bemenu vs Cerebro

bemenu is a dynamic menu library and client program inspired by dmenu. It provides the bemenu and bemenu-run clients, with build targets for curses, X11, and Wayland backends. Users can configure environment variables for options, backend selection, renderer paths, and rendering scale. The project documents default keyboard bindings and an optional Vim-style mode enabled with --binding vim. Wayland use depends on a compositor implementing the wlr-layer-shell protocol, typically a wlroots-based compositor. Clipboard pasting uses wl-paste and xclip at runtime, in that order. Building requires a C compiler, and scdoc is needed to generate the man page. The project also documents macOS build steps using Homebrew prerequisites and a build-osx.sh flow; its provided Nix expression installs only the curses backend. The client program and sources other than the library and bindings use GNU GPLv3 or later, while the library and bindings use GNU LGPLv3 or later. The project lists pinentry-bemenu as an integration. bemenu is free and open source, with no paid plans or usage limits stated.

Cerebro is a free, open-source desktop launcher for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It searches a user’s machine and the internet, and can find and open files, reveal them in Finder, copy contact details, and show Google suggestions. Core plugins add web search, application search and launch, file navigation with previews, a calculator, and a smart converter. Cerebro can also display maps, translations, and files within its results without opening another application. It includes a plugin manager, and users can build and share plugins through its API. The default shortcut for showing the app window is Ctrl+Space, and users can change it in Preferences. The search plugin lists Google, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Brave, MetaGer, and StartPage as options, though the project notes that not all are implemented yet. Cerebro is developed in Electron, and its README identifies the license as MIT. The official site links to downloads labeled version 0.11.0 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The listed plan costs nothing, with no paid plans listed.