Raycast is a minimalistic tool for Mac that helps to launch applications, create automations, and perform many other tasks. The coolest feature is that you don’t have to switch context to get the info. Raycast has many built-in functions, but it also provides a store, where you can find many other small apps to help with everyday tasks.
Raycast is not the first such app; Alfred is another popular option. To be honest, I never used Alfred for long, as I thought the interface was outdated and a bit too complicated to use. Also, I didn’t appreciate the high cost of the app.
At the same time, I liked the idea of using a launcher to open files quickly or automate some daily tasks. It seems that Raycast is the ideal app for such things.
Here is what I use every day.
Camera
Whenever I have a meeting with someone, I open the camera to check if I look okay. It takes a few seconds to type Option + Space (my shortcut for Raycast) and start typing ‘Camera’. After that, I can see how I look and ensure that the person I am going to meet will not be offended by my appearance.
Time, Calculator, Currency
Raycast does a great job with simple stuff that I previously had to Google. For example, I can easily type ‘Time in Belgrade’ to check if it is okay to call my friends or if it’s better to send a message. The same works for currency and calculations.
Pick Color
I use this tool anytime I work on a new web project. It helps identify the color quickly and paste it in Hexadecimal Code format.
Emoji Search
The best tool to insert emojis.
Quicklinks
In Raycast, you can set Quicklinks. I created a few handy Quicklinks for apps I use the most:
- Ctrl + T opens Things
- Ctrl + A opens Arc browser
- Ctrl + V opens VSCode
- Shift + Cmd + / opens the ChatGPT app
- Shift + Cmd + G opens Google in Little Arc
This helps me open anything I need right away without switching context. For example, if I work on code, I can type Shift + Cmd + / to open ChatGPT, ask a few questions about the problem I am solving, and continue to work on the code without closing VSCode. Love it.
Clipboard History
I love how Raycast helps me store items in the clipboard. I can see everything that I copied and easily use it whenever I need it. To open Clipboard history, I created the shortcut Cmd + Shift + V, which is extremely handy and easy to remember.
Confetti
This is so much fun – see confetti on your screen.
These are the things I use a lot, but there are many more. For example, searching recent projects in VSCode, quick access to GitHub, checking when the next meeting is, text translations, and many more.
If you haven’t tried Raycast, you should do it.
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