dmenu vs KISS Launcher
dmenu
tools.suckless.orgKISS Launcher
kisslauncher.comSide by side
| Figure | dmenu | KISS Launcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 8.7 (#5) | 7.6 (#21) |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 8.6 (#7) | 7.5 (#23) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 8.6 (#7) | 7.4 (#27) |
| Customization | The dmenu site links to a patches collection with contributed modifications. | The documentation covers search providers, gestures, themes, tags, favorites, history modes, and widgets. |
| Purpose | dmenu is a dynamic menu for X that manages large numbers of user-defined menu items efficiently. | KISS is an Android launcher that helps users find apps and contacts by typing in a search box. |
| Support | The suckless community page identifies the dev mailing list as a place for dmenu users, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion. | The maker provides documentation and FAQ pages and lists [email protected] for privacy questions. |
Plans
In their own words
dmenu
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.
KISS Launcher
KISS Launcher has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.