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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.
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In the comparison of desktop application launchers that follows, each section is devoted to a different desktop environment.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flow Launcher | Jeremy Wu | 1.19.2 | September 24, 2024 | MIT | Yes | C# | Yes |
| 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[note 1] |
| Keypirinha | Jean-Charles Lefebvre | 2.26 | November 18, 2020 | Freeware | No | ? | Yes |
| LiberKey | Captel SARL | 5.8.1129 | November 30, 2015 | Proprietary | No | ? | No |
| Microsoft PowerToys Run | Microsoft | 0.73.0 | August 23, 2023 | MIT | Yes | C++, C# | Yes |
| PortableApps.com Platform | Rare Ideas, LLC | 15.0.2 | May 17, 2018 | GPL | Yes[note 2] | Delphi | No |
| Quick Access Popup | Jean Lalonde | 11.5.10 | November 7, 2022 | Freeware | Yes | AutoHotkey | No |
| SliderDock | Dimitri Roozendaal | 1.21 | October 11, 2010 | Creative Commons | No | ? | No |
| SyMenu | Gianluca Negrelli | 7.00.8038 [1] | January 3, 2022 | Freeware | No | C# | Yes |
| Wox | Qianli Feng | v1.3.524 | February 24, 2018 | Freeware | Yes | C# | Yes |
| XIA Links | CENTREL Solutions | 4.2.12 [2] | July 1, 2021 | Proprietary | No | C# | No |
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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Launcher | Manuel Schneider | 0.18 | December 27, 2022 | Linux | ALL | No (Source available | C++ (Qt) | Yes | |
| 9menu | Arnold Robbins | 1.8 | June 1, 2004 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C | No | |
| Avant Window Navigator | Neil J. Patel | 0.4.2 [3] | November 27, 2013 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C | Yes | |
| dmenu | dwm developers | 4.5[4] | December 19, 2011 | Linux | MIT License | Yes | C | No | |
| GNOME Do | GNOME Do Developers | 0.95.1[5] | January 23, 2014 | Linux | GPL | Yes | C# | Yes | |
| Katapult | TDE Developers | R14.0.6[6] | March 5, 2019 | Linux with TDE | GPL | Yes | C++ | Yes | |
| Unity Dash | Canonical Ltd. | 7.3.0[7] | June 19, 2014 | Ubuntu | GPLv3 | Yes | Vala | Yes ("lenses" and "scopes") | |
| Synapse | Michal Hruby and Alberto Aldegheri | 0.2.99.4[8] | April 8, 2018 | Linux | GPLv3 | Yes | Vala | Yes |
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 | 5.5 | March 18, 2024 | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
| Butler | Peter Maurer | 4.4.8 | January 8, 2024 | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
| DragThing | James Thomson | 5.9.17 | November 16, 2016 | Proprietary | No | C++ | Yes | No |
| LaunchBar | Objective Development | 6.19.1 | July 5, 2024 | Proprietary | No | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
| Quicksilver | Quicksilver Foundation | 2.4.2 | December 28, 2023 | Apache License | Yes | Objective-C | Yes | Yes |
| Raycast | Raycast Technologies Ltd. | 1.79.0 | July 17, 2024 | Proprietary | No | Swift | Yes | Yes |
| SpeedDock | SpeedDock | 1.9 | November 5, 2019 | Proprietary | No | Swift | No | Yes |
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 |
- List of dock applications
- Novell ZENworks, software formerly named (and still informally termed) "Novell Application Launcher"
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