SwiftKey: The Hackable macOS Launcher

SwiftKey: Your Keyboard, Supercharged

Spotlight is fast, but it’s not yours. SwiftKey https://github.com/amebalabs/SwiftKey is a hackable launcher that puts you in complete control. From the same developers behind SwiftBar, this tool transforms how you interact with your Mac by giving you instant, keyboard-driven access to everything, apps, URLs, shell commands, Apple Shortcuts, and more, all through a beautifully minimal overlay.

Configure it once with simple YAML, then launch your entire digital life without ever touching the mouse.

Key Features

🎯 Multiple Overlay Styles

SwiftKey adapts to your workflow with four distinct display modes:

Panel Mode: Horizontal or vertical layouts for full menu visibility
HUD Mode: Compact, heads-up display for minimal distraction
Menu Bar Mode: Stays quietly in the menu bar until summoned
Corner Toast: Unobtrusive notifications that don’t interrupt your flow

⌨️ Fully Keyboard-Driven

Everything is accessible via keyboard:

Single-key shortcuts: Press C for Calculator, N for Notes
Global hotkeys: Trigger actions from anywhere with custom combos like Cmd+Ctrl+C
Nested navigation: Arrow through submenus or use assigned keys
Batch execution: Hold ⌥ (Option) to run all items in a submenu at once

🔧 YAML-Based Configuration

No complicated UI to learn, just pure, simple YAML:

- key: "c"
  icon: "calculator"
  title: "Calculator"
  action: "launch:///System/Applications/Calculator.app"

- key: "d"
  icon: "hammer.fill"
  title: "Dev Tools"
  submenu:
    - key: "v"
      title: "VS Code"
      action: "launch:///Applications/Visual Studio Code.app"
    - key: "t"
      title: "Terminal"
      action: "launch:///System/Applications/Terminal.app"

🚀 Powerful Action Types

Execute virtually anything with a keystroke:

Launch: Open any application
Open: Visit URLs in your default browser
Shell: Run command-line scripts and tools
Shortcuts: Execute Apple Shortcuts workflows
Dynamic: Generate menu content on-the-fly from scripts

🎨 Native macOS Integration

SF Symbols: Beautiful, native icons that match your system
Notifications: Get confirmation when actions complete
Sticky Mode: Keep the overlay open for repetitive tasks
Deep Linking: Navigate directly to specific menus via URL schemes

Platforms

🍎 macOS

Get Started

Option 1: Homebrew (Recommended)

brew tap melonamin/formulae
brew install swiftkey

Option 2: Download from GitHub

Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page
Move SwiftKey.app to your Applications folder
Launch and follow the onboarding

Configuration Examples

Quick App Launcher:

- key: "s"
  icon: "safari"
  title: "Safari"
  action: "launch:///Applications/Safari.app"
  hotkey: "cmd+shift+s"

System Commands:

- key: "m"
  icon: "moon.fill"
  title: "Dark Mode Toggle"
  action: "shell://osascript -e 'tell application System Events to tell appearance preferences to set dark mode to not dark mode'"
  notify: true

Developer Workflow:

- key: "g"
  icon: "terminal"
  title: "Git Commands"
  submenu:
    - key: "s"
      title: "Status"
      action: "shell://cd ~/projects && git status"
      notify: true
    - key: "p"
      title: "Pull"
      action: "shell://cd ~/projects && git pull"
      notify: true

🔗 Website: github.com/amebalabs/swiftkey

🔗 GitHub: github.com/amebalabs/swiftkey

Why This Tool Rocks

Blazing Fast: Launch anything in milliseconds without leaving the keyboard
Infinitely Customizable: If you can script it, you can launch it, apps, workflows, system commands, anything
Clean & Native: Built with Swift, feels like a natural extension of macOS
Batch Power: Execute entire workflows with one keystroke using batch mode
Free & Open Source: No subscriptions, no tracking, fully auditable code
From the Makers of SwiftBar: Trusted, actively maintained, and built by developers who understand macOS

Crepi il lupo! 🐺