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The Raycast Clone Your Linux Desktop Deserves
"The failed uncle of the family"
Because every family has that one uncle... you know, the one who's a bit of a screw-up but still kind of lovable in his own tragic way. That's Backslash, and Raycast is the golden child. But deep down, we all have a soft spot for the underdog. Right?
Important
Backslash is currently in ALPHA and is subject to change. Be aware that any plugins you create may break in future updates. We appreciate your patience.
Welcome to Backslash – the Linux-only, open-source alternative to Raycast that you didn't know you needed. It's a powerful productivity tool that allows users to quickly search, launch applications, and execute custom commands, all from a sleek, keyboard-driven interface. With its extensible plugin system, Backslash brings the flexibility and customization that Linux users love to the world of productivity launchers.
Sure, Raycast is slick, smooth, and sophisticated. But Backslash? Backslash has character. So get comfortable and give it a shot — because Linux users deserve nice things too (even if it’s held together by shell scripts and pure spite).
Backslash has everything you need, and maybe some things you don’t, but hey, we’re here to impress:
- Search Everything: Quickly search through your apps, settings, and more. No more aimlessly clicking through directories like you're playing Minesweeper.
- Custom Commands: Make your own commands and feel like a hacker in a 90s movie. It's all just a terminal at the end of the day, right?
- Snappy and Lightweight: Just like Linux users like it. No bloat here. Raycast who?
- Integration-friendly: Plug in your favorite Linux utilities and scripts. It won’t complain, promise.
- Keyboard-centric: Mouse? We barely knew her. Navigate everything with your trusty keyboard like the Linux power user you are.
It's simple, really. Even your distro-hopping soul can handle this.
Download the latest release here.
And just like that, you’re the proud user of Backslash.
Once installed, summon the great Backslash with a simple keystroke (control + space), and start typing away! You’ll feel like the Linux wizard you were always meant to be.
Need a command? It’s right there.
Need to open an app? Done.
Need to remind yourself why you're using Linux and not macOS? Backslash will not help you there. That’s between you and your life choices.
It's time to add some plugins. Just go to our plugins repo, find some code that tickles your fancy, and copy it into a folder of your choosing. It's like grocery shopping, but for nerds.
Once you've got your digital goodies, fire up Backslash and click on that lonely button on the right (Don't worry, it's the only button there. Even a sleep-deprived developer couldn't mess this up).
Then, simply point Backslash to your new plugins folder. Voila! You've just transformed your Backslash from a blank slate into a powerhouse of productivity (or procrastination, we don't judge).
Warning
Remember, this plugins folder must contain plugins, only. We know your dog is adorable and your grandma's birthday bash was epic, but please, keep those photo folders on your personal drive. This is a strict no-pet-pics, no-family-reunion-snapshots zone.
A: Hahaha… You're funny. No, it won't. And here’s why: Linux users deserve nice things too, and we’re tired of sharing. You see, there are far too many gorgeous, well-polished apps that come out for macOS first, sometimes maybe Windows, but they never give us a second thought. Well, Backslash is here for us, and we're keeping it that way.
So if you want your pretty little .App file, feel free to check out Raycast, and leave us to our grumbling and bash scripting. No hard feelings. Kiss, kiss.
A: Ah, stability... It's like asking if your cat will puke on your keyboard (it will). Backslash is currently in ALPHA, so, you know, it's stable for a cat that's still learning to walk. But hey, Linux users are known for their love of adventure and for living life on the edge, right? So, buckle up, and join the ride! (Or, you know, just wait until it's not in alpha anymore.)
A: Of course you can! This is Linux. Customization is our birthright. You can add commands, integrate your own scripts, and more. If you break something, that's just part of the fun. Just checkout our amazing documentation.
A: Oh, we don’t hate Raycast at all! In fact, we're huge admirers of their work—that’s precisely why we made a Linux version. Deep down, we know we’re not bringing Backslash to macOS because, well, we’d feel a bit ridiculous next to the real deal.
As for Mac users... Look, we don’t hate you either. It’s just that we, Linux folks, enjoy the challenge of wrestling with open-source, and there’s a special joy in knowing half our hardware only works if we stare at it hard enough. No hard feelings!
Contributions are more than welcome! We don't have guidelines for contributing just yet, so it's going to be a bit of a wild ride at first. But don't worry, we'll figure it out together. For now, just fork the repo, make your changes, and submit a pull request. We'll work together to make Backslash the best it can be. And if you have any questions or just want to chat about Backslash, feel free to join the Backslash Discord server. We can't wait to see what you do!
Backslash is licensed under the MIT License. That means you’re free to do whatever you want with it, just like we’re free to cry over the fact that Linux still doesn’t get enough love.