In this discussion, Thomas Paul Mann, Co-founder and CEO of Raycast and ex-Facebook engineer, dives into how Raycast transformed from a simple launcher to a full productivity powerhouse. He shares insights on user-centric innovation and community involvement in building extensions. Topics like the introduction of AI chat features and strategies for enhancing user engagement are highlighted. Mann emphasizes the importance of maintaining user privacy while adapting to rapid technological changes, showcasing Raycast's ambitious vision for the future.

A command line and a GUI are two completely different ways to operate a computer—but quick launchers and command palettes have found a way to bring them together. Thomas is building Raycast, an extensible quick launcher for macOS. He joins Mark and Adam to discuss the evolution of launchers from Quicksilver to Spotlight to the Chrome address bar; reasons to embed web technologies into a native app; and how voice interfaces like Siri and Alexa fit into this story. Discuss this episode in the Muse community Follow @MuseAppHQ on Twitter Show notes Thomas Paul Mann @thomaspaulmann Raycast Spark AR Raycast API Metamuse episode on platforms Spotlight, iOS Search KDE, Krunner Quicksilver Superhuman, Linear, Notion Arc Siri, Alexa

Thomas Paul Mann, Co-founder of Raycast, discusses productivity on Mac, community-built extensions, Raycast Store, and AI chat interface. Raycast evolves from a launcher to a productivity tool with AI integration paving the way for its future.

Thomas Paul Mann, Co-founder and CEO of Raycast, discusses productivity on a Mac, community-built extensions, Raycast Store, and executing Raycast AI chat. Raycast evolves into a full-on productivity tool with AI access, paving the way for future developments.

In this engaging conversation, Thomas Mann, co-founder of Raycast, shares insights on their innovative productivity app that enhances Mac user experience. He discusses its extensive features, including application search and window management, that redefine productivity tools. Thomas dives into Raycast's unique extension ecosystem, addressing design choices and user-driven enhancements. He also reflects on his journey through Y Combinator, the balance of power and usability, and his passion for coding and community building, making this a must-listen for developers and productivity enthusiasts alike!