A blazing-fast, GPU-accelerated launcher for macOS. Rust + GPUI. Zero-lag typing. No Electron, no WebViews, no bloat.

Instant search, theming with theme_switcher, clipboard manager script, native file search plugin

Why aerofi

A modern modal launcher for speed-obsessed macOS users. It bridges the gap between lightweight Unix dmenu/rofi tools and feature-rich productivity shells like Raycast — rich UI components with zero configuration bloat.

GPU-Powered Performance

Pure Rust and GPUI at its core. Instant cold starts, true zero-lag typing, native Metal rendering — without Electron, WebViews, or heavy runtimes.

Plug & Play Scripting

No SDKs or API wrappers. Your scripts (Bash, Python, Go) pipe structured text to stdout; aerofi turns it into a rich, interactive dashboard with live filtering and state.

Semantic TOML Themes

Scripts don't know about pixels — they request a layout. Your TOML theme adapts the dynamic window shell to fit the mode. No ugly CSS/RASI complexity.

Install

# Homebrew (recommended) — runs as a native background service
brew install frostymur/tap/aerofi
brew services start aerofi

Also available: prebuilt binaries (Apple Silicon / Intel) on GitHub Releases, or cargo install --git https://github.com/frostymur/aerofi aerofi

How it compares

Rofi / dmenuAlfredRaycastaerofi
Engine & speedC/C++ (CPU)Obj-C / AppKitReact / NodeRust + GPUI Metal
ConfigurationComplex RASI/CSSClosed GUIClosed GUIClean TOML tokens
ScriptingOne-shot stdoutJSON stdoutHeavy TS/ReactTwo-way IPC, no SDKs
Window geometryStaticFixed barFixed frameDynamic shell

Default shortcuts

ShortcutContextAction
Option+SpaceGlobalToggle the launcher window
↑ / ↓LauncherNavigate results
EnterLauncherLaunch / activate item
Shift+EnterLauncherOpen a new instance (open -n)
Cmd+RLauncherReload config, rescan sources
TabRofi modeToggle multi-select