Engineers tend to juggle multiple tasks at once, as well as tools and workflows, which is why efficiency, for us, is so important. The ability to quickly access, manipulate, and manage many resources impacts our productivity and the quality of output.
That’s where Raycast comes in: this isn’t just a launcher, it’s a customizable productivity hub designed to streamline daily operations. But what is it exactly and how it can enhance the workflow for engineers?
What is Raycast?
Raycast is a macOS application that works primarily as a keyboard-centric productivity tool (since MacBooks are our preferred devices for work here at Pixelmatters, it’s perfect). It’s often described as a launcher, but that label doesn’t quite capture its full potential. Imagine having an all-in-one interface that lets you search for files, run scripts, control your system, manage your clipboard, access APIs, and even interact with your favorite apps — all without having to take your hands off the keyboard.
Raycast is all about speed and efficiency. The tool is designed to minimize context switching, so you as a developer can stay focused on the task at hand. Whether you’re navigating a file system, interacting with code repositories, or launching applications, Raycast puts everything at your fingertips… literally.
What Raycast stands out for
- Command palette: this is Raycast's core feature. It enables instant search and execution of commands. With just a few keystrokes, you can do a wide range of actions—from launching applications to managing tasks.
- Custom scripts and extensions: one of Raycast’s most powerful features. You can write your scripts in any language supported by your system, and these scripts can be executed directly from Raycast.
- System controls: the wide range of system controls allows you to manage several aspects of your macOS. With simple commands, you can adjust settings like volume, brightness, and Wi-Fi connections directly from the app.
- Snippets and clipboard history: Raycast also doubles as a clipboard manager, with built-in support for snippets. You can store frequently used code snippets, text blocks, or commands, and insert them anywhere.
- Integration with popular tools: it integrates seamlessly with a wide range of popular developer tools and services like GitHub, Jira, Slack, and many others. This integration allows you to manage pull requests, create issues, send messages, and a lot of other tasks directly from Raycast.
Why Raycast is a game-changer for engineers
As engineers, we’re constantly looking to be more efficient. The less time we spend navigating between tools, the more time we can dedicate to coding, debugging, and problem-solving. Raycast addresses this need by centralizing our workflow into a single, keyboard-driven interface. Let me tell you how, with some specific use cases and pro tips. 😎
1. Efficient file navigation and project management
Navigating through files and directories is often time-consuming, especially with large codebases. Raycast’s file search feature allows you to quickly locate and open files by name, reducing the time spent sifting through directories. You can also bookmark your most frequently accessed folders and projects, making them even more accessible.
If you usually work with multiple projects, Raycast’s ability to manage project-specific commands may be especially useful to you. You can set up custom scripts or commands that are specific to each project, whether it’s starting a local development server, running tests, or opening specific files. This makes switching between projects smoother and more efficient.
💡 Pro tip — custom workspaces: it might be a good idea to set up custom workspaces within Raycast for each of your projects. Each one could include everything important, from tools, directories, and scripts you need for that particular project. With a single command, you can open everything you need to start working immediately.
→ Here’s the feature explained by Raycast: File explorer for Mac.
2. Streamlining Git workflows
Raycast’s integration with GitHub and other version control systems can be a massive time-saver. From within Raycast, you can quickly create, view, and merge pull requests, as well as navigate between branches and repositories. This removes the need to switch between your IDE, terminal, and browser, allowing you to manage your Git workflows more efficiently.
Also, Raycast allows you to create custom Git commands that are accessible via the command palette. Whether it’s a complex rebase operation or a simple commit, you can automate repetitive Git tasks.
💡 Pro tip — automate Git commands: set up custom scripts in Raycast for frequently used Git operations. For example, a script to pull the latest changes, rebase your branch, and push to the remote can be executed with a single command. This reduces the chances of errors and speeds up your workflow.
→ Here’s the extension explained by Raycast: GitHub.
3. Integrating with CI/CD pipelines
By integrating Raycast with services like Jenkins, CircleCI, or GitHub Actions, you can trigger builds, monitor pipeline statuses, and even view logs without leaving your current context.
This is particularly useful when you’re in the middle of a task and need to check the status of a build or deploy a new version. Instead of going through several interfaces, you can get the information you need directly in Raycast.
💡 Pro tip — pipeline monitoring: create a custom Raycast command that checks the status of your current pipeline and displays the results in a quick view. This way you can keep an eye on your deployments without having to constantly switch to a different tool.
4. Boosting productivity with snippets and clipboard history
As engineers, we often reuse code snippets, environment variables, or configuration settings. Raycast’s snippet management system basically allows you to store and access these reusable pieces of information. This is handy when you need to insert the same piece of code across different files or projects.
The clipboard history feature is another one you’ll get attached to. It keeps track of everything you copy, so you can easily retrieve and reuse previous clipboard items. This can be a lifesaver when you’re working on tasks that require a lot of copying and pasting, like writing documentation or transferring code between environments.
💡 Pro tip — organized snippets: categorize your snippets based on their usage, such as “Frontend,” “Backend,” or “Config.” Thank me later.
→ Here are the features explained by Raycast:
5. Custom script execution
Raycast’s support for custom scripts is one of the best features for engineers. You can write scripts in languages like Python, JavaScript, or Bash and execute them directly from Raycast. This opens up a world of possibilities, from automating routine tasks to building complex workflows that integrate with other tools and services.
For example, you could create a script that fetches data from an API, processes it, and then updates a local file—all with a single command in Raycast. This not only saves time but also reduces the potential for errors in repetitive tasks.
💡 Pro tip — command-line integration: leverage Raycast’s ability to run command-line scripts to interact with your development environment. You can set up commands to manage Docker containers, run tests, or even deploy applications, all without leaving Raycast.
6. Seamless collaboration with team tools
Many engineering teams like ours rely on collaboration tools like Slack, Jira, and Linear. Raycast’s integration with these platforms allows you to streamline your communication and task management workflows. You can send messages, create tasks, and update statuses directly from Raycast, keeping everything centralized. This helps you reduce the time spent switching between different apps.
💡 Pro tip — quick updates: set up Raycast commands to update Jira tickets or send predefined Slack messages. This is amazing so you can keep your team in the loop without interrupting your workflow.
→ Here’s the Slack extension explained by Raycast: Slack.
7. More focus and less context-switching
One of the biggest productivity killers for engineers is context switching — moving between tools, windows, or even thought processes. Raycast helps by allowing you to do them all from a single interface.
Whether you’re searching for a file, running a script, or checking the status of a pull request, you can do it without leaving Raycast. This not only saves time but also helps you remain focused… And, ultimately, leads to better code quality and faster “shipping”. 😏
💡 Pro tip — single-interface workflow: whenever possible, get your workflows into Raycast. You’ll reduce the number of tools and interfaces you need to interact with, and minimize distractions.
Work smarter, not harder
By now you’re probably already installing Raycast in the background, and if you are: have a great time setting up and enjoying being more productive. Great times ahead. 😎
For the sake of full disclosure, I will say that there may be a learning curve or initial setup time required to fully integrate Raycast into your workflow. My personal take (and of many others here at Pixelmatters) is that it’s very much worth it. If you’re willing to go through an adjustment period, just go for it. Once you try it, you’ll probably wonder how you’ve worked without it all your life.
As engineers, we’re always looking for ways to work smarter, not harder, and Raycast is a tool that embodies this. As I said before, Raycast is more than just a launcher, it’s a strong tool that can make you way more productive as an engineer. You’ll love minimized context switching and having more focus time on what matters most — writing great code (among other things, I’m sure).
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