Alfred

Alfred
Original author(s)	Andrew Pepperrell, Vero Pepperrell
Developer(s)	Running with Crayons Ltd
Initial release	2010
Stable release	v5.1.4 (2195) / 25 October 2023; 8 months ago
Operating system	macOS
Type	Application launcher (utility software)
License	Proprietary
Website	{{{1}}}

Short description: Application launcher and productivity application for macOS

Alfred is an application launcher and productivity software for macOS developed by Running with Crayons Ltd. It provides faster access to applications, files, folders, dictionaries, and various system functions.^[3] Alfred is similar to macOS's Spotlight function, but offers a higher degree of customizability and extensibility through its action system known as "workflows".

Features

Alfred comes with following features:

Application launcher that uses repeated queries to prioritize search results^[4]
File and folder search^[5]
Web search shortcuts with predefined sites such as Amazon, IMDb, DuckDuckGo, Wolfram Alpha, Wikipedia, and many others as well as ability to create custom shortcuts^[6]
Safari and Google Chrome bookmark search
Clipboard history^[7]^{[Note 1]}
Text expansion and snippets^[8]^[9]^{[Note 1]}
Calculator
Dictionary
Contact search^{[Note 1]}
Music control^[10]^{[Note 1]}
1Password integration^[11]^{[Note 1]}
Control of various system functions such as shutting down, hibernation, quitting, and force quitting processes, etc.^[12]
Quick access to various operations on selected text and files,^[13] including text manipulation, text translation, and more^[14]^{[Note 1]}
Running shell commands^{[Note 1]}

Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 Accessible only within paid version of Alfred.

Personalization

Alfred's functionality can be extended through "workflows", which are constructed through a visual scripting system based on nodes.^[15] Creating workflows does not require programming knowledge,^[16] although it does support the execution of scripts written in AppleScript, Bash, Python, and others.^[17]

Many of Alfred's features and workflows can be accessed by defining a global keyboard shortcut or a keyword before the query.^[18]^[19]

Alfred's visual appearance is customizable through themes.^[20] It comes with a collection of presets that can be used for free, while creating and importing themes requires paid version.

Alfred Remote

Alfred Remote is a mobile companion application available for iOS.^[21] It allows to control various functions on a macOS device where the paid version of Alfred is installed. These functions include adjusting volume, controlling Music, launching applications, and executing workflows.^[22]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 "Behind the App: The Story of Alfred" (in en-us). 20 August 2014. https://lifehacker.com/behind-the-app-the-story-of-alfred-1624424125.
↑ "Alfred Change Log". Running with Crayons. http://www.alfredapp.com/changelog. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
↑ "Alfred (for Mac)" (in en-gb). 2012-01-23. https://uk.pcmag.com/editors-choice/19574/alfred-for-mac.
↑ Summers, Nick (2014-01-21). "An In-Depth Guide to Alfred, the Incredible App Launcher for Mac" (in en). https://thenextweb.com/news/depth-guide-alfred-amazing-productivity-app-launcher-mac.
↑ Orchard, Rosemary (2019-12-26). "Enhance Your File Search with Alfred" (in en). https://thesweetsetup.com/enhance-file-search-alfred/.
↑ "Custom Searches in Alfred" (in en-GB). 2021-09-16. https://myproductivemac.com/blog/custom-searches-in-alfred1692021.
↑ "The Best Keyboard App Launcher for Mac" (in en). https://thesweetsetup.com/apps/best-app-keyboard-launcher-mac/.
↑ Ginter, Josh (2022-06-09). "How to Create Text Snippets in Alfred" (in en). https://thesweetsetup.com/how-to-create-text-snippets-in-alfred/.
↑ "How To Use Alfred As A Snippet Manager [How-To [liveblog] | Cult of Mac"]. https://www.cultofmac.com/193877/how-to-use-alfred-as-a-snippet-manager-how-to/.
↑ "Review: Alfred App for Mac OS X" (in en). 2011-01-21. http://isource.com/2011/01/21/review-alfred-app-for-mac-os-x/.
↑ "Alfred 1.2 Adds 1Password Support, New Themes, Improved Matching Algorithm" (in en-US). 2012-05-01. https://www.macstories.net/reviews/alfred-1-2-adds-1password-support-new-themes-improved-matching-algorithm/.
↑ "Mastering Alfred 2.0 On Your Mac: Directly Command Your System From The Keyboard [OS X Tips | Cult of Mac"]. https://www.cultofmac.com/223553/mastering-alfred-2-0-on-your-mac-directly-command-your-system-from-the-keyboard-os-x-tips/.
↑ "Alfred 1.3 Improves System Navigation with "File Buffer"" (in en-US). 2012-07-18. https://www.macstories.net/reviews/alfred-1-3-improves-system-navigation-with-file-buffer/.
↑ "Mastering Alfred 2.0 On Your Mac: Send Quick Emails To Your Contacts [OS X Tips | Cult of Mac"]. https://www.cultofmac.com/223757/mastering-alfred-2-0-on-your-mac-send-quick-emails-to-your-contacts-os-x-tips/.
↑ "Alfred 2.0 to Add More Complex Functions Via 'Workflows'" (in en). 2012-12-17. https://www.macrumors.com/2012/12/17/alfred-2-0-to-add-more-complex-functions-via-workflows/.
↑ Miller, Chance (2019-05-29). "Alfred 4 brings Dark Mode, Rich Text expansion, and more to the powerful macOS productivity app". 9to5Mac. https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/29/alfred-4-dark-mode-more/.
↑ "Alfred launcher app hits version 1.0" (in en). https://www.macworld.com/article/215477/alfred_launcher_app_hits_version_1_0.html.
↑ "Mac Gems: Alfred 2 ups the launcher-app ante" (in en). https://www.macworld.com/article/220809/mac-gems-alfred-2-ups-the-launcher-app-ante.html.
↑ "Alfred 1.0 Now Available With Enhanced Global Hotkeys" (in en-US). 2011-11-29. https://www.macstories.net/news/alfred-1-0-now-available-with-enhanced-global-hotkeys/.
↑ "Alfred 2: Rewritten From The Ground Up, Workflows, Themes, and More" (in en-US). 2013-03-14. https://www.macstories.net/reviews/alfred-2-rewritten-from-the-ground-up-workflows-themes-and-more/.
↑ "'Alfred Remote' Turns iOS Devices Into Remote Controls for Macs" (in en). 2015-01-27. https://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/27/alfred-remote-ios/.
↑ Bohn, Dieter (2015-01-27). "Alfred turns your iPad or iPhone into a remote control for your Mac" (in en-US). https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/27/7920665/alfred-remote-ipad-iphone-remote-control-for-mac.

External links

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[Note01-8] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 Accessible only within paid version of Alfred.

[lifehacker-20-8-14-1] 1.0 ^1.1 "Behind the App: The Story of Alfred" (in en-us). 20 August 2014. https://lifehacker.com/behind-the-app-the-story-of-alfred-1624424125.

[2] "Alfred Change Log". Running with Crayons. http://www.alfredapp.com/changelog. Retrieved 9 January 2024.

[3] "Alfred (for Mac)" (in en-gb). 2012-01-23. https://uk.pcmag.com/editors-choice/19574/alfred-for-mac.

[4] Summers, Nick (2014-01-21). "An In-Depth Guide to Alfred, the Incredible App Launcher for Mac" (in en). https://thenextweb.com/news/depth-guide-alfred-amazing-productivity-app-launcher-mac.

[5] Orchard, Rosemary (2019-12-26). "Enhance Your File Search with Alfred" (in en). https://thesweetsetup.com/enhance-file-search-alfred/.

[6] "Custom Searches in Alfred" (in en-GB). 2021-09-16. https://myproductivemac.com/blog/custom-searches-in-alfred1692021.

[7] "The Best Keyboard App Launcher for Mac" (in en). https://thesweetsetup.com/apps/best-app-keyboard-launcher-mac/.

[9] Ginter, Josh (2022-06-09). "How to Create Text Snippets in Alfred" (in en). https://thesweetsetup.com/how-to-create-text-snippets-in-alfred/.

[10] "How To Use Alfred As A Snippet Manager [How-To [liveblog] | Cult of Mac"]. https://www.cultofmac.com/193877/how-to-use-alfred-as-a-snippet-manager-how-to/.

[11] "Review: Alfred App for Mac OS X" (in en). 2011-01-21. http://isource.com/2011/01/21/review-alfred-app-for-mac-os-x/.

[12] "Alfred 1.2 Adds 1Password Support, New Themes, Improved Matching Algorithm" (in en-US). 2012-05-01. https://www.macstories.net/reviews/alfred-1-2-adds-1password-support-new-themes-improved-matching-algorithm/.

[13] "Mastering Alfred 2.0 On Your Mac: Directly Command Your System From The Keyboard [OS X Tips | Cult of Mac"]. https://www.cultofmac.com/223553/mastering-alfred-2-0-on-your-mac-directly-command-your-system-from-the-keyboard-os-x-tips/.

[14] "Alfred 1.3 Improves System Navigation with "File Buffer"" (in en-US). 2012-07-18. https://www.macstories.net/reviews/alfred-1-3-improves-system-navigation-with-file-buffer/.

[15] "Mastering Alfred 2.0 On Your Mac: Send Quick Emails To Your Contacts [OS X Tips | Cult of Mac"]. https://www.cultofmac.com/223757/mastering-alfred-2-0-on-your-mac-send-quick-emails-to-your-contacts-os-x-tips/.

[17] "Alfred 2.0 to Add More Complex Functions Via 'Workflows'" (in en). 2012-12-17. https://www.macrumors.com/2012/12/17/alfred-2-0-to-add-more-complex-functions-via-workflows/.

[18] Miller, Chance (2019-05-29). "Alfred 4 brings Dark Mode, Rich Text expansion, and more to the powerful macOS productivity app". 9to5Mac. https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/29/alfred-4-dark-mode-more/.

[19] "Alfred launcher app hits version 1.0" (in en). https://www.macworld.com/article/215477/alfred_launcher_app_hits_version_1_0.html.

[20] "Mac Gems: Alfred 2 ups the launcher-app ante" (in en). https://www.macworld.com/article/220809/mac-gems-alfred-2-ups-the-launcher-app-ante.html.

[21] "Alfred 1.0 Now Available With Enhanced Global Hotkeys" (in en-US). 2011-11-29. https://www.macstories.net/news/alfred-1-0-now-available-with-enhanced-global-hotkeys/.

[22] "Alfred 2: Rewritten From The Ground Up, Workflows, Themes, and More" (in en-US). 2013-03-14. https://www.macstories.net/reviews/alfred-2-rewritten-from-the-ground-up-workflows-themes-and-more/.

[23] "'Alfred Remote' Turns iOS Devices Into Remote Controls for Macs" (in en). 2015-01-27. https://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/27/alfred-remote-ios/.

[24] Bohn, Dieter (2015-01-27). "Alfred turns your iPad or iPhone into a remote control for your Mac" (in en-US). https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/27/7920665/alfred-remote-ipad-iphone-remote-control-for-mac.