so I use it in fall back mode. It adds a session for cairo only environment if you don't want to use Unity
My recent favorite: the very very lightweight dmenu
Installation:
sudo apt install dmenu
Improve that tool with dmenu-extended
to be able to find files and directories from dmenu, too. Very useful.
sudo apt install suckless-tools xfonts-terminus
git clone [email protected]:MarkHedleyJones/dmenu-extended.git
cd dmenu-extended
sudo python setup.py install
Docky
, however they will not properly integrate with Unity and you won't be able to get rid of the default Unity Launcher.