A collection of my work and side projects
A app launcher for Linux/Windows with a Raycast like UI/UX interface based primarly on keyboard navigation. Built with Tauri/React.
Case Study
# Searchie: a fast launcher born from a real need
This project comes from my own need for a Raycast alternative that feels truly fast on Windows.
I think Raycast is an incredible app: the plugin ecosystem is huge, and its functionality is hard to match.
My issue is resource usage. On my PC, with only default plugins enabled, idle memory usage can sit around **300–400 MB RAM**, and CPU usage is also higher than I’d like.
On macOS, Raycast feels amazingly optimized. On Windows, though, it still doesn’t feel as polished performance-wise.
So I decided to build my own option.
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## Why build yet another launcher?
My app’s goal is simple: **great UX with minimal resource usage**.
Right now, idle usage is around **30 MB RAM** (depending on Windows WebView), and with UI/UX optimizations it feels almost native in day-to-day use.
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## What it already offers
It doesn’t have Raycast-level breadth yet, but it is focused on core value:
- Fast keyboard-first launcher experience
- Clean, responsive interface designed for speed
- Modular command/panel architecture
- Core Raycast-like functionality under active development
- Practical system control utilities aimed at daily productivity
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## Plugin philosophy
I’m not trying to build a plugin marketplace on day one.
- Plugin support is not a short-term priority.
- First, I want to build a solid core feature set.
- If you need a massive plugin ecosystem today, **Raycast is still the best choice**.
This app is primarily built for myself.
If it becomes useful to more people, that’s a great bonus.
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## Technology foundations
The project is built with a performance-first and maintainable stack:
- **Tauri + Rust** for native capabilities and system-level operations
- **TanStack** for a robust, scalable frontend foundation
- **WebView** with heavy optimization for smooth interaction
- A modular feature architecture (commands/panels) to scale cleanly
- Strong focus on low RAM/CPU usage without sacrificing user experience
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## Vision
The goal isn’t to replicate all of Raycast overnight.
The goal is to build a Windows launcher that prioritizes:
1. real-world performance,
2. fast and polished UX,
3. useful core features before broad integrations.
If you want a lightweight, focused launcher built for productivity, that’s exactly the direction of this project.