What application launchers are available for Ubuntu?

Question

What are some alternative launchers that can be used to launch programs in Ubuntu's default Unity desktop?

Answer 1

One that I use and like is Albert.

It's very similar to OS X's Spotlight Search, especially in how it looks, but I've found it to be invaluable if you're a keyboard-heavy power user.

You have to install it via a PPA (not in the official repos yet):

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:flexiondotorg/albert
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install albert

On the first launch you will have to set the hotkey to launch Albert, but that's fairly easy:

I've set it to Ctrl-Space.

Answer 2

Docky is a great app, you can install it with:

sudo apt-get install docky

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GNOME Pie is another great one that can be installed with:

sudo apt-get install gnome-pie

(Launch with CTRL + ALT + A - this hot key is customizable.)

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Cairo-Dock is also good, and can be installed with:

sudo apt-get install cairo-dock

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Plank is another good one that can be installed with:

sudo apt-get install plank

Answer 3

Here are some more ways to launch and organize applications:

GnomeDO

sudo apt-get install gnome-do gnome-do-plugins

Duck Launcher

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:the-duck/launcher
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install duck-launcher

Launcher Folders:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:asukhovatkin/unity-launcher-folders
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unity-launcher-folders

Slingscold Launcher

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/apps
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install slingscold

Answer 4

You also have dockbarx. You can install it with:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dockbar-main/ppa 
sudo apt-get update 
sudo apt-get install dockbarx

More info here.

Answer 5

My personal favorite is the Classic Menu Indicator

In addition to other answers, me and @JacobVlijm have tried to script launchers as an answer to Launch app only if not already open question

Answer 6

Gnome-Do works with the keyboard as Unity. Press Super + Space and then you type the name of the program you want to run. Don't know about the project status and haven't used it since 2009. Hope this can help.

Answer 7

Consider Synapse:

Just start typing the program, file or directory you're looking for.

Installation:

sudo apt install synapse

Answer 8

lxqt-runner is an option:

Installation: sudo apt install lxqt-runner

Answer 9

My recent favorite: the very very lightweight dmenu

Installation:

sudo apt install dmenu

Improve that tool with dmenu-extended to be able to find files and directories from dmenu, too. Very useful.

sudo apt install suckless-tools xfonts-terminus
git clone git@github.com:MarkHedleyJones/dmenu-extended.git
cd dmenu-extended
sudo python setup.py install

Answer 10

Cairo Dock has launchers too.

To install it click below

Cairo Dock

I use Compiz with Cairo dock so I use it in fall back mode. It adds a session for cairo only environment if you don't want to use Unity