This is alpha software. You will most likely see some bugs. Please use the issue tracker to report them, along with any feature suggestions! :)

automate is a Windows application launcher written in Python. Its main purpose is to make it quick and easy to launch anything - from Start menu items to websites and scripts. It is easily extendable and customizable, including CSS theme support and Python plugins.

• Python 2.7.x
• PyQt4
• Python for Windows Extensions

Install the dependencies and run automate.pyw. Hold down the CAPS LOCK key and start typing a command -- try out some of the ones mentioned below. Release CAPS LOCK to execute. Use the Exit command or right click on the system tray icon to stop the program.

By default, all Start menu shortcuts and Control Panel items are available as commands. Try out some of these: Notepad, Paint, Control Panel, Programs and Features.

You can also add your own commands. Highlight a URL, a file or a folder and use the command Create shortcut.... Type a name for your shortcut and automate will retrieve the location of your selection and add it as a new command. To remove a shortcut, use Remove shortcut....

Double-pressing CAPS LOCK will allow you to perform a quick Google search.

Some more built-in commands include: Google..., Switch to..., Close..., Screen off, Sleep, Hibernate. Some of these, such as Switch to... or Google... expect arguments (window title, search string etc.). Press the TAB key when these commands are selected to enter the command's submenu.

When automate doesn't recognise a command, it will try to execute it using the same mechanism as the Run dialog in Windows. Try: msconfig, regedit, google.com.

You can also use automate as a quick file explorer. When you start typing a directory name, such as C:\, automate will list the contents as autocomplete suggestions. Press TAB to trigger autocompletion and ESC to move back to the parent directory.

If a user shortcut points to a file or a folder, then pressing TAB will expand the path and you will be able to navigate from there.

Configuration is loaded from config/config.json. Colour schemes and other styles for the windows can be loaded from .css files, stored in the same directory.

Any .py files in the commands folder will be automatically imported as command files. You can register text commands or hotkeys in those files. Some examples have been provided.

To illustrate: this is what a 'Hello World' command looks like: