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otter-launcher is a centered search overlay. Like fuzzel, rofi, or wofi, on the shared Otter UI stack.

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Usage

otter-launcher
Bind to a compositor hotkey, for example Super+D: 
# Hyprland
bind = $mainMod, D, exec, otter-launcher
One shot per run: open, search, launch (or Escape), exit. A socket prevents duplicate overlays. Launch again to close the open one.

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Launcher extensions

Extensions appear above app matches:
InputAction
=2+3*4 or calc 2+3*4Calculator via otter-calc
:heart or emoji heartEmoji search via otter-emoji
clip or clip queryClipboard history via otter-clip

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Keyboard shortcuts

KeyAction
EscapeClose launcher
EnterLaunch selected item or copy extension result
Up / DownMove selection
Tab / Shift+TabNext / previous
Page Up / Page DownScroll by page
Home / EndFirst / last item
Ctrl+UClear search
Ctrl+WDelete last word
BackspaceDelete character
During IME composition, Escape and Enter go to the IME.

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Configuration

Config: ~/.config/otter-shell/otter-launcher.conf. Created on first run.
Size, colors, and placeholder text: otter-settings, Launcher tab.
width_percent = 30
height_percent = 35
border_width = 2
icon_size = 32
item_height = 48
input_height = 40
font_size = 16
placeholder_text = " Search applications..."
overlay_color = "#1b1b1b99"
Most color fields inherit from theme.conf when omitted.

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Terminal detection

For .desktop entries with Terminal=true, the launcher picks a terminal:
  1. $TERMINAL environment variable
  2. Probes $PATH for xdg-terminal-exec, foot, otter-term, ghostty, kitty, alacritty, and others
Each terminal uses its correct exec flag (-e, --, etc.).