Why Raycast?

Raycast is more than an app launcher — it’s a productivity layer on top of macOS. Open apps, run scripts, manage windows, search files, control Spotify, check your calendar, and much more without leaving the keyboard.

Installation

brew install --cask raycast

Or download from raycast.com.

First Launch

Raycast replaces Spotlight (⌘Space). After installation, it will ask to disable the Spotlight shortcut and take over ⌘Space. Accept this — you won’t miss Spotlight.

Essential Extensions

Raycast’s power comes from its extension store. Here are the must-haves:

Window Management

Search “Window Management” in the Store. Assign hotkeys for left/right half, maximize, and more. Goodbye, mouse dragging.

Clipboard History

Enable in Settings → Extensions → Clipboard History. Raycast saves everything you copy. Search your history and paste without touching the mouse.

Snippets

Create text expansions for repetitive typing. For example, @@ → your email address. Found in Settings → Extensions → Snippets.

Open frequently visited URLs with a few keystrokes. Set up in Settings → Extensions → Quicklinks. Try gh <repo> → https://github.com/{query}.

Spotify & System Commands

Control your music, toggle Bluetooth, manage Wi-Fi, check battery — all from the command bar.

Pro Tips

  • ⌘K in any command to see available actions
  • ⌘, to jump to Raycast settings
  • Use Floating Notes (⌥⌘N) as a quick scratchpad
  • Assign Hotkeys to your most-used commands for zero-keystroke access
  • The File Search extension finds files faster than Finder

The Learning Curve

Give it a week. The first three days you’ll keep reaching for the Dock out of habit. By day seven, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.