External Ask & Intent Routing: Route Questions Across Tools from a Single Window

SpotAsk streamlines your query workflow: write down your question in a clean floating window, then send it off to the tool best suited to answer.

You can dispatch queries manually using in-window channel buttons or shortcuts, or optionally configure decision routing to receive destination suggestions when sending.

Core Capabilities

• Multiple Destination Types: Forward queries directly to web search engines (such as Perplexity or ChatGPT), local command-line tools (such as CLI agents), or native macOS applications via URL schemes.
• In-Window Quick Dispatch: After typing, click a channel button or press its assigned shortcut to send; when the composer is empty, clicking or pressing the shortcut pre-selects the channel.
• Optional Decision Routing: You can configure and enable a decision service. When sending, SpotAsk requests a channel recommendation from your configured service, defaulting to manual confirmation before dispatch, or automatic release when confidence exceeds your threshold.

3-Step Quick Start

1. Configure Channels: Open Settings > External Ask to review built-in channels or click "New" to add custom web links, app schemes, or shell commands.
2. (Optional) Configure Decision Routing: If you want suggestions, fill in the service address, model ID, and API key under Decision Routing, and enable the toggle.
3. Summon & Send: Summon SpotAsk using your global hotkey, type your question, and click a channel or use its shortcut; if decision routing is active, confirm the suggested destination upon sending.

Visual Demo

Video: one question, three destinations — decision routing on real app footage (28s). Download / Watch HD Video (1080p MP4)

Figure 1: SpotAsk dispatching a question into a local CLI tool in Terminal.

Verified Boundaries & Practical Notes

• Decision Service & Network Latency: While the routing interface is built into the application, the classification model runs via an external decision service you configure, not locally on-device. Response time depends on network and service availability, guarded by a configurable timeout (default 2 seconds).
• Data Transmission & Attachments: When enabled, decision routing transmits your prompt text to the decision service for classification; prompts containing file or image attachments bypass decision routing and are handled directly by your configured conversation model (which may contact remote providers if configured).
• Environment Dependencies: Web channels depend on active login sessions in your default browser; terminal commands run in your user shell environment and require target CLI tools to be installed in your $PATH.

Download SpotAsk

Download the latest DMG from GitHub Releases (Apple Silicon and Intel supported), or install via Homebrew:

brew tap shiquda/spotask https://github.com/shiquda/SpotAsk
brew install --cask shiquda/spotask/spotask

Related Guides

• External Ask Comprehensive Guide — Custom channels, decision routing tuning, and userscripts.
• macOS AI Launcher — Instant global hotkey summoning.
• BYOK Native AI Client — Connect your own API keys.
• Global Selection Assistant — In-place text processing across apps.