Comparison of desktop application launchers
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.
Android
Windows
These desktop application launchers work with Microsoft Windows operating systems only.
| Creator | Latest stable version | Release date | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appetizer | Laurent Cozic | 1.4.6.494 | February 13, 2010 | GPL | Yes | C++, wxWidgets | Yes |
| ASuite | SalvadorSoftware | 2.0 | April 20, 2020 | GPL | Yes | Delphi | No |
| Classic Shell | Ivo Beltchev | 4.3.1 | August 12, 2017 | MIT | Yes | C++ | Yes (via shell namespace extensions inside the menu) |
| LiberKey | Captel SARL | 5.8.1129 | November 30, 2015 | Proprietary | No | ? | No |
| PortableApps.com Platform | Rare Ideas, LLC | 15.0.2 | May 17, 2018 | GPL | Yes[note 1] | Delphi | No |
| SliderDock | Dimitri Roozendaal | 1.21 | October 11, 2010 | Creative Commons | No | ? | No |
- PortableApps.com branding is trademarked
Linux
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9menu | Arnold Robbins | 1.8 | June 1, 2004 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C | No |
| Avant Window Navigator | Neil J. Patel | 0.4.2 [1] | November 27, 2013 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C | Yes |
| dmenu | dwm developers | 4.5[2] | December 19, 2011 | Linux | MIT License | Yes | C | No |
| GNOME Do | GNOME Do Developers | 0.95.1[3] | January 23, 2014 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C# | Yes |
| Katapult | TDE Developers | R14.0.6[4] | March 5, 2019 | Linux with TDE | GPL | Yes | C++ | Yes |
| Unity Dash | Canonical Ltd. | 7.3.0[5] | June 19, 2014 | Ubuntu | GPLv3 | Yes | Vala | Yes ("lenses" and "scopes") |
macOS
These desktop application launchers work with the Apple macOS operating system only.
| Creator | Latest stable version | Release date | Software license | Open source | Programming language | Plugin support | Runs on macOS Catalina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred | Running with Crayons | 4.2.1 | November 13, 2020 | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
| Butler | Peter Maurer | 4.3.2 | April 9, 2019 | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
| DragThing | James Thomson | 5.9.11 | November 16, 2016 | Proprietary | No | C++ | Yes | No |
| LaunchBar | Objective Development | 6.10 | April 24, 2019 | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
| Quicksilver | Blacktree Software | 1.3.4 | March 12, 2018 | Apache License | Yes | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
Cross platform
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 | Runs on macOS Catalina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launchy | Josh Karlin | 2.5.0 | April 4, 2010 | Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS | GPL | Yes | C++ (Qt) | Yes | No |
See also
- List of dock applications
- Novell ZENworks, software formerly named (and still informally termed) "Novell Application Launcher"
References
- "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.
- https://mirror.git.trinitydesktop.org/cgit/katapult/tag/?h=r14.0.6
- "Unity". Launchpad. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
External links
- 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
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