Envied by your friends who use QuickSilver on OS X and Launchy on Windows. Key stroke program launchers can be a real time saver once you get the hang of it.

GNOME Do is a GNOME utility for fast launching of applications and files. It can easily be said to be the Linux equivalent of QuickSilver for Mac and Launchy for Windows. Using GNOME Do, you can easily launch your programs, files, Firefox bookmarks all from the comfort of your keyboard.

Installing GNOME Do on Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10

You can install GNOME Do on your Ubuntu system just like any other application. All you need to add is the GNOME Do repository.

1. Fire up Terminal.
2. Type sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
3. Add the following two lines at the end of the file :

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/rharding/ubuntu gutsy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/rharding/ubuntu gutsy main

4. Save the file, close it. Then in Terminal type sudo apt-get update
5. Finally install GNOME Do by typing sudo apt-get install gnome-do

Delicious Plugins

The plain install of GNOME Do gives you the ability to launch the applications that are installed on your system. But if that’s not enough for you, GNOME Do has plugin support too. Two of my favorite plugins are the Pidgin plugin and the Rhythmbox plugin.

Delicious Plugins !!!

For example you can install the Pidgin plugin, then launch Gnome Do, type the first few letters of the name of the contact and hit Enter. Voila, a Pidgin chat window will open to chat with that person. Same with Rhythmbox you can easily play specific albums or artists using the Rhythmbox plugin. All you need is to type few letters of the artist or album.

Thats not all. You can find the complete plugin list here.