Raycast Alfred

When to Use This Skill

USE when:

• Building quick access tools for developer workflows
• Automating repetitive macOS tasks
• Creating custom search commands
• Building clipboard history managers
• Implementing text snippet expansion
• Creating project launchers and switchers
• Building API query tools
• Automating application control
• Creating custom keyboard shortcuts
• Building team productivity tools

DON'T USE when:

• Cross-platform automation needed (use shell scripts)
• Server-side automation (use cron/systemd)
• GUI testing automation (use Playwright/Selenium)
• Windows/Linux environments
• Heavy computation tasks (use proper CLI tools)

Prerequisites

Raycast Setup

# Install Raycast
brew install --cask raycast

# Install Node.js (required for extension development)
brew install node

# Install Raycast CLI
npm install -g @raycast/api


*See sub-skills for full details.*
### Alfred Setup

```bash
# Install Alfred (Powerpack required for workflows)
brew install --cask alfred

# Alfred workflow locations
# ~/Library/Application Support/Alfred/Alfred.alfredpreferences/workflows/

# Create workflow via Alfred Preferences > Workflows > + > Blank Workflow

# Workflow components:

*See sub-skills for full details.*
### Development Environment

```bash
# For Raycast TypeScript development
npm install -g typescript @types/node

# For Alfred Python workflows
pip install alfred-workflow  # (legacy, but useful patterns)

# AppleScript tools
brew install --cask script-debugger  # Optional: AppleScript IDE

# Testing tools
brew install jq  # JSON parsing

Version History

Resources

• Raycast Developer Documentation
• Raycast API Reference
• Alfred Workflow Documentation
• AppleScript Language Guide
• Raycast Store
• Alfred Gallery

This skill provides production-ready patterns for macOS launcher automation, enabling keyboard-driven productivity and seamless workflow integration.

Sub-Skills

• 1. Raycast Script Commands
• 2. Raycast TypeScript Extensions
• 3. Alfred Workflows - AppleScript
• 4. Alfred Workflows - Python
• 5. Raycast Extension - API Integration
• Project Switcher Integration
• 1. Raycast Extension Development (+2)
• Common Issues (+1)

Sub-Skills

• Headers
• 6. Keyboard Shortcuts and Snippets