What application launchers are available for Ubuntu?
What are some alternative launchers that can be used to launch programs in Ubuntu's default Unity desktop?
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
.
Docky is a great app, you can install it with:
sudo apt-get install docky
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.)
Cairo-Dock is also good, and can be installed with:
sudo apt-get install cairo-dock
Plank is another good one that can be installed with:
sudo apt-get install plank
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
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.