install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrew Caskverified · 100%

brew install --cask butler

local Homebrew cask metadata

overview

Package summary

Arrange your tasks in a customisable configuration

Project links

Commands and aliases

No executable aliases were found in the local package database.

history

Project history and usage

Butler is a long-running macOS productivity and automation utility that maps configurable tasks to menu-bar items, hot keys, abbreviations, hot corners, events, and other triggers.

Project history

The application began as Another Launcher. Version 4.0 beta renamed it Butler because its functionality had expanded beyond launching applications. Subsequent releases continued to adapt the original design to newer macOS releases while retaining its configurable collection of tasks and triggers.

Adoption history

Butler accumulated a long-lived Mac power-user niche by combining launcher, menu-bar, clipboard, search, scripting, and automation functions in one configurable utility. Many Tricks continues to publish compatibility releases for modern macOS versions.

How it is used

Users build a hierarchical configuration of applications, files, bookmarks, searches, scripts, text snippets, pasteboards, and system actions, then invoke those items with menus or keyboard and pointer triggers. A Butler setup can be migrated by copying its Application Support directory, preferences plist, and license file.

Why package nerds care

Butler represents the highly configurable Mac launcher tradition that predates many contemporary command palettes. Its granular triggers, nested configuration, AppleScript support, pasteboards, and hot-corner automation make it attractive to users who prefer deeply customized desktop workflows.

Timeline

Early 2000s: Another Launcher emerged as a Mac OS X launcher and menu-bar search utility.
Butler 4.0 beta: Another Launcher was renamed Butler to reflect its broader automation role.
Butler 4.4.x: Many Tricks delivered compatibility fixes for macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and later releases.

Related projects

Another Launcher
Alfred
LaunchBar
Quicksilver
Many Tricks Witch

Sources

security posture

No protected-tool coverage found yet

No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for butler. Package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Butler~/Library/Preferences/com.manytricks.Butler.plist

Credential files

Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Many Tricks/Licenses/<user>.butlerlicense

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
No executable data was present.

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-11-04

manager version4.4.9

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamnot checked

latest detectednot detected

https://manytricks.com/butler/

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://manytricks.com/butler/none confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	cask:butler
Version	4.4.9
Package manager	Homebrew Cask
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/cask/butler
Homepage	https://manytricks.com/butler/
Upstream docs	https://manytricks.com/butler/
Source archive	https://manytricks.com/download/_do_not_hotlink_/butler449.dmg
SHA-256	fe01992fa005bc4162f7b38d9d8521b713a48f4e43fc3ebf7e787f570803fab1
Bottle	not recorded
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew cask API
Tap	homebrew/cask
Full Token	butler
Names	Butler
Artifacts	App 1 Target 1 Zap 1
Auto Updates	yes
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/butler.yml

Used sources

cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated configuration and credential file locations
curated package history
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment
pkgdb category and tag curation

Install butler with Homebrew Cask