The way to use Raycast and the way it compares to Highlight and Alfred

Most Mac customers discover Highlight, Apple’s built-in instrument for looking out by way of apps and information, to go well with their wants simply wonderful. However energy customers who wish to have close to complete management over their pc (in addition to entry to shortcuts and instruments) have typically regarded for different alternate options. Recently, an app known as Raycast has been gaining consideration as a type of choices, competing with one of many neighborhood’s long-standing favorites, Alfred.

After attempting out Raycast for just a few weeks, I’ve discovered it to be extraordinarily helpful. Listed here are some suggestions if you wish to strive it out for your self.

Getting began

Whenever you first open Raycast after downloading it from the corporate’s web site, it’ll stroll you thru a quick overview, which prompts you to assign it a keyboard shortcut. The default is Choice-Area, although it does supply directions on learn how to use Command-Area as an alternative, which is the default shortcut to convey up Highlight.

After you make it by way of the setup display screen, you’ll be greeted with Raycast’s important display screen: a search bar with a number of recommendations on what you are able to do. Begin typing, and people recommendations are changed by no matter functions and instructions Raycast finds in your system.

Out of the field, Raycast can do loads simply by itself. It does, after all, do the fundamentals: launches apps by way of keyboard shortcuts, offers you solutions to simple arithmetic questions, searches information (although, in contrast to Highlight, Raycast doesn’t routinely lump the information it finds in along with your functions — it’s important to inform it particularly that you simply wish to seek for a file).

Right here’s how you are able to do a few of the fundamentals in Raycast:

• To seek for an app: sort the app’s identify and press enter to launch it.
• To do primary math calculations: sort them in as you’d usually, e.g., “365/50” or “sq. root of 25.” Urgent enter copies the end result.
• To go looking the online: sort in your question, and spotlight the Search Google choice. Urgent enter will open it in your browser.
• To seek for a file: sort in File Search and press enter. Then sort within the identify of the file you’re searching for.

Whereas that’ll get you up and working with Raycast, let’s check out a few of the cool options that make it value stepping into.

Looking out, changing, and extra

For those who sort one thing like “12PM EST to PST,” “1LB to KG,” or “20 BTC to USD” into Highlight or a default set up of Alfred, it’ll immediate you to go looking Google for the reply. Raycast does the conversion for you with out having to ship you to a browser.

Dashing up search

In my expertise, Raycast is about as quick as Highlight and in addition offers you extra management. If Apple’s search instrument lists the factor you’re searching for because the second end result, it’s important to use the arrow keys or mouse to pick out it, transferring your fingers away from the house row. With Raycast, whenever you’re taking a look at your search outcomes, you possibly can maintain down the command key, and it’ll checklist numbers alongside the facet of every end result. Then simply press the quantity that corresponds with the end result you need, and it’ll open. (Alfred has a really related system.)

Taking motion

Urgent Command+Ok in Raycast unlocks a complete host of different actions you possibly can take with a search end result, every with a corresponding keyboard shortcut. For instance, if I discover the file I’m searching for, I can use Raycast’s motion menu to do issues like present it in Finder, copy it, and even present a listing of the opposite information in the identical folder. Whereas the variety of actions within the menu may be overwhelming, there’s a “seek for motion” bar within the decrease right-hand nook of the Raycast window that will help you discover the one you need. (You can completely ignore that bar if you would like — I used Raycast for a few week earlier than I remembered it even existed.)

Managing Outcomes

The complexity of the app’s commonplace search bar is tough to flee. Utilizing Raycast for the primary time may be overwhelming due to simply what number of issues it gives to do for you. Apple’s Mail app stands out as the first end result it exhibits you whenever you search “Mail,” however beneath it are recommendations: “Do you wish to seek for this utilizing Google? DuckDuckGo? Your contacts e book?” You might also get unfamiliar outcomes in case you’re coming from Highlight — along with your functions, Raycast additionally surfaces system settings like a darkish mode toggle, System Preferences panes, and different controls.

You may handle which instructions pop up underneath each search and even which of them can be found in any respect. Nevertheless, I’d recommend attempting them out for some time earlier than you do as a result of it’s these instructions and Raycast’s retailer (from which you’ll be able to set up new ones) that basically make Raycast shine. Nevertheless, in case you do wish to flip issues off, right here’s how:

• Open Raycast and kind in Extensions. The primary choice ought to learn Extensions Raycast Preferences. Choose that.
• To make it so an choice by no means exhibits up in search, uncheck the Enabled field subsequent to it.
• The choices with a > to the left imply it’s a class. Click on on that to see all the person instructions within the class. You may uncheck whole classes — like System, which incorporates instructions like Present Desktop or Empty Trash — or particular person instructions.
• You may as well make it so particular apps don’t present up by increasing the Functions group and unchecking particular apps.

To handle which choices present up underneath each search, sort Handle Fallback Instructions within the search field and hit enter. Deciding on gadgets within the Enabled part and urgent enter will make it in order that they don’t present up, and choosing gadgets within the Obtainable part and urgent enter will make them seem.

Use Raycast’s built-in instruments to handle your apps

Typing Window into Raycast offers you a complete host of instructions that allow you to handle the form and measurement of the app you’re presently utilizing. You may maximize it, set it to cowl the left half of the display screen, make it smaller, and extra. There’s additionally a built-in notes app for jotting down fast ideas right into a floating window. There’s even a command constructed into Raycast that makes a bathe of confetti seem in your display screen.

For those who delve into Raycast’s retailer (which you’ll be able to entry just by typing Retailer into the search discipline), yow will discover community-built extensions that allow you to handle music playback, translate textual content with Google Translate, or begin a Zoom assembly. Whereas most of the extensions are geared in direction of programmers — understandably, since these are the sort of people that write extensions — there are many instruments that almost all of pc customers may discover useful. One among my colleagues makes use of it to repeat two-factor authentication codes from Authy.

Including your individual instructions

You may as well add customized performance to Raycast your self with out having to develop a whole extension for it by utilizing Quicklinks and Script Instructions. Quicklinks are comparatively easy: they allow you to take what you’ve typed into Raycast and seek for it on the internet. For instance, I’ve a fast search arrange that lets me sort in “verge [insert search query here]” to get outcomes from our catalog of articles. I even have one which lets me search YouTube. Script Instructions are extra highly effective, letting you write out your individual mini applications and units of actions in a wide range of languages (resembling Bash, Apple Script, Python, and Node.js).

The method of including a Quicklink will depend upon what website you’re attempting to go looking, and there are some fascinating further issues you are able to do with parameters. I like to recommend digging into Raycast’s Quicklinks documentation for more information on learn how to add one. Script Instructions are much more advanced to arrange, as they require some familiarity with scripting (because the identify would recommend). For those who’re snug with that kind of factor, although, you possibly can learn Raycast’s documentation on making Script Instructions to get began.

Managing keyboard shortcuts

For those who actually like displaying off or shaving milliseconds off every search, you possibly can assign keyboard shortcuts to just about any command in Raycast. I’ve an extension that lets me search Apple Maps, and whereas I may sort “Maps,” press enter, then sort my question, I’ve set it so I can simply press Command+M to immediately be delivered to the Map search discipline.

One massive factor to notice with the keyboard shortcuts, that are fully customizable, is that they’re common — they’re lively even whenever you haven’t particularly activated Raycast. For some functions, that’s helpful; you may assign keyboard shortcuts to Raycast’s window administration instruments and never even need to open it to change an app to full display screen. Nevertheless, it may be annoying if you wish to keep away from having advanced keyboard shortcuts. I attempted setting my Verge search to Command+V and rapidly found that I used to be not capable of paste in any app. So watch out what mixture you choose.

To assign a keyboard shortcut to a command:

• Search Raycast for Extensions to open the Raycast preferences window.
• Discover the command or app you wish to have a shortcut to (there’s a search discipline within the high left if you wish to minimize down on the scrolling).
• Click on the Document Hotkey button subsequent to it, and press the keyboard shortcut you wish to use.

You may delete a keyboard shortcut by hovering over the hotkey discipline and clicking the X that comes up.

Extra enjoyable with Raycast

Whereas I’ve hit on plenty of Raycast’s main options, it does really feel like I discover a new factor I can do with it each different day. I lately found that it’ll warn me of upcoming calendar occasions which will have slipped my thoughts (utilizing the Command-Ok shortcut, I can dismiss this notification). I additionally came upon that it lets me flip my cursor right into a lightsaber that performs the swooshing sounds as I transfer my mouse round till I toggle the function once more by typing lightsaber.

How does Raycast examine to Alfred and Highlight?

Whereas Raycast is brimming with enjoyable options, at its core, it does the identical job as Alfred. Raycast appears and feels extra fashionable and comes out of the field completely loaded with options, all free of charge (there are plans for a paid Groups model that can allow you to share snippets and scripts). Alfred has plenty of the identical options, however provided that you purchase the Powerpack, which prices 34 British kilos (round $41 at time of writing). As well as, whereas Alfred wins in relation to the benefit with which you’ll be able to create customizable actions, which it calls Workflows, once more, these are one in every of Alfred’s paid options.

It’s additionally value noting that within the subsequent model of macOS, Highlight can even be capable to run Shortcuts and is getting a complete host of enhancements as properly. For those who’re searching for the best choice, that can virtually actually be it.

For those who’re an Alfred energy person who’s utilizing a paid-for model and you’ve got your workflows and settings completely dialed in, I genuinely don’t suppose it’s essential rush to change to Raycast except there’s some completely must-have function that you simply’ve seen. However in case you’re utilizing the free model of Alfred or wish to improve from Highlight for the primary time, Raycast actually looks like the best choice lately.

To be completely trustworthy, I had tried Raycast a few yr in the past however bounced off it largely because of its complexity. However after committing to studying it (a course of that took simply an hour or two of actually digging into it), I can’t think about going again to Alfred.