Adding alias shortcut for applications

[qvattr0]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

There's software similar to Command Palette (albeit having many more features) on macOS, and one of the features is the ability to assign keyboard shortcuts to instantly launch applications. I imagine a potential implementation of this feature would be a sub-menu within the file search extension settings that would allow you to add keyboard shortcuts to specific applications. A neat addition would also be to view the application's keyboard shortcut to the right of the application listing if you search for applications via the app search extension.

There's also an alternative implementation that would also be fairly useful: allow the use of aliases with applications. Akin to being able to call the file search extension by typing file in the search bar, you could also configure aliases for applications. For instance, vsc could be used for Visual Studio Code.

Scenario when this would be used?

This would be broadly be used to quick-launch user's most used applications, accelerating workflows more than already possible by the feature-set of Command Palette.

[akamienski]

@qvattr0 can't you just assign keyboard shorcut to a shortcut file of an application?

[qvattr0]

@qvattr0 can't you just assign keyboard shorcut to a shortcut file of an application?

Yes, I'm aware that could be done. However, being able to do it through Command Palette would be more convenient and centralized solution, allowing for more convenient shortcut editing and management. Also the shortcuts being reminded to you when you search for apps in the palette would also ensure you don't forget them.

[zadjii-msft]

I really like this idea.

I have a plan to make it so that you can "bookmark" apps to the top level. That would let you use the already existing infrastructure for binding hotkeys and aliases to them easily.

But I think you've got an even better point that you should be able to bind hotkeys & aliases to apps without actually pinning them.

We'd need:

• a settings page specific to all the aliases you have set
• on that page, when you want to add a new alias, that has an autosuggest box that includes top-level commands AND apps

[qvattr0]

Sounds like a brilliant idea! Bookmarking would be pretty useful if you could do it to folders and files as well. I also like the architecture you've outlined in the end, best of luck with its implementation!

[zadjii-msft]

Bookmarking files/folders is already supported:

(and bookmarking arbitrary commandlines is in progress at #39059)

[qvattr0]

This is really useful. Thanks for the information!