Comparison of desktop application launchers
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An application launcher is a computer program that helps a user to locate and start other computer programs. An application launcher provides shortcuts to computer programs, and stores the shortcuts in one place so they are easier to find.
In the comparison of desktop application launchers that follows, each section is devoted to a different desktop environment.
Contents
Android[edit]
Windows[edit]
These desktop application launchers work with Microsoft Windows operating systems only.
| Creator | Latest stable version | Release date | OS | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appetizer | Laurent Cozic | 1.4 | February 13, 2010 | Microsoft Windows | GPL | Yes | C++, wxWidgets | Yes |
| ASuite | SalvadorSoftware | 1.5.1.2 | May 24, 2008 | Microsoft Windows | GPL | Yes | Delphi | No |
| Classic Shell | Ivo Beltchev | 4.2.7 | May 25, 2016 | Microsoft Windows | Proprietary | No | C++ | Yes (via shell namespace extensions inside the menu) |
| Executor[1] | Martin Bresson | 0.99.12b | November 9, 2013 | Microsoft Windows | Proprietary | No | ? | No |
| Keypirinha[2] | Jean-Charles Lefebvre | 2.18.2 | November 13, 2017 | Microsoft Windows | Freeware | No | C++, Python3 | Yes (Python3 scripts) |
| LiberKey | Captel SARL | 5.8.1114 | November 15, 2014 | Microsoft Windows | Proprietary | No | ? | No |
| PortableApps.com Platform | Rare Ideas, LLC | 14.1 | May 13, 2016 | Microsoft Windows | GPL | Yes[note 1] | Delphi | No |
| SliderDock | Dimitri Roozendaal | 1.21 | October 11, 2010 | Microsoft Windows | Creative Commons | No | ? | No |
| SyMenu[3] | UGMFree.it | 5.10 | March 20, 2017 | Microsoft Windows | Freeware | No | C# | Yes |
| XIA Links[4] | CENTREL Solutions | 3.0 | January 27, 2017 | Microsoft Windows | Proprietary | No | VB.NET | Yes |
- ^ PortableApps.com branding is trademarked
Linux[edit]
These desktop application launchers work with Linux operating systems only.
| Creator | Latest stable version | Release date | OS | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulauncher [5] | Aleksandr Gornostal | 3.11.1 | September 2, 2017 | Linux | GPLv3 | Yes | Python | Yes |
| xlunch | Tomas Matejicek | 1.0 | December 12, 2016 | Linux | GPLv3 | Yes | C | No |
| 9menu | Arnold Robbins | 1.8 | June 1, 2004 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C | No |
| Avant Window Navigator | Neil J. Patel | 0.4.2 [6] | November 27, 2013 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C | Yes |
| dmenu | dwm developers | 4.5[7] | December 19, 2011 | Linux | MIT License | Yes | C | No |
| GNOME Do | GNOME Do Developers | 0.95.1[8] | January 23, 2014 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C Sharp | Yes |
| Katapult | Katapult Developers | 0.3.2.1 | July 23, 2008 | Linux with KDE | GPL | Yes | C++ | Yes |
| Kupfer | Kupfer | 208 | June 1, 2012 | Linux | GPL | Yes | Python | Yes |
| Synapse [9] | Synapse core team | 0.2.99.1 | January 28, 2015 | Linux | GPLv3 | Yes | Vala | Yes |
| Unity Dash | Canonical Ltd. | 7.3.0[10] | June 19, 2014 | Ubuntu | GPLv3 | Yes | Vala | Yes ("lenses" and "scopes") |
| Albert | Manuel Schneider | 0.11.2 [11] | May 13, 2016 | Linux | GPLv3 | Yes | C++ | Yes |
macOS[edit]
These desktop application launchers work with the Apple macOS operating system only.
| Creator | Latest stable version | OS | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred | Running with Crayons | 3.0.3 | macOS | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes |
| Butler | Peter Maurer | 4.1.6 | macOS | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes |
| DragThing | James Thomson | 5.9.11 | macOS | Proprietary | No | C++ | Yes |
| LaunchBar | Objective Development | 6.5 | macOS | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes |
| Quicksilver | Blacktree Software | 1.3.4 | macOS | Apache License | Yes | Objective-C | Yes |
Cross platform[edit]
These desktop application launchers work with two or more different operating systems.
| Creator | Latest stable version | Release date | OS | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerebro | Alexandr Subbotin | 0.2.1 | November 10, 2016 | Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS | MIT | Yes | Javascript | Yes |
| Launchy | Josh Karlin | 2.5.0 | April 4, 2010 | Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL | Yes | C++ (Qt) | Yes |
See also[edit]
- List of dock applications
- Novell ZENworks, software formerly named (and still informally termed) "Novell Application Launcher"
References[edit]
- ^ executor homepage
- ^ Keypirinha homepage
- ^ SyMenu home page
- ^ XIA Links homepage
- ^ Ulauncher.io
- ^ "Awn in Launchpad". Launchpad. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ^ "suckless.org software that sucks less". suckless.org. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ^ Rogers, Chris. "Do 0.95.1 released". Launchpad. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ synapse-project
- ^ "Unity". Launchpad. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ Albert Releases
External links[edit]
- John Emmatty (November 2011) A Mouse Free Approach For Working With Your System.
- (in German) Anke Anlauf (14 January 2010), Schmucke PC-Docks wie auf dem Mac (roundup of MS Windows launchers), Softonic OnSoftware
- Peter (October 15, 2008) The State of Linux Docks, linuxhaxor.net
- jdeslip (June 25, 2009) The Best Docks on the Linux Coast, Berkeley Linux Users Group
