nate-parrott/Flashlight
Flashlight
Flashlight is a macOS Spotlight plugin framework and system integration tool. It serves as a custom search provider that allows the injection of tailored data sources and programmable result actions into the native macOS search interface.
The system utilizes a plugin-based query interception model to return custom results and metadata. It distinguishes itself through a multi-language plugin system that supports region-specific visibility and content localization, as well as the ability to render rich, web-based inline previews directly within the search window.
The framework covers search query processing and the triggering of custom functions with specific arguments upon result selection. It also includes capabilities for plugin visual branding, such as custom icons and dark-mode assets.
Features
- MacOS System Extensions - Extends the macOS operating system's native Spotlight search interface through a system of custom plugins.
- System Search Enhancements - Provides a framework to extend the native macOS Spotlight search interface with custom results and programmatic query processing.
- Search Result Previews - Implements rich, web-based inline previews that render directly within the macOS search window.
- Search Engine Plugins - Provides a framework for integrating custom data sources into the macOS search platform through plugins.
- Content Search Providers - Acts as an interface for registering custom search sources to enable tailored content insertion across the system.
- Search Query Processing - Intercepts user input in the search interface to generate custom results and associated metadata.
- Custom Search Tooling - Provides a framework for developing custom logic to intercept search terms and return tailored data within a search interface.
- Spotlight Plugin Frameworks - Provides a comprehensive system for extending the macOS search interface with custom data sources and programmable result actions.
- Search Query Interception - Intercepts user search terms via a plugin system to return custom data and results to the native interface.
- Embedded Web Renderers - Integrates embedded web renderers to display rich, interactive content previews directly within the search window.
- Rich Content Previews - Renders web-based views directly within the search window to provide detailed information for specific search results.
- Plugin Localization - Supports the translation of plugin user interfaces and content into multiple languages for localized extensions.
- Plugin Visibility Filters - Provides the ability to limit plugin visibility by matching plugin configuration against the active system language code.
- Search-Term Action Triggers - Triggers specific tasks by passing the current search result or query as input to a target action.
- Selection Action Triggers - Triggers custom functions and passes specific arguments to target actions upon the selection of a search result.
- Localized Plugin Systems - Provides a toolkit for developing localized search extensions with support for region-specific visibility and translation.
- Localization Mapping - Maps translation keys to localized strings from resource bundles to provide a multi-language user interface.
- Callback Argument Passing - Implements the ability to pass contextual data and arguments from search result triggers into execution callbacks.
- Locale-Based Plugin Resolution - Matches user language preferences to specific plugin configurations to control visibility based on the system locale.
- Key-Based String Localizations - Translates user-facing strings in plugins using key-value lookup tables to support multiple system languages.
Star history
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