# Hobbling my app launcher

> When 'efficiency' becomes distraction, is it time to become less efficient?

I've been using an app launcher/switcher since at least 2011 – the date my [Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com) v1 licence was created in 1Password – and for unknown years before that, when [Quicksilver](https://qsapp.com) was the new thing.

App launchers do just that: they help you launch apps. Why grab the mouse and shuffle on over to the Dock when your fingers are already on the keyboard? We've had this capability for decades: Windows 3.0's **File Manager** had a **File → Run…** menu, with Windows 95 adding the keyboard shortcut `Win-R`. From there, type a thing and it'll launch.[^win95] Alfred, Raycast and their ilk just do this faster and better.

[^win95]: In the early versions it wasn't quite this simple. Typing `excel` won't launch Excel, for example. You need to know the full name of the executable, `excel.exe`. In modern versions of Windows you should be using the newer search features to do this, although `Win-R` still brings up trusty **Run**.

## Speed ≠ efficiency

Lately, I've noticed these tools getting in the way. I have Raycast bound to `Cmd-Space` and testing shows that I can switch from whatever I'm doing to _anything else_ in 150ms: essentially instantly.[^testing]

[^testing]: I recorded my screen as I invoked Raycast, typed `s`, and hit `return`. This switches me to Safari. Raycast is only on screen for 7 frames of the 50 frames/sec recording.

This sounds like a benefit. But when I _can_ switch to anything, instantly, that's what I find myself doing, and way too often. It's like all friction has been removed, and what remains isn't good. What remains is a slippery mess.

The other behaviour I've noticed is an almost manic switching between two apps. Safari, code, Safari, code. Flick-flick-flick between the two. My fingers are so used to these keyboard sequences I feel like I do them subconsciously! I end up in an app and wonder, _what am I doing here?_ (I was previously using the builtin `Cmd-Tab` switcher for this, but I broke _that_ habit by turning off the keyboard shortcut.)[^supercharge]

[^supercharge]: Using the wonderful [Supercharge](https://sindresorhus.com/supercharge) by Sindre Sorhus. The setting **Tweaks → Disable Command+Tab app switcher** exists because I asked him to add it. :-)

## Reintroducing friction

Fortunately, Raycast makes it easy to disable certain apps. Because I don't want to quit Raycast entirely: it's far too useful. I use it as an emoji 👋🏼 and Unicode symbol ▷ ■ ◁ picker. At the former it's way better than macOS' builtin feature, and at the latter it fills a gap that the OS simply doesn't provide.[^emoji-unicode] It's also my clipboard manager, my snippet expander, and the list goes on.[^clipboard]

[^emoji-unicode]:
    For emoji, assign a keyboard shortcut to the Raycast builtin feature **Search Emoji & Symbols**. I use `Ctrl-Opt-I`.

    For Unicode, install the extension [Unicode Symbols Search](https://www.raycast.com/mmazzarolo/unicode-symbols). I bind that to `Ctrl-Opt-U`.

[^clipboard]: Bind the builtin **Clipboard History** to `Ctrl-Opt-C`.

But you can turn off its ability to launch an app by just unchecking the **Enabled** box in **Preferences → Extensions** for that app. So that's what I've done for Safari and Discord, to start. As I notice other apps that are distraction magnets, I'll disable those.

Instead, it's back to the trackpad. _Swipe-swipe-swipe_ to the Dock I'll go, and I'll click the icon and it'll take about a second and that already feels like an eternity. And my brain is enjoying that.