Introduction

FastSilver is an open source QuickSilver copycat written in VB6. It can be used to launch any files in the Start Menu and Control Panel.

 

From below you can see it in action,

 

 

Why reinvent the wheel?

There are already too many similar programs, you can see it from http://www.listible.com/question/application-launchers-for-windows, so why did I do it again?

 

Simply because:

• QuickSilver is for Mac only
• Some are still immature, for example, unable to launch applets in the Control Panel
• Some need user intervention to add newly installed programs
• Some are just too bloated, e.g. needs MS .Net framework, or have too many fancy but unnecessary features
• Last but not least, I like to codeJ

 

 

Installation

There is no installation needed, download the 48Kb executable file to your local disk, double click on the FastSilver.exe file and it is ready for use.

 

Due to restrictions of SourceForge, I can’t provide direct download link here.

 

You are recommended to create a shortcut to your downloaded FastSilver.exe in the Windows Startup folder, as in my case,

 

 

 

How to use (in 30 seconds)?

This program is so simple, you just need to remember these keys

• Press Win+Q to call FastSilver out any time,
• Press ENTER key will automatically launch the selected program in the listbox or the first program when no item is selected
• Press RIGHT key in the textbox will take you to the listbox and select its first item automatically.
• Press UP key in the textbox will take you to the listbox and select its last item automatically.
• Press ESC to hide the program, it will also hide itself when an ENTER key pressed.
• To close FastSilver, press ALT+F4

 

Then what to do next?

Start to type the program name you want to launch into the textbox, once you see it in the listbox, select it and press ENTER.

 

How to find your program quicker? (1 minute version)

 

You will save your time by reading this, I promise.

 

Suppose you have these on your PC,

• Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0
• Mcirosoft Visual Studio .Net 2002
• Microsoft Visual Source Safe 6.0

 

Don’t start typing “Microsoft” which you’ll have to choose from a list,

 

Instead, you should type “Basi” then press ENTER to launch Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0,

 

And use “Safe” plus ENTER to launch Microsoft Visual Source Safe 6.0,

 

Contact the Author

Any comments, suggestions, bugs, feel free to write to Zou Yu.