Comparison of desktop application launchers explained

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

See main article: List of Android launchers.

Windows

These desktop application launchers work with Microsoft Windows operating systems only.

CreatorLatest stable versionRelease dateSoftware licenseOpen sourceProgramming languagePlugin support
AppetizerLaurent Cozic1.4.6.494GPLC++, wxWidgets
ASuiteSalvadorSoftware2.0GPLDelphi
Classic ShellIvo Beltchev4.3.1MITC++[1]
Microsoft PowerToys RunMicrosoft0.73.0MITC++, C#
PortableApps.com PlatformRare Ideas, LLC15.0.2GPL[2] Delphi
SliderDockDimitri Roozendaal 1.21Creative Commons

Linux

These desktop application launchers work with Linux operating systems only.

CreatorLatest stable versionRelease dateOSSoftware licenseOpen sourceProgramming languagePlugin support
9menuArnold Robbins1.8LinuxGPLC
Avant Window NavigatorNeil J. Patel0.4.2 [3] LinuxGPLC
dmenudwm developers5.4[4] LinuxMIT LicenseC
GNOME DoGNOME Do Developers0.95.1[5] LinuxGPLC#
KatapultTDE DevelopersR14.0.6[6] Linux with TDEGPLC++
Unity DashCanonical Ltd.7.3.0[7] UbuntuGPLv3Vala ("lenses" and "scopes")
SynapseMichal Hruby and Alberto Aldegheri0.2.99.4[8] LinuxGPLv3Vala

macOS

These desktop application launchers work with the Apple macOS operating system only.

CreatorLatest stable versionRelease dateSoftware licenseOpen sourceProgramming languagePlugin supportRuns on macOS Catalina
AlfredRunning with Crayons5.5March 18, 2024ProprietaryObjective-C
ButlerPeter Maurer4.4.8January 8, 2024ProprietaryObjective-C
DragThingJames Thomson5.9.17November 16, 2016ProprietaryC++
LaunchBarObjective Development6.19.1July 5, 2024ProprietaryObjective-C
QuicksilverQuicksilver Foundation2.4.2December 28, 2023Apache LicenseObjective-C
RaycastRaycast Technologies Ltd.1.79.0July 17, 2024ProprietarySwift

Cross platform

These desktop application launchers work with two or more different operating systems.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Via shell namespace extensions inside the menu
  2. PortableApps.com branding is trademarked
  3. Web site: Awn in Launchpad. Launchpad. 25 July 2007 . 5 August 2014.
  4. Web site: suckless.org software that sucks less. suckless.org. 5 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Rogers. Chris. Do 0.95.1 released. Launchpad. 4 August 2014.
  6. Web site: Katapult - Katapult – a general purpose launcher.
  7. Web site: Unity. Launchpad. 9 June 2009 . 4 August 2014.
  8. Web site: synapse-project - [no description]]. Git.launchpad.net. 4 January 2019.

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