LaunchMenu vs SbieShell

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.

SbieShell is a Windows shell program for Sandboxie’s isolated desktops, spanning the desktop, Start menu, taskbar and notification area. The project describes it as based on ROS Explorer and as the shell portion of WinXShell. It is also presented as a free Windows Explorer replacement for Windows PE. Listed features include a Windows-style file explorer with automatic refresh, desktop icons that support drag and drop, and wallpaper support for Windows Vista and later. Customization options cover third-party file explorer integration, Start menu actions, and taskbar color and height. SbieShell supports tray icons for both x86 and x64 software, and the project lists compatibility with the third-party ClassicShell Start menu application. The repository identifies the license as GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 (LGPL-2.1). The project welcomes code contributions, feedback, comments and bug reports. Its GitHub repository lists no releases.