dmenu vs True Launch Bar
dmenu
tools.suckless.orgTrue Launch Bar
truelaunchbar.comSide by side
| Figure | dmenu | True Launch Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · App Launcher Software | 8.7 (#5) | 8.3 (#11) |
| Spec score · App Launchers | 8.6 (#7) | 8.4 (#9) |
| Spec score · App launchers | 8.6 (#7) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Customization | The dmenu site links to a patches collection with contributed modifications. | Users can apply skins and customize toolbar buttons, menu items, colors, and tooltips. |
| Purpose | dmenu is a dynamic menu for X that manages large numbers of user-defined menu items efficiently. | True Launch Bar is a Windows Quick Launch replacement for organizing shortcuts and files in customizable taskbar menus. |
| Support | The suckless community page identifies the dev mailing list as a place for dmenu users, development discussion, bug reports, and general discussion. | The license page says registered software receives free updates and free support. |
| What it does | dmenu is a dynamic menu for X that efficiently handles large sets of user-defined items. | True Launch Bar replaces Windows Quick Launch with customizable taskbar menus for applications, files and folders. |
Plans
True Launch Bar
- True Launch BarFree
- True Launch Bar 8.0 freewareFree
- Legacy registration$19.90, paid once
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.
True Launch Bar
True Launch Bar has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.