I try not to let auto-launching apps accumulate, although every app seems to think it should be auto-launched, so itâs not always easy.
All I need to have launched at login are these:
via Keyboard Maestro
Keyboard Maestro offers a floating palette offering to âLaunch Appsâ which can either be selected or dismissed.
If selected, it disappears and launches these apps, one at a time, via a shell script (which makes it easy to add/edit/delete/reorder):
All of the above are menu-bar-only apps (or at least are only launched with their menu bar elements open).
No apps live permanently in my dock except for Finder and Launchpad.
The only âregularâ app that Keyboard Maestro launches is iTerm2.
Conditionals
Keyboard Maestro also launches the Stream Deck IFF the Stream Deck is attached, and if my iPad is attached, it will also launch Duet Display.
Then What?
When I press Caps Lock, it will trigger Alfred, or (thanks to Keyboard Maestro) it will launch Alfred and then bring up its text box.
From there I usually start FMail to check my personal email.
Once I am done with that, I will check Mailplane for my Gmail account which is mostly email lists, forum messages, etc. 99% is immediately marked as âreadâ and then I quit Mailplane.
If itâs a workday I will then launch MailMate to check my work email.
Then I check my calendar and go from there.