SlickRun: Command Your PC
I'm a keyboard guy. Give me shortcuts. Let's see how long I can go w/out touching the mouse. To this end, for years I've wanted an app that would let me type short commands to access files, folders, programs, web pages, write email, etc. I started writing my own app (called ZipLink) when I found this incredible little free tool SlickRun . I can pop stuff up at incredible speeds now. I love it!Reputable people like Scott Hanselman use it too.
Easy & Powerful
This has got to be my new favorite PC tool. It is just way too cool and totally fits with my Simple and Effective life phylosophy. It just sits in the corner of the screen. You hit Win-Q to give it focus, type a command, and bam! It calls the commands "MagicKeys". You can add MagicKeys by just drag & drop of a folder, file, shortcut, or web site, or typing a new one. Try dragging a shortcut from your Start Menu. Easy
Put $W$ where you want parameters for the web, or $I$ application arguments. For example, I have just a tick mark, ' , as my Google search so just typing ' serial C# would seach for serial C# on Google. Yes, I use Google over Live Search. Deal
There are also smart commands like putting in any URL (as simple as "noahcoad.com") will navigate imediately to that URL. "=2+2^6/4" resolves to 18. Putting in a local file name runs/opens the file. It has autocomplete for recent commands and files on disk. So if I used "coadblog" last, just a "c" [ENTER] would run "coadblog". Powerful
My MagicKeys
Some of my ~160 MagicKeys are:
Here is my full list of commands you can import into SlickRun: Noah Coad's SlickRun MagicWords.qrs
Windows Visa Start Menu Search?
It is simular in concept to the new Vista Start Menu Search and what people have done to try customizing it, but just sooo much easier and faster. Oh yeah, SlickRun works with WinXP too.
Conclusion
So there you have it. SlickRun is at the top of my list of favorite PC tools. If you like quick access to files, folders, searchs, websites, etc, this is the tool. I can get places faster than ever and save all that time from moving and clicking the darn mouse.
Comments
Anonymous
October 26, 2006
This tool is totally sweet. I have my gmail, media player, random folder I always need to open, etc. I love the quick access. It saves at least 5 minutes of wasteful clicking a day :)!Anonymous
November 15, 2006
You might like Launchy - an open source alternative to SlickRun. I like its interface much more and while it doesn't have Magicwords, I'm still sticking with it because of that. Also, it's free and totally unobtrusive.Anonymous
April 04, 2007
As you can imagine, being able to reproduce a problem on a machine you can put your hands on is the bestAnonymous
February 19, 2008
I love SlickRun... recently, I created a magic word which directly takes me to Gmail Compose: http://blog.gadodia.net/quick-send-gmail-using-slickrun/Anonymous
June 06, 2008
Get SlickRun ( download now ) I'm a keyboard guy. Give me shortcuts. Let's see how long I can go w/out touching the mouse. To this end, for years I've wanted an app that would let me type short commands to access files, folders, programs, web pages, writAnonymous
May 16, 2012
Here are some other handy reviews: elitefreeware.blogspot.com/.../slickrun-is-small-but-powerful.html lifehacker.com/.../download-of-the-day--slickrun-keyboard-launcher www.academicproductivity.com/.../why-slickrun-is-the-best-thing-in-the-world-ever www.pseale.com/.../SlickrunProtips.aspx