An application launcher is a
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to Execution (computing), execute. It is one component of software, which also includes software documentation, documentation and other intangibl ...
that helps a
user
Ancient Egyptian roles
* User (ancient Egyptian official), an ancient Egyptian nomarch (governor) of the Eighth Dynasty
* Useramen, an ancient Egyptian vizier also called "User"
Other uses
* User (computing), a person (or software) using an ...
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
In computing, a desktop environment (DE) is an implementation of the desktop metaphor made of a bundle of programs running on top of a computer operating system that share a common graphical user interface (GUI), sometimes described as a graphi ...
.
Android
Windows
These desktop application launchers work with
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
operating systems only.
Linux
These desktop application launchers work with
Linux
Linux ( ) is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an kernel (operating system), operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically package manager, pac ...
operating systems only.
macOS
These desktop application launchers work with the Apple
macOS
macOS, previously OS X and originally Mac OS X, is a Unix, Unix-based operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 2001. It is the current operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. With ...
operating system only.
Cross platform
These desktop application launchers work with two or more different operating systems.
See also
*
List of dock applications
*
Novell ZENworks
ZENworks, a suite of software products developed and maintained by OpenText for computer systems management, aims to manage the entire life cycle of servers, of desktop PCs (Windows, Linux or Mac), of laptops, and of handheld devices such ...
, software formerly named (and still informally termed) "Novell Application Launcher"
References
External links
* John Emmatty (November 2011
A Mouse Free Approach For Working With Your System. * {{in lang, de Anke Anlauf (14 January 2010)
Schmucke PC-Docks wie auf dem Mac(roundup of MS Windows launchers),
Softonic
Softonic is a Spanish software download platform that distributes, categorizes, and evaluates programs for Windows, Android, and Mac. The platform was founded in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in June 1997.
History
Softonic started in 1997 as a ...
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
* Raymond (June 2016
3 Application Launchers with Automated Portable Software Installation System Raymond.cc computers, made easy
Application launchers
Application may refer to:
Mathematics and computing
* Application software, computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks
** Application layer, an abstraction layer that specifies protocols and interface methods used in a ...