Rubick is a cross-platform desktop launcher built on Electron that provides a keyboard-activated search interface for quickly finding and launching local applications, files, and folders. It functions as a plugin-based desktop utility, treating each plugin as an npm package that can be installed, removed, and managed through standard npm tooling, with a built-in marketplace for discovery and lifecycle management.
The project distinguishes itself through its support for self-hosted and intranet-only deployment, enabling enterprise environments to run the toolbox entirely within an internal network without external dependencies. It offers private npm registry deployment for hosting plugins offline, and uses WebDAV data synchronization to keep user data and settings consistent across devices while keeping all data under user control. The application also supports desktop theme customization, allowing changes to appearance, welcome messages, and avatars without requiring a paid subscription.
The platform provides system-wide global hotkey activation to trigger the main search interface and plugin commands, along with the ability to find and launch local apps, files, and folders by typing names or abbreviations. Plugin activation can be configured through hotkeys or keywords, with installation available from either the built-in marketplace or an npm registry.