j4-dmenu-desktop
A fast desktop-entry launcher that feeds installed applications into dmenu or a compatible menu.
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About j4-dmenu-desktop
j4-dmenu-desktop reads the .desktop files of installed applications and passes their names to dmenu or a compatible program such as rofi or bemenu. When you pick one, it launches the application as the desktop entry describes.
It is written for speed and suits tiling window manager setups where dmenu-style menus are the main way to start programs. The project has a man page, a changelog and a test suite, and is built with Meson or CMake.
Strengths
- Fast parsing of desktop entries
- Works with dmenu, rofi, bemenu and similar menus
- Documented with a man page and changelog
Limitations
- Needs a separate menu program to display results
- Aimed at users comfortable configuring window manager keybindings
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The j4-dmenu-desktop contributors
- Platforms
- Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Tiling window manager users who launch apps through dmenu-style menus
- Categories
- App launchers, CLI tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to j4-dmenu-desktop
Compare allSoftware that can replace j4-dmenu-desktop for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
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 necessarily 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.
