Show HN: KeyGhost – Keyboard app launcher for macOS
KeyGhost is a macOS keyboard app launcher that lets users bind applications to specific keys for faster opening and switching. The developer created it to bypass macOS's unreliable app indexing and reduce mental fatigue from constant Cmd+Tab navigation.
Background
- KeyGhost is a keyboard-based app launcher for macOS created by an independent developer, posted on Hacker News as a "Show HN" (a showcase of personal projects). It lets users bind applications to specific keys to open or switch to them, reducing reliance on Cmd+Tab or Spotlight.
- The developer notes frustration with macOS's built-in app indexing, which sometimes prefers iPhone apps (due to Apple's Continuity features) over native Mac apps when searching.
- The core idea is building muscle memory for app switching, similar to how power users already use keyboard shortcuts for efficiency. This targets developers, writers, or anyone who spends all day switching between a handful of apps and wants to reduce mental overhead from visual searching or repeated tabbing.