--- title: "Let Alfred accelerate your actions!" url: "https://www.bekk.christmas/post/2022/06/let-alfred-accelerate-your-actions" authors: ["Geir Sagberg"] published: "2022-12-06" updated: "2024-11-07T13:05:28Z" language: "en-US" type: "article" tags: ["Hverdagshacks"] keywords: ["alfred", "productivity"] --- # Let Alfred accelerate your actions! Say you want to open a project in VS Code, or in IntelliJ IDEA, or maybe you want to navigate to one of several projects in Google Cloud. If you are currently spending more than five seconds to find what you are looking for, this blog post is for you. ## In short Alfred can speed up everyday Mac workflows by letting you search for files, open folders in the right apps, look up definitions, and trigger custom workflows with a few typed commands. With community workflows, you can jump straight to GitHub repos, open projects in VS Code or JetBrains IDEs, and quickly reach specific Google Cloud projects and services. - **For:** Mac developers who want faster navigation and app launching - **Good to know beforehand:** A Mac and some familiarity with Alfred _AI-generated_ If you are using a Mac and you are not using [Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/), you are missing out. Alfred is a Spotlight replacement on steroids, and the free version gives you an incredible tool for searching your files or the web. To whet your appetite, here are some useful commands: ![An Alfred window showing "find doc"](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/73ba8af01f01433fe42401d3e96bf84388ff9da3-1150x672.png) _Reveal a file in Finder_ Type "find x" to start searching for a file and then press enter, and your file will be revealed in Finder. Handy! ![An Alfred window showing "open ai"](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/06ad438d87bde71a8df530fdbf9c0afb71437e13-1142x666.png) _Open any folder or file_ Type "open x" to search for any file or folder and open it in a relevant program. Spotlight can't do this! ![An Alfred window showing "define banana"](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/1a9729b5ab703fb52fd8f30102b4727f6b4c695b-1136x550.png) _Use "define" to find the meaning of a word_ Type "define x" to find the meaning of a word. No longer will you be ignorant of the meaning of "octothorpe", "petrichor" or "sillage"! However, the real fun starts with the [Alfred Powerpack](https://www.alfredapp.com/powerpack/). I promise I'm not sponsored by Alfred, it is just that good! With the Powerpack you can make your own workflows, but more importantly you can partake in a plethora of pre-made plugins from the Alfred community. Today I will share some of my favorite workflows with you, dear reader. #### Open any GitHub Repo ![Alfred workflow for GitHub](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/98655e4b4f79bac7b39cb0bbbd08740df5ac01f4-572x538.png) _Find relevant repos easily with "gh"_ Find and navigate to public and private repos by entering "gh" and a search term. This one saves me a lot of time! Check out [https://github.com/gharlan/alfred-github-workflow](https://github.com/gharlan/alfred-github-workflow) for info on how to install it. Requires a tiny bit of fiddling (and installing PHP), but it's definitely worth it for the time it saves! #### Open a project in Visual Studio Code ![Alfred workflow showing "Open with VS Code"](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/2ec3cc736d9494ebb1ba77df6122dea3c3f96a1a-571x381.png) _Open a folder in VS Code by typing "code"_ VS Code is perhaps the tool I use most during a working day, often jumping between folders and projects. With "code ..." I can find and open a folder as quickly as possible. There are several workflows to choose from; I use the one from [https://github.com/alexchantastic/alfred-open-with-vscode-workflow](https://github.com/alexchantastic/alfred-open-with-vscode-workflow), but feel free to try any other and find one that works for you. #### Open a project in IntelliJ IDEA (or any other Jetbrains IDE) ![Alfred workflow for opening a folder in IntelliJ IDEA](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/cd95d80f654c01b12bfd421378e08ec5b0e18b3e-570x226.png) _Open an IntelliJ project with "idea"_ Quite similar to the VS Code one, this workflow lets you jump straight into a matching IntelliJ project using "idea ...". Can also be used with any other JetBrains IDE like PyCharm or Rider. Grab it at [https://github.com/bchatard/alfred-jetbrains](https://github.com/bchatard/alfred-jetbrains) and start saving time today! #### Open a specific service in a Google Cloud Project ![Alfred workflow for opening a GCP Project and service](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/1bdb7a023036d29cb8fd9fc29b7b46d63162a7d7-569x485.png) _Open a GCP Project and Service with "g "_ This one is probably my favorite for the amount of time it has saved me. For anyone working with GCP, I imagine your workflow to be something like this: 1. Open console.cloud.google.com in a browser 2. Navigate or search to find your project 3. Click or search to find your service Unfortunately, each one of these steps have quite a delay to wait for things to load. Now, with [https://github.com/jarlefosen/alfred-gcloud-shortcuts](https://github.com/jarlefosen/alfred-gcloud-shortcuts), you only have to type "g", and it will automatically remember your most recent GCP projects and services, and let you search them. Saves me 15 seconds every time, which does add up. ![A butler working on a futuristic computer, a task flying out of the screen](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ah2n1vfr/bekk-blogg-prod/f1d79206f787d861f5e351445cfea669b5a14a6a-1536x1024.png) _Let Alfred make your digital tasks fly!_ I hope these Alfred tips and workflows will give you a flying start, and if you don't find a workflow you are looking for, why don't you [start making your own?](https://www.alfredapp.com/help/workflows/#creating) ## Relevant resources recommended by the author - [Getting started with Alfred Workflows](https://www.alfredapp.com/help/workflows/getting-started/): An introduction to using and creating Alfred Workflows