OS X equivalent of Windows Run box?

Windows has a very convenient Run box (WinKey + R) that

• from one box, can
  • can launch programs by exact path to the executable
  • launch any program in the PATH directories by executable name
  • open files in default applications
  • open an Explorer window into a local directory
  • open an Explorer window into a network share
  • open any URL with its default handler (e.g. a browser)
• has tab completion (well, really up/down arrow completion)
• has a history function

This is an amazing time saver for any power user, and I'm looking for something equivalent for a Mac. I know that there are some utilities that have some of the features (e.g. the "Open Directory" command in Finder, Spotlight, Quicksilver), but I haven't found any one that does everything or almost everything.

Does anyone know of some close equivalent?

Solution 1:

It doesn't, but Terminal is very similar to both the run box and the command prompt (cmd) in Windows. In Terminal, open is your friend.

• can launch programs by exact path to the executable

• launch any program in the PATH directories by executable name

In Terminal, you can use open -a Application.app to launch an application that lives in the /Applications folder, or open <exact path to applcation> to launch an application that is anywhere on your computer.

• open files in default applications

Just us open <file>. open song.mp3 will open song.mp3 in the default audio player (in my case iTunes)

• open an Explorer window into a local directory

• open an Explorer window into a network share

open /Path/to/dir/ will launch the folder in Finder

• open any URL with its default handler (e.g. a browser)

open http://google.com will launch the default browser and open the url. It also works for FTP (but i have not tested anything else)

For more, just run man open in Terminal or see this page.

Solution 2:

Command+Space triggers Spotlight that beyond finding documents can also find Applications and launch them, but does not take arguments AFAIK.

You can also take a look at QuickSilver: http://www.blacktree.com/

Solution 3:

While Quicksilver works for me, there is a new app made by the same guy.