Enso + Ubiquity = Command-line Nirvana

Being a Linux systems administrator and having a command line at my fingertips pretty much all time, I can testify to the use of being able to type things into a terminal and getting immediate feedback/gratification.  Some things are just easier to type onto a command line, and some things are just impossible to accomplish without typing a command fully laden with parameters and arguments.  Such is the world of Unix/Linux.

This is one of the main reasons Linux people don’t like Windows.  The computer-human interface is limited to a mouse, and the user is forced into a world that is based on finding the correct icon and double-clicking, as well as “Click Next to Continue” and “Are you sure you want to do this? [Ok] [Cancel]“.  Linux users normally subconsciously ask themselves each time “Of course I’m sure, if I wasn’t sure why would I have clicked on it?” There is rarely an instance on Linux where the user types something onto a command-line and is asked “Are you sure?”

For most Windows users, typing on the command-line is not how things are done.  The command-line itself is hidden from view.  Even when it is launched, only the more savvy Windows users know what to type to accomplish anything, because it is remnant of the old DOS era where most things where typed at a C:> prompt.

What if Windows users could type something to launch applications, or find existing opened windows?

Enso is probably the coolest thing I’ve seen, on a Windows platform, in a really long time.  Humanized has taken the concept of a command-line interface and set it free from the window, which makes it a bit better than a terminal window on a Linux platform.  Want to open Mozilla Firefox? Just hold down the Caps Lock key and type OPEN FIREFOX.  A translucent window with no frames pops up informing you “Opening Firefox…” and then Firefox launches.  Want to make a quick calculation in Calculator?   Hold down Caps Lock, and type OPEN CALCULATOR. Up comes the calculator.  Want to go back to Firefox and not have to Alt+Tab your way through all the opened windows?  Hold down Caps Lock, and type GO FIREFOX. Firefox will be brought to the front.

ALL FOR FREE.

Now what would happen if you brought the diversity of vast number of resources on the Internet to bear on this concept?

Mozilla has taken the concept of a command-line and integrated it into the web browser.  Its still in the very early stages of development, but is already VERY useful, especially to a command-line junky like myself.

Ubiquity lets you do tedious tasks within seconds inside the Firefox browser that you would normally spend minutes doing.  Consult your calendar. Check your inbox. Quickly email a friend. Pull up a map of a list of addresses.  Search Youtube.  Translate highlighted text. The list goes on and on because there are new commands being created all the time — and this has only come out a mere week ago!  The actual cool part is that Ubiquity lets you mash and mix things up — insert a map into your email, find lyrics for a song and post them to a webpage, invite someone for a meeting at a restaurant complete with a restaurant review…