Alfred Free plan 9.2 Visit dmenu
tools.suckless.org
What it is
dmenu is a free dynamic menu for X that handles large sets of user-defined menu items and can launch commands. It runs on Linux and was originally designed for the dwm window manager. Community scripts apply it to tasks such as browsing directories, managing clipboard contents, accessing passwords, and controlling music; contributed modifications are available in a patches collection. The project provides a browsable source repository and a Git clone command. Building requires Xlib header files, and the README describes building and installing with `make clean install`, with files placed in the `/usr/local` namespace by default. The listed release is dmenu 5.4, dated 2025-08-09. Its source uses the MIT/X Consortium License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale of copies subject to its conditions, while disclaiming warranties. The suckless dev mailing list is identified as a venue for user questions, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- dmenu is a dynamic menu for X that efficiently handles large sets of user-defined items.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Purpose
- dmenu is a dynamic menu for X that manages large numbers of user-defined menu items efficiently.Read 7 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Support
- The suckless community page identifies the dev mailing list as a place for dmenu users, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion.Read 7 Oct 2026 · suckless.org
- License
- dmenu uses the MIT/X Consortium License, which permits use, copying, modification, redistribution, sublicensing and sale subject to notice requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Founded
- 2006Read 28 Sep 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Appearance controls
- Command-line options configure prompt text, fonts, normal and selected colors, and multiple-selection outline colors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Build requirement
- Building dmenu requires Xlib header files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Case-insensitive search
- The -i option makes item matching ignore letter case.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Command launcher
- The bundled dmenu_run script lists programs in PATH and runs the selected result through the user's shell.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Community support
- Development discussion is provided through a public mailing list with archives.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Compatibility example
- The project describes dmenu as originally designed for the dwm window manager.Read 7 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Current release
- The official product page lists dmenu 5.4, released on 2025-08-09.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Customization
- The dmenu site links to a patches collection with contributed modifications.Read 7 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Efficiency
- The project describes dmenu as an efficient dynamic menu for X.Read 7 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Extensibility
- The source tree includes configuration headers, shell helpers, C sources and manual pages, while the project publishes community patches.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Independent comparison
- Wikipedia lists dmenu as a Linux launcher at version 5.4, MIT licensed, open source, written in C and without plug-in support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
- Independent review status
- Sugggest reports that no user reviews had been submitted for dmenu when its page was accessed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Input and output
- dmenu reads newline-separated choices from standard input, filters them as text is entered, and writes the selected item to standard output.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Installation
- The README says dmenu installs into the /usr/local namespace by default and can be built and installed with make clean install.Read 7 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Installation method
- The README instructs users to adjust config.mk and run make clean install, using /usr/local by default.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Keyboard operation
- The manual documents keyboard navigation with arrows, paging keys, Home, End, Tab, Return, Escape and editing shortcuts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- License permissions
- The license permits use, copying, modification, merging, publication, distribution, sublicensing, and sale of copies, subject to its conditions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Limit: accidental blocking
- Troubleshooters warns that launching a non-GUI program accidentally can make GUI programs unresponsive under Openbox and possibly other window managers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · troubleshooters.com
- Limit: display server
- Sugggest lists X11-only operation as a limitation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Limit: interface
- Sugggest describes the interface as text-based with no graphical interface and limited built-in configuration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Limit: keyboard dependence
- Troubleshooters says dmenu is entirely keyboard-centric and may not suit hunt-and-peck users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · troubleshooters.com
- Limit: latency
- Troubleshooters reports a small but noticeable startup delay in typical dmenu packages and shows a cache-based workaround.Read 15 Oct 2026 · troubleshooters.com
- Limit: source builds
- Sugggest lists building from source as a drawback.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Limit: visual style
- Troubleshooters describes the default appearance as old-fashioned and unattractive for users prioritizing visual polish.Read 15 Oct 2026 · troubleshooters.com
- Maker focus
- The suckless home page describes the project as producing software emphasizing simplicity, clarity and frugality.Read 15 Oct 2026 · suckless.org
- Maker founding year
- The association's foundation meeting is identified as October 30, 2015.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ev.suckless.org
- Maker legal entity
- suckless.org e.V. is a registered association in München, Germany, founded by eight conference attendees at slcon 2.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ev.suckless.org
- Mouse extension
- Mouse support is distributed as optional patches rather than part of the base feature set.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Multi-monitor support
- The -m option selects which numbered monitor displays the menu.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Package availability
- Homebrew lists dmenu 5.4 for macOS and Linux, with bottles for Apple Silicon, Intel macOS, Linux ARM64 and Linux x86_64.Read 15 Oct 2026 · formulae.brew.sh
- Package dependencies
- Homebrew identifies fontconfig, libX11, libXft and libXinerama as dmenu dependencies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · formulae.brew.sh
- Praise: customization
- Sugggest says appearance and behavior can be customized and extended through scripts and pipes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Praise: responsiveness
- Sugggest characterizes dmenu as fast, lightweight and very responsive with low memory and CPU use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Praise: scripting
- Sugggest highlights standard-input and standard-output behavior as useful for scripts and pipelines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Praise: workflow integration
- Sugggest reports that dmenu integrates with window managers and system tools through hotkeys and command pipelines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Rating on Sugggest
- No rating available from 0 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · sugggest.com
- Recent maintenance
- The March 2024 release notes say dmenu reduced memory use while reading lines and fixed an X11 BadMatch embedding error.Read 15 Oct 2026 · suckless.org
- Scripts
- The project lists community scripts that use dmenu for tasks including clipboard management, directory browsing, password access, and music management.Read 7 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Source access
- The project provides a browsable Git repository and a Git clone command.Read 15 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Source code
- The project provides a browsable source repository and a Git clone command.Read 7 Oct 2026 · tools.suckless.org
- Vertical menus
- The -l option displays choices vertically for a specified number of lines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Warranty
- The license provides the software as is and disclaims express and implied warranties.Read 7 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Warranty terms
- The license supplies the software without express or implied warranty and limits author liability.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
- Window embedding
- The -w option embeds dmenu into a supplied X window identifier.Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
Plans and prices
dmenu Free MIT/X Consortium License · source distribution · X11 Read 15 Oct 2026 · git.suckless.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free under the MIT/X Consortium License.
- Handles large sets of user-defined menu items.
- Can launch commands.
- Community scripts cover several practical tasks.
Limits
- Building requires Xlib header files.
- Designed for X, originally for dwm.
- The license disclaims express and implied warranties.
Who it suits
dmenu suits Linux users working in an X environment who want a menu for user-defined items or command launching. Its scripts and patches may also appeal to people who want to adapt it to particular tasks.
Verdict
dmenu is a focused option for command menus in an X environment, with community scripts and contributed patches. Account for its Xlib build requirement and warranty disclaimer.
Where Specifiction places it
- App Launcher Software#5 of 408.7
- App Launchers#7 of 408.6
- App launchers#7 of 408.6
