Application launchers play an integral part in making the Linux desktop a more productive environment to work and play. They represent small utilities which offers the desktop user a convenient access point for application software and can make a real boost to users’ efficiency.
An application launcher helps to reduce start up times for applications by indexing shortcuts in the menu. Furthermore, this type of software allows users to search for documents and other files quicker by indexing different file formats. This makes them useful for launching almost anything on a computer including multimedia files, games, and the internet. Application launchers often support plug-ins, adding to their versatility.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of TUI-based application launchers. A TUI runs inside a terminal but provides an interactive interface using text graphics. Hopefully, there will be something of interest for anyone who wants to see productivity improvements in their workflow.
Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion here.
Let’s explore the application launchers at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, providing a screenshot of the software in action, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant resources.
| Terminal-Based Application Launchers | |
|---|---|
| fsel | Fast TUI app launcher and fuzzy finder |
| xstarter | Lives in the terminal and works well with tiling window managers |
| pmenu | Dynamic terminal-based menu inspired by dmenu |
| dtsl | Fuzzy search and extensive theming support |
GUI application launchers are explored in a separate roundup.
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