Springald is a simple launcher, similar to Launchy. It was rewritten in typescript and it uses no runtime dependencies apart from electron.

It can parse a fluxbox menu file, read directories from path or from a config file, can launch .desktop files. That's it.

This is a rather messy tool, you probably need something more robust, but it works for me; as of this writing (2026 March) I still use it on a daily basis.

Ambience:

Aquamint:

The app is not bundled. Use node:

1. npm ci
2. npm run build
3. npm start (or use launcher.sh or launcher.vbs)

For options see config.json and type definition; you can shallow override them with a local config:

• linux: ~/.config/springald/config.json
• windows: C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\springald\config.json
• mac: ~/Library/Application Support/springald\config.json
• or in the application dir: ./config.local.json

• Esc = hide
• ctrl + q / ctrl + w = quit
• F5 = reparse
• alt + c = center on screen
• ctrl + c = clear inputs
• alt + m = log memory usage to console
• F12 = toggle dev toolbar
• shift + F12 = dump both backend and renderer logs to console
• tab = toggle between the two inputs (path left, open with app right)

Global shortcut toggle by default is logo key + backtick (and ctrl + shift + alt + backtick) be sure to set an override in your user config, string for single key, array for multiple keys.

If your linux desktop environment has problems with electron global keys, you can use the /tmp/springald.sock unix socket to toggle the instance (either through launcher.sh or by directly sending a message with socat: echo toggle | socat UNIX:/tmp/springald.sock -); for details see unixSocket.js.

If you are me and you (I) haven't touched this project in a while, then you might be wondering what is this mess. Dear me, please read your notes in the docs folder.

Other than that, npm ci, npm run watch (for ts to js transpilation) and then npm run dev from the console.

Notable entry points:

1. backend via package.json
2. main via index.html

• create a user config to override defaults
• please always use "borderlessWindow": true on Windows to fix the broken height calculation
• files in C:\WINDOWS* are skipped
• launch in terminal is kinda pointless

• use trayIconSize: 'large' if your tray supports hires icons
• the tray tooltip may or may not work (see: electron/electron#28131)
• use fixPosition and modifyResize to fix window size problems
• if the global toggleKey misbehaves, you will have to fall back to unix sockets
• gnome/cinnamon:
  • you can create a keyboard shortcut for a launcher, in the launcher use the full path to the shellscript (or if you symlinked it into ~/bin/springald you will still need to use the full path: /home/johndoe/bin/springald)
  • if you want only a toggle, then the launcher must first launch bash:
    bash -c 'echo toggle | socat UNIX:/tmp/springald.sock -'
  • the same is true for the "create a new launcher" feature (and then the launcher can be added to the autolaunch items)