LaunchMenu vs PExplorer

LaunchMenu is a free, open-source launcher that provides utilities called applets through a keyboard-oriented interface. Its menus support recursive fuzzy search, pattern filters, and prioritization of frequently used items. Users can navigate with arrow keys, activate primary actions with Enter, and open context menus with Tab; controls can be customized. Multi-select allows compatible actions to be applied to several items together. Applets include a dictionary, notes, file manager, internet search, calculator, translator, snippets, time tracker, and calendar. Users can adjust applet settings and themes, import or export settings, and manage official or third-party applets. LaunchMenu runs on macOS and Windows. The site identifies Windows as the primary development and test platform, while Mac testing has been less extensive. Linux support is planned and has not yet been worked on. Developers can build applets using TypeScript and React, compile them into LaunchMenu-ready packages, and upload completed applets to npm with the launchmenu-applet keyword. The listed free plan costs nothing.

PExplorer is the shell component of WinXShell, intended as a freely available replacement for Windows Explorer in Windows PE. The portable shell includes desktop, Start menu, taskbar and notification area components, and the project says it is based on ROS Explorer. It is available for Windows and WinPE, with the repository listing Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, plus Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019.

Listed capabilities include support for x64 environments, desktop wallpaper on Windows Vista and later, desktop icon drag and drop, and tray icons for x86 and x64 software. Users can bind a third-party file explorer, change Start menu actions, and adjust taskbar color and height. PExplorer also supports ClassicShell and includes a file explorer styled for the host Windows system, with automatic refresh when files change. The project is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and welcomes contributions, feedback and bug reports. The repository's master branch page lists August 4, 2019 as its update date.