HALauncher

HALauncher is a software utility that gives you the possibility to configure keyboard shortcuts for quickly launching installed or portable applications. It features intuitive options that can be configured with ease by all types of users, even the ones inexperienced with such tools.

Easy installation and systray integration

Installing this app shouldn't take long, since there are no special options involved. Once launched, HALauncher gets integrated into the system tray to facilitate quick access to the configuration panel while enabling you to proceed with your typical desktop activity without any interruptions.

Assign keyboard shortcuts for running tools easily

It's possible to set up hotkeys for up to 100 programs. This can be done by indicating their executable files and making a combination of two, three or four keys.
All changes can be applied with the click of a button, and the tool can get minimized to the systray while remaining active. In addition, you can clear all hotkeys with one click to remap all commands, as well as ask the program to start minimized and automatically run at every Windows startup until further notice. The GUI language can be changed too.

Evaluation and conclusion

The software product worked smoothly in our testing while remaining light on system resources consumption. It didn't put a strain on the overall performance of the machine, running on a low amount of memory and CPU. We haven't had any compatibility issues with the latest Windows edition in our evaluation.
To wrap it up, HALauncher is a practical and easy-to-use application that gives you the possibility to seamlessly launch installed or portable tools by customizing keyboard shorcuts available at a global level. It's lightweight and free, geared toward all types of users looking for various methods to boost their productivity on the computer while working or studying.