LiteSwitch: The best Mac app switcher
There’s software that gets used day in and day out, and ya just don’t give it much thought, like the AppleScript you installed years ago that’s seamlessly made the transition from Mac to Mac and just kept working without a hiccup. A short write up on Minimal Mac reminded me of such a handy bit o’ code, one that I’ve been using continuously since the ’90s.
LiteSwitch from Proteron Software is that app, version 1.0 of which shipped for the Mac back in November 1997. Nearly 13 years later, LiteSwitch 2.7 is the flavor and it’s still one of the first things I install on a new Mac, whether it’s for myself or a customer.
Whereas Minimal Mac’s Patrick Rhone enjoys the “hide on switch” functionality, I like the smaller icons and the ability to move backwards through the queue by pressing Command + Shift keys versus OS X’s native switcher, which requires three fingers. The ability to turn off mouse interaction is nice, too.
If you’re in a low-memory situation, LiteSwitch allows you to quit the Finder — a handy stopgap measure to keep your Mac running. There’s also Exposé integration, which gives you the ability to open specific windows within an application, keeping your hands firmly on the keyboard.
Lastly, although the current version of LiteSwitch is listed as a beta, it’s solid as a rock. Give it a shot…
Wow. After your article I have no idea why you like LiteSwitch other than you have used it for a long time. How is it different from the built in app switcher? Your description makes it sound exactly like the OSX app switcher except for the key combination. Why is it the best? Are there other alternatives as you imply? You said best, not better. Why is it the best of those? Unfortunately when I went to the Proteron site it provided no information either. Just a download link. You have to give someone some kind of reason to download and try it out especially a beta for gods sake. I like puppy dogs and midnight walks on the beach. So what?
Thanks for the feedback.
The main difference between LiteSwitch and the OS application swithcer is that you can target application windows rather than whole applications when switching. That is, the list of switch targets contains all of the open windows not the open applications. This is great for quickly cycling between working windows when working in multiple applications – without letting go of the keyboard.
An alternative? Have a look at Optimal Layout.
Just so you know, you can cycle backwards in the native app switcher by pressing the ` key after command-tab. I don’t like the three-finger shortcut either. Switché is cool, too.
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