Vicinae: Open‑Source C++ Desktop Launcher with Millisecond Response and Raycast Plugin Compatibility

What it is

Vicinae (pronounced vee‑CHEE‑nay ) is a cross‑platform desktop command panel for macOS and Windows. A shortcut opens an input box that can search applications, switch windows, perform quick calculations, pick colors, and access clipboard history without leaving the panel.

Built‑in capabilities

Application search : type a few letters to locate and launch an app, similar to macOS Spotlight.

Clipboard history : records copied text and images, searchable for instant pasting.

File search : full‑disk indexing that is noticeably faster than the system default.

Browser tab switching : with a browser extension, search and jump to any open tab.

Window switcher : search window titles directly instead of cycling with Alt+Tab.

Text expansion : define shortcuts (e.g., typing em@ expands to a full email address).

Emoji selector : search keywords like “joy” or “heart” to insert emojis.

Calculator : enter an expression such as 42*2.5 to get an immediate result.

Font browser : preview every font installed on the system.

Volume control : adjust system volume and switch output devices.

Extension mechanisms

React/TypeScript extensions

Extensions written in React + TypeScript are fully compatible with Raycast plugins. Users can install plugins from the Vicinae store or directly from the Raycast marketplace, allowing thousands of existing Raycast plugins (GitHub management, Jira queries, AWS controls, translation, weather, etc.) to run unchanged inside Vicinae.

Script command

Shell, Python, or Node.js scripts can be registered as commands. Example Bash script that fetches the weather and copies the result:

#!/bin/bash
# Fetch weather
curl -s "wttr.in/Beijing?format=%C+%t" | pbcopy
echo "Weather information copied"

After registration, typing “weather” in Vicinae runs the script and copies the output.

dmenu mode

For Linux users, Vicinae can read lines from standard input, let the user search and select an entry, then write the chosen line to standard output, making it suitable for shell pipelines.

Installation

# macOS – Homebrew
brew install --cask vicinae
# Or download the dmg directly
curl -LO https://vicinae.com/download/Vicinae.dmg

Windows users download the installer from the official website. After installation, press Ctrl+Space (customizable) to open the input box.

Performance

Because Vicinae is written in C++, the developers state that the main window appears in under 1 ms and the search index updates in real time without blocking the UI. Personal testing confirms a lightweight experience with instant results, unlike occasional stutters reported for Raycast.

Feature comparison

Platform : Vicinae – macOS + Windows; Raycast – macOS only; Alfred – macOS only; uTools – all platforms.

Open source : Vicinae – MIT licensed; Raycast, Alfred, uTools – closed source.

C++ native : Only Vicinae is built in C++.

Raycast plugin compatibility : Vicinae supports it; Raycast itself does not need compatibility; Alfred and uTools do not.

Clipboard history : Vicinae and Raycast provide it for free; Alfred offers it in a paid tier; uTools also provides it.

GitHub: https://github.com/vicinaehq/vicinae Stars: 7.8K+ Language: C++ License: MIT