Ferro is a Google Chrome extension that functions similarly to application launchers like Quicksilver, Launchy, and GNOME Do, but it can do much more than just open apps. Using only your keyboard, you can quickly open pages in your history or bookmarks, open extension options pages, and save your current tabs for opening later (see sessions section below). You can also perform many other commands, such as deleting a bookmark, disabling an extension, and pinning a tab.
Add current tab to session
Close tabs that match the given text or the given tab's domain
Delete session or bookmark
Show description of extension or app
Disable extension or app
Enable extension or app
Extract tabs that match the given text or the given tab's domain into a new window
Open homepage of extension or app
Kill tabs that match the given text or the given tab's domain
Kill all tabs
Open saved session, bookmark, history item, or special page
Open the options page of an extension or app
Reload All Tabs
Reload every tab in every window
Reload All Tabs In Window
Reload every tab in this window
Save the current window with the name given
Save all open windows with the name given
Search through your history for the given text
Speak aloud the given text
Uninstall extension or app
Ferro is named after iron. Iron and chromium are joined to form the alloy ferrochrome, a constituent of steel (it prevents corrosion and increases hardness). Iron is also pretty exquisite on its own. At a small scale, it is the center of the protein that transports oxygen around our bodies. At a medium scale, it's the most common element inside our planet. And at a large scale, it's the largest element the Sun can create until our dear star becomes a red giant in ~5.4 billion years. (And then it can only make up to Bismuth. It takes a much larger star to make larger elements, and then only when it explodes.) Shout out to China for mining the majority of today's iron ore.
Press Alt-Shift-F to open Ferro
Start typing and suggestions will be displayed. Suggestions are drawn from:
Installed apps and extensions
Chrome special pages (listed on chrome://about).
Change your selection using the ▼ or ▲ arrows or Ctrl-N/P on a Mac.
The default command will be displayed in the right section. Sessions will be reopened, open tabs will be selected, and bookmarks, history items, apps, extension options pages, and special pages will be opened in a new tab.
To change the command, use tab or the ▶ arrow to select the right section. Then start typing the name of the command or use the ▼ or ▲ arrows.
When you have completed making your selection, press the enter key.
To close Ferro without making a selection, press the esc key.
If you select a command in the left section, nothing is needed in the right section. Examples of commands that can appear in the left section are “Pin”, which will pin the current tab, and “Reload All Tabs.”
Some commands, such as “Extract” or “Speak,” require you to enter text in the left section. To begin entering text, press period. Then type the text and continue as normal. For more such commands, see those in the full command list below that call for “given text” or “name given”.
You can save your session - current set of open tabs - and open it later. You may use this for instance if you are working on a research project and have many web pages open in different tabs or windows, and you would like to close them for a while but be able to reopen them later. Saved sessions are synced with all computers that you have signed on in Chrome with your Google account. (See the “Sign in” section of Chrome's settings.)
Saving a session is another example of needing to enter text in the left section. Press period, then type the name you would like to give the new session. Press tab, type “save”, and select either the “Save” command, which saves all the tabs in your current window, or the “Save All” command, which saves all open windows. Finally, press the enter key.
Saved sessions can be viewed on the Ferro options page.
Sessions can be opened or deleted by typing the name of the session in the Ferro popup.
Ferro does not transmit your personal information to nor store it on our servers. That includes, for instance, your browsing history, bookmarks, and saved sessions. The only personal information stored is your saved sessions, and that is either stored on your computer, or if you are signed into Chrome, on Chrome's sync servers, which are secured by Google.
The only dynamic content that is displayed to you and did not originate from you is the list of recent donations on the options page, and that data is escaped.