Similar App Plugin Compatibility - Alfred

[sancarn]

Alfred is a similar application to LaunchMenu it seems. Might be worth looking into an Alfred workflows --> LM applet parser. Looks like Alfred plugins are generally a load of php code. This makes it less possible, but it's possible that it still is doable with some PHP parser for nodejs? Something to perhaps look into!

Useful links:

• php parser in js

[sancarn]

Investigated a little more today, looks like I was way off track with my original thoughts. Here's a more investigated description of an alfred workflow:

1. Alfred workflows .alfredworkflow files are merely .zip files containing other files.
2. Zip file contains a info.plist file. Example
   a. This contains the tree of actions which will be executed by alfred.
3. Numerous extensions offload work to other languages:
   a. A Python API has been created by Dean Jackson which has been used to interact with Alfred. Examples: alfred-passwords-workflow, alfred-gcal, alfred-firefox, alfred-stackexchange
   b. Some workflows use php like the spotify-mini-player.
   c. Some workflows are purely made from the info.plist like this wifi toggler and calander

It's important to note that we can only guarantee alfred-workflows will run on Mac. It is highly unlikely any of the workflows will run fully in the Windows environment (which might make this low priority, though alfred does have so much capability out there also...)

Next Steps:

• Decide how much LaunchMenu wants to take responsibility for? Do we extend responsibility to the {insert programming language here} libraries? Or leave it up to the python libraries to add LaunchMenu support? - Might be worth reaching out to the python library author to check their thoughts.
• Decide on an MVP
  • Personally I think this is merely a plist parser and evaluator. I think this should be relatively easy to implement in LM's framework and quite possible to make cross-platform also. (With perhaps a warning for workflows which execute external commands).