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uLauncher

github.com

58 pointsdtj112329 comments

Back when I was on Android, there used to be a launcher by Nokia called Z Launcher. The idea was simple: the home screen could only show the six apps. However, you could draw a letter on the home screen with your finger, and it would be recognised and used as a beginning of the search query for app names. Of course, you would only get six search results, but you could always draw the next character to get better results.

And there was some basic ML to learn which app was more likely to be used at which time, location, etc. so that the right app could be shown at the right time without having to scribble anything. It was the most efficient way to launch apps I have ever used.

According to Wikipedia [1], it got removed in 2018 which is right before I switched to iOS. I do remember trying to replace it with KISS Launcher[2], but it just wasn't the same.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z_Launcher

[2] https://kisslauncher.com/

This is what I use - https://github.com/tanujnotes/Olauncher, and it's amazing!

Same here since my new phone. I wanted a very simple interface and have no need for widgets and don't like a grid of toy icons. I just saw the pro version has folders but I don't have a lot of programs installed so the flat list is managable.

The git README is pretty minimal. Can you summarise what it is that you like so much about this?

The launcher itself is also very clean and minimal, with a text-only UI. You can pin up to 8 apps to the home screen and the rest are accessible through search. You trigger search with a swipe, and when only a single matching app remains for your query, it automatically opens it, making it pretty efficient.

E.g., if you don't have Firefox pinned, you can swipe and type "fir" (or any other unique substring) and it will open just like that. It's great for muscle memory.

My only complaint with it is that the developer sometimes sends messages (e.g., happy new year) and there doesn't seem to be any way to disable it. I don't see why a minimal launcher should have internet access at all.

[dev here] The Internet access is required only for the daily wallpapers and nothing else. The messages pop up based on date. Many users seem to like it but if I hear any more complaints, I'll consider removing them.

Not who you replied to, but I would personally prefer them to be opt in. The most recent message was sweet, but it also felt a little intrusive or ad-like. Love the launcher!

Thanks for the clarification (and your work on Olauncher)! I knew I should have checked the source code before posting my comment. I don't think they need to be removed, but I would appreciate an option to disable them.

[dev here] The Play Store page has more details and reviews: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.olauncher

Man there are about 50 Android launchers on F-Droid: https://search.f-droid.org/?q=launcher

Feels like picking a distro when going to Linux.

Notable changes compared to it's base Finn's Launcher: https://github.com/jrpie/launcher/blob/0.1.0/docs/launcher.m... (link is broken in readme on master branch)

Compatible with work profile, so apps like Shelter can be used.

Compatible with private space

...

The name of this one is a bit too clever: On GitHub in the URL it's just launcher, on HN uLauncher, actually on the website and stores it's µLauncher. I don't even know how to type and pronounce this 'micro' character - or is it 'mu'? https://old.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/wy53dr

For accessibility and shareability to people without an academic background an easier name would be better.

Yeah. Plus the fact that ulauncher is already an existing launcher-type app for Linux: https://ulauncher.io/

I guess it's been a while, but using µ in a name isn't exactly unprecedented, μTorrent was the BitTorrent software to use at the time, and so that discussion played out then. Everyone just called it uTorrent because it was the easier thing to type and made the pronunciation obvious and singular.

Until just now I would have sworn uBlockOrigin used μ. It's the first thing I've installed after the OS since it existed, but your lack of mentioning it made me check.

> Feels like picking a distro when going to Linux.

Yes, there are lots of options, a community member started compiling a list of open source launchers some time ago: https://launcher.jrpie.de/docs/alternatives/

The reason for µLauncher to exist is that I really like the approach of Finn's Launcher (gestures for the important stuff, search for everything else) - massive thanks to Finn! - and had been using it for years, but - after switching to GrapheneOS - I needed a launcher with support for private space. Launcher was unfortunately no longer actively maintained, so what started as a weekend project to implement some improvements ultimately lead to me becoming maintainer of a fork.

> The name of this one is a bit too clever

The name of the original app is simply "Launcher", hence the name of the repo - as I said, I didn't intend to maintain a fork when starting this. Not being very creative (and unaware of uLauncher) I just called my fork µLauncher (I'm pronouncing it 'mu'-Launcher like the greek letter). On a German keyboard, µ is readily available and I had never imagined that this small fork would be used by anyone except a few friends...

The character "μ" itself is called μι or μυ (both pronounced "me"), and is the exact equivalent of Latin "m". For some reason, English speaking countries tend to pronounce it "mew" (they also pronounce "π" as "pie"). But English speaking countries mispronounce so many words it's par for the course anyway.

Pet peeve: I really hate when they replace "μ" with "u". Completely different letters. Of course replacing capital Latin "E" with capital Greek sigma ("Σ") is even worse.

As to the μlauncher: It's anyone's guess as to how the author meant for it to be pronounced. I'd call it "me"launcher or "micro"launcher (micro is also pronounced wrong in English BTW, it's not MY-crow, it's more like mee-CRAW )

"u" has the advantage of correctly rendering basically everywhere, which"μ" does not. My initial attempt to share this was automatically corrected to "Mlauncher" for example. I'm pretty sure this is the reason the one symbol is used so often where it should be the other.

The solution is just to stick to the Latin alphabet, but you can't deny that mixing in a little Greek every now and then is fun.

My launcher of last 8years: Lawndesk. It's not on play store and you have to download it from github, but it is the only no-nonsens launcher on android without a drawer.

I just want a grid of apps, each of which appears exactly once. And then folders, to keep things on known locations

As a fanatic Niagara Launcher user, what are the main differences?

If I remember correctly, Niagara gives you fast text based app lookup as the primary means of accessing apps. Ulauncher offers the same interface as a fallback, but the primary means of accessing apps is via a small set of gestures on your homescreen.

From your comment I wanted to give Niagara a try, most useful features are apparently behind a pay wall, and that was completely fine... Until google asked me for my credit card details for the 7-days trial. This is probably none of Niagara's fault, but enough of a discouragement for me to give it a real chance.

Still looking for launcher with swiping up/down on icons to launch apps, which I've only seen in (recently sold) Nova Launcher.

OctoPi Launcher is a solid replacement for Nova, it has swipe up/down functionality.

Thank you! I think not open source unfortunately?

Recently sold how?

Edit: oh no. Defunct :(

Really love this launcher. Can't recommend more!

Why does android seemingly require a million launchers?

It does not require them. It allows them, while also having alternative means of app distribution than the expensive and proprietary app store.

You see the signs of a thriving app ecosystem, not a sign of deficiency.

It doesn't "require" a launcher at all; but the people have the freedom to change theirs.

Kinda like MacOS users only have Aqua, whereas Linux has a lot of DEs, the choice of which is entirely handed to the user.

Android without a launcher would be pretty weird.

You could use the AOSP launcher, or whatever your phone maker installs instead. I don't, because phone makers seem to really want to push an unremovable search bar that I don't want. And swipe left to see a totally confusing screen I also don't want.

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