It's called PyQe (Python Quick Execute).

I've been using wmii for a bit, and one of the things I've liked best is the way you can launch applications or run a script is by pressing Ctrl-Alt-P, then type in the first couple of letters of the executable's name. The app starts right away. For people who don't always want to leave the keyboard to launch an app with their mouse, this is really a nice tool.

Since I don't always use wmii but sometimes use fluxbox, windowmaker and other wm's, I looked for a similar launcher that I could run as a standalone. I found it here: http://pyqe.sourceforge.net/.

It can be configured to run nearly anything from any key sequence you designate. The developer has done a great job, but I think he'd appreciate some input from you master coders about ways to improve PyQe.

This is an unsolicited endorsement, by the way!

Most window managers have the capability to assign keystrokes to applications natively. Not sure why you'd have to have a separate app for this, especially since it seems more typing is required: ctl+alt+p then name of app. For example, in metacity (Gnome), I have several keyboard shortcuts assigned to run apps: alt+f for files, etc. I have done the same thing in Windowmaker, Fluxbox, Openbox and Blackbox, although in Blackbox, you must run bbkeys to have keyboard functionality because it's not built in to the window manager.

I'm sure that if you wanted to access just a few apps, using the wm's hotkey capability would be adequate.

What I'm wanting to do is access many -- or all -- my executables by typing in the initial letters of their name. That way I only have to memorize one hotkey -- the one to bring up my little program launcher.

But maybe I'm not understanding what you're describing.

No you understood - I see where you are coming from also - only having to memorize one shortcut. That makes sense. At first I couldn't see why a program would need to be created to launch apps when most WM's do that already, but you are extending that behavior by using a single shortcut key and passing the first few letters of the apps name to your app. Your way is more versatile, I understand!