Sol — From Niche App to Full‑Featured Open‑Source macOS Launcher

Sol is a free, open‑source launcher for macOS that first appeared in 2022 and has since matured into a powerful, keyboard‑focused alternative to Spotlight, Alfred, LaunchBar and Raycast. It’s designed for speed and simplicity while bundling many productivity features into one lightweight tool.

Key features

• App and file search (instant launching and switching)
• Custom shortcuts and quick links
• Clipboard manager and scratchpad for quick notes
• Window management
• Calendar integration (show upcoming events)
• Google Maps & Google Translate integration
• AppleScript support (sleep, lock, toggle Dark Mode, etc.)
• Emoji & GIF pickers

Install & download

Install via Homebrew Cask:

brew install --cask sol

Source code, releases and more info: https://github.com/ospfranco/sol

Why try Sol?

If you want a fast, scriptable, keyboard‑driven launcher without the complexity or cost of some commercial alternatives, Sol is a compelling open‑source option that keeps improving.

Note: This post links to the project’s official GitHub repository for downloads and documentation.