OS X app launcher Quicksilver ends its decade-long beta

After years of development, a shift from closed source to open source, and the advent of popular competitors like Alfred, the OS X productivity tool Quicksilver is finally leaving behind the beta tag it has been carrying around since 2003. According to the Quicksilver blog, the new release "means more than just a change in the version numbering system—it signifies a maturity of Quicksilver and a sign of what’s to come."

Version 1.0.0, which supports OS X 10.6, 10.7, and 10.8 is available to download from Quicksilver's website. Quicksilver still has the same core feature set the app has always had: it allows users to quickly launch applications and open files with just a few keyboard shortcuts or mouse gestures (called "triggers" in Quicksilver-ese). The pitch for the app is very simple, but its extensive customization features and plugin library allow it to hook into many popular OS X apps, saving you the trouble of having to use your mouse to drag around and interact with the operating system. These plugins are another key focus for version 1.0.0, and the Quicksilver developers hope to be able to attract them back to the ecosystem.