Amberlin
A native Spotlight-style launcher for Linux Mint Cinnamon on X11. Press Ctrl + Super + Space, search files first, switch into KatKlips context when needed, and copy, paste, or open the exact item you need.
What It Searches
Files
Search local files under your home directory with fd/fdfind, using literal typed text and opening results with the default app.
Clipboard
Search recent clipboard history and pull earlier copies back into the current window.
Bookmarks
Open saved KatKlips bookmarks, URLs, and paths through the default application.
Notes
Find saved notes and copy or paste the note text without leaving the keyboard.
Recent
Search recent files and URIs tracked by KatKlips, then open the matching item.
Using Amberlin
Amberlin keeps the search field focused. Navigation keys operate on the results while typed text continues to refine the active search.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+Super+Space | Open or toggle the Amberlin palette. |
Type | Filter the active domain immediately. Files is the default domain. |
Tab / Shift+Tab | Cycle between Files, Clipboard, Bookmarks, Notes, and Recent. |
Up / Down | Move the selected result by one row. |
Page Up / Page Down | Move through results six rows at a time. |
Home / End | Jump to the first or last result. |
// | Show built-in commands such as //exit and //version. |
Enter | Activate the selected result. |
Esc | Close the palette. |
Opening Results
Clipboard and Notes
Activating a clipboard or note result copies its text. On the
supported Linux Mint Cinnamon X11 session, the packaged
xdotool dependency lets Amberlin paste into the
previously focused window: Ctrl + V for
normal apps and Ctrl + Shift +
V for terminals.
Bookmarks and Recent
Activating a bookmark or recent item opens its URI or filesystem path with the default application, then closes the palette.
Install and Run
The Debian package installs /usr/bin/amberlin,
/usr/bin/amberlin-shortcut, a desktop launcher, an enabled
Mint startup entry that runs amberlin --background, and a
Cinnamon autostart helper for the default shortcut.
# Build and install the local Debian package
make deb-install
# Or run from a source checkout
make install
make run
# Launch through the installed desktop entry
gtk-launch amberlin
# Start hidden in the background, as the Mint startup entry does
amberlin --backgroundProject Details
Native Cinnamon launcher
Installs a desktop entry, default Mint startup entry, and per-user Cinnamon shortcut for a small GTK4 palette that appears above the current workflow.
Files first
Starts on the Files domain and searches with fd/fdfind, keeping local files available even when KatKlips is unavailable.
Four KatKlips domains
Search clipboard history, bookmarks, notes, and recent items from the same focused search field.
Keyboard-first navigation
The search field keeps focus while arrows, paging keys, Home, End, and Enter control the result list.
Linux Mint X11 paste assist
Clipboard and note results are copied, then pasted back into the previously focused Cinnamon window with the packaged xdotool dependency.
Open files and links
Bookmark and recent results launch with the system default application using their URI or path.
Background startup
The packaged autostart entry runs amberlin --background so login keeps the single-instance app ready without showing the palette.
Odin, GTK4, DBus
Amberlin is written in Odin with GTK4, fd-backed file search, and KatKlips over the session bus.