<p align="center">
<img src="assets/qst.svg" alt="qst Logo" width="577">
</p>
Qst, pronounced "quest", is a TUI Linux application launcher built with Rust + Ratatui. Launch apps, browse files, and run scripts from one keyboard-first interface.
## Overview
- Fast `.desktop` app scanning with fuzzy search.
- Usage and favorites-based ordering.
- File explorer mode with path autocompletion.
- Extensible script system with a community catalog.
- Fully customizable layout and colors.
<p align="center">
<img src="assets/screenshot.png" alt="qst screenshot" width="477">
</p>
## Quick start
```bash
# Install qst via Nix (recommended)
nix profile install "github:GitanElyon/qst"
# Launch qst
qst
```
Thats it! You can then start browsing apps, or install scripts from the community catalog with `loader.sh` (installed automatically on first run).
## Install
Via Nix (recommended):
```bash
nix profile install "github:GitanElyon/qst"
```
Via the AUR (Arch Linux):
```bash
yay -S qst
```
Via Cargo:
```bash
cargo install --locked qst
```
Or build from source:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/GitanElyon/qst.git
cd qst
cargo install --locked --path .
```
## Usage
Run qst from the terminal:
```bash
qst
```
Or bind it to a global hotkey (e.g. `Super+Space`) in your desktop environment's keyboard settings. Hyprland example, to mimic `rofi`:
```
bind = $mod, space, exec, [float; size 350 400] $terminal -e qst
```
## Scripts
qst scripts extend the launcher with custom functionality — system info, todo lists, calculators, clipboard history, and more. Scripts live in `~/.config/qst/scripts/` and are triggered by typing their name.
> **Note:** On first run, qst downloads and installs `loader.sh` into `~/.config/qst/scripts/` to give you a script browser out of the box. It is fetched from the `awesome-qst` repository. This system is getting a full overhaul in the future.
With `loader.sh` installed, browse and install community scripts right from qst:
```
loader browse the catalog
loader <terms> filter the catalog
loader u <script> install or update a script
loader r <script> remove a locally installed script
loader a <script> <alias> set an alias for a script
```
The community catalog lives in [awesome-qst](https://github.com/gitanelyon/awesome-qst). Scripts are simple executable files (shell, Python, Perl, and more) that follow a line-oriented protocol; see [API.md](API.md) to write your own.
## Keybindings
- `Up`/`Down`: move selection
- `Left`/`Right`: move cursor in input
- `Tab`: autocomplete path
- `Enter`: launch/open selected item
- `Alt+f`: toggle favorite
- `Ctrl+d`: toggle debug overlay
- `Esc`: quit
## Configuration
qst generates `~/.config/qst/config.toml` automatically on first run, or explicitly with:
```bash
qst --gen-config
```
The config controls layout, colors, keybindings, and behavior. Optional trigger aliases for scripts and apps can be defined in `~/.config/qst/alias.toml`:
```toml
[scripts]
"volume.sh" = "v!"
battery = ":"
[apps]
"btop++" = "alacritty -e btop"
```
## Docs
- [DOCS.md](DOCS.md) — full configuration, CLI options, and feature details
- [API.md](API.md) — script protocol reference
- [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) — release history