Alternatives to j4-dmenu-desktop
A fast desktop-entry launcher that feeds installed applications into dmenu or a compatible menu. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
j4-dmenu-desktop
A fast desktop-entry launcher that feeds installed applications into dmenu or a compatible menu.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as j4-dmenu-desktop.
rofi
A keyboard-driven window switcher, application launcher and dmenu replacement for Linux desktops.
rofi includes its own desktop-entry launcher mode plus window switching and dmenu replacement, so no separate menu program is needed.
fuzzel
An application launcher and fuzzy finder for Wayland compositors, inspired by rofi and dmenu.
fuzzel discovers and launches applications itself on Wayland and can also serve as a dmenu-style picker, but it does not support X11.
tofi
A tiny, fast dmenu and rofi replacement for wlroots-based Wayland compositors.
tofi launches applications directly on wlroots Wayland compositors with very fast startup, replacing the combination of a parser and a separate menu.
wofi
A GTK-based launcher and menu program for wlroots Wayland compositors such as Sway.
wofi launches desktop applications itself with GTK styling on wlroots compositors, though it is only occasionally updated.
sirula
A simple Rust app launcher for Wayland that starts applications from their .desktop files.
sirula starts applications from their .desktop files in its own Wayland window with CSS styling, without needing dmenu.
Kickoff
A minimalistic fuzzy program launcher for wlroots-based Wayland compositors, written in Rust.
Kickoff is a self-contained fuzzy app launcher for wlroots Wayland compositors, installable through cargo or the AUR.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
dmenu
A minimal dynamic menu for X that picks from large lists of items using the keyboard.
bemenu
A dmenu-style dynamic menu and launcher that runs on Wayland, X11 and in a terminal.
wmenu
A dynamic menu for Wayland modeled on dmenu, for picking items from a list piped in.
Greenclip
A small clipboard history manager for Linux that is designed to be used through rofi.
Hyprlauncher
A fast, multipurpose application launcher and picker built for the Hyprland Wayland compositor.
