Cerebro: A Keyboard-First Application Launcher

A keyboard-first launcher for files and applications

Cerebro replaces mouse-driven navigation with a single global hotkey. The default shortcut is `ctrl+space`, which toggles the launcher window. Type to search for applications, files, or commands, then press Enter or select from the results. The README describes it as an open-source launcher to improve your productivity and efficiency by keeping you in the keyboard workflow.

Unlike traditional application menus or file browsers, Cerebro searches across multiple domains in a single search box. Type `spotify` to launch the application, `~/downloads` to browse files, `weather` to fetch current conditions if a plugin is installed, or `10 usd in eur` to convert currency. Results appear instantly as you type, with no need to navigate menus or reach for the mouse. The launcher window can be opened and closed instantly without disrupting your workflow.

Core functionality and built-in plugins

Cerebro ships with several core plugins that require no installation and work immediately. Web search uses your default search engine to query the web without leaving the launcher. Application search finds installed applications and launches them with a single keystroke. File system navigation opens files and directories with preview support; typing `~/Dropbox/passport.pdf` opens the PDF preview if the file exists, or navigate to any path on your system. A calculator handles arithmetic expressions. A smart converter works with currency, units, and temperature conversions: `15$`, `150 рублей в евро` (150 rubles to euros), or `100 eur in gbp` all produce instant conversions without external API calls.

The launcher supports extensive keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation. `ctrl+c` copies the selected result to the clipboard. `ctrl+1` through `ctrl+9` select results directly by number without using the mouse. Vim-like navigation with `ctrl+[hjkl]` moves through results list, and `ctrl+o` selects the highlighted result. These shortcuts enable power users to operate entirely from the keyboard for maximum productivity.

Plugin system and customization

Cerebro's functionality extends through plugins that enhance the base functionality. You can discover and install plugins by typing `plugins <name>` into the search bar. The README links to an Awesome List of community plugins at https://github.com/lubien/awesome-cerebro, which catalogs available extensions for various use cases and integrations.

Creating custom plugins is supported via the create-cerebro-plugin documentation. The plugin system executes long-running tasks in a background renderer process to keep the main UI responsive and prevent freezing during intensive operations. Each plugin can implement an `initializeAsync` method for setup during startup, and plugins run asynchronously without blocking search results or UI interactions. This architecture allows you to extend Cerebro with custom functionality tailored to your specific workflow needs.

Cerebro Settings let you change the theme; Light and Dark themes are supported out of the box for different lighting conditions and user preferences. Configuration lives in a JSON file: on macOS at `~/Library/Application Support/Cerebro/config.json`, on Linux at `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/Cerebro/config.json`, and on Windows at `%APPDATA%/Cerebro/config.json`. The README warns that editing the config file directly can break Cerebro if done incorrectly; use the GUI instead. Version 0.11.0 is the latest release available.

Installation and development setup

Download the latest release from https://github.com/cerebroapp/cerebro/releases for your operating system. On Windows and macOS, installers are available. On Linux, you can install the AppImage or deb executable:

sudo chmod +x <path to the executable>
./<path to the executable>

For deb installers:

dpkg -i <path to the executable>

To build from source, clone the repository, install dependencies with yarn, and package:

git clone https://github.com/cerebroapp/cerebro.git cerebro
cd cerebro
yarn --force
yarn package

Run in development mode with:

yarn run dev

The project requires Node.js >= 16 and yarn. The README notes that node modules with native extensions require matching Node versions; if you see module version mismatches, run `yarn --force` to rebuild. On some Linux systems you may need to run installation commands with `sudo`. The project uses Husky for git hooks and conventional commits via `yarn cz` to maintain consistent version tracking.

Architecture: Electron with two renderer processes

Cerebro is built on Electron and React. Most Electron apps use one main process and one renderer process. Cerebro adds a second renderer process to keep the search interface responsive while plugins execute long-running tasks.

The main process (`app/main.development.js`) manages the app lifecycle, including initialization, window creation, and app termination. The first renderer (`app/main/main.js`) renders the search UI and handles user input. The second renderer (`app/background/background.js`) executes plugin `initializeAsync` methods and asynchronous tasks in the background. When a plugin needs to do work, it sends a message to the background process and waits for a response without freezing the search bar. This architecture ensures the search experience remains responsive even during long-running operations.

Webpack and Babel transpile and bundle the code for both main and renderer processes. electron-builder handles the cross-platform build and packaging process, generating installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux. GitHub Actions automatically publishes executables when releases are published. The project uses ESLint for code quality and jest for testing, with a test runner available via `yarn test`.

Maintenance status and platform support

The last release of Cerebro was version 0.11.0 on 2023-02-09. The most recent release before that was v0.10.0 (2022-11-28) and v0.9.0 (2022-11-09). The last push to the repository was on 2026-09-29, but this latest activity reflects minimal maintenance and no new releases over more than three years. The long gap between releases and today indicates that active development has significantly slowed. Recent pushes may have contained bug fixes or community contributions, but Cerebro is not under active feature development and should be considered stable but not evolving. The project is not archived and remains open to contributions.

Cerebro supports Windows, macOS, and Linux across all major versions. The README does not specify minimum OS versions beyond requiring Node.js >= 16 for development builds. Installers are built automatically via GitHub Actions when releases are published. The project uses electron-builder for cross-platform packaging, ensuring consistent installation experience across operating systems. Despite the slowdown in releases, existing installations remain functional if your system supports the required dependencies.

Editorial conclusion

Use Cerebro if you work from the keyboard and want instant access to applications and files without reaching for the mouse. Do not use it if you need active maintenance or recent updates; the last release was in February 2023. Before adopting it, test that the launcher works correctly on your OS variant and that the plugin ecosystem meets your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

1. cerebroapp/cerebro on GitHub
2. License: MIT
3. Project website
4. README
5. Releases