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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Best App Launcher on Linux (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago by gwilikers@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml

55 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Looking for a good app launcher for Linux. Currently looking for something for Arch and I see there's a lot of options liks rofi and wofi. What are your favourite app launchers and why?

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[–] narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee 30 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I just use whatever is included with the desktop environment. On KDE and GNOME launching an application involves pressing the Super ("Windows") key, typing the first couple of letters of the application I want to launch and pressing the return key.

I might be missing something here but I don't know how other launchers could possibly make this a simpler process.

[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I might be missing something here but I don’t know how other launchers could possibly make this a simpler process.

Shortcuts to launch an app directly in example. So my keyboard becomes my launcher.

I use bunch of different tools, including KRunner (on KDE) and previously Rofi. These type name and search tools for launching an app have the problem that you need to remember what name the tool was. For programs I use often this is not an issue, but not all applications have names good to remember and not all of them are used often. The associated description helps, but sometimes I don't know what words to type.

Therefore I "need" the app menu with categories and favorites, to navigate with the mouse through. And the most used applications are usually assigned to a shortcut and my panel on the top. In short I use mostly all of these techniques as an application launcher (in that order):

favorites on panel and my keyboard shortcuts
app menu with categories, navigating with mouse
run tool to search for app name and description (also integrated into the app menu)
additional helper scripts to search and launch programs in the terminal

Edit: Forgot to mention that some of the launchers I use are custom made scripts for the terminal.