Launchy vs SbieShell

Launchy is a free utility for opening programs, files, folders, and websites with a few keystrokes. It indexes start-menu programs and can search directories and file types that users add. It stays in the background until the hotkey is pressed: Alt+Space by default, or Control+Space on Linux. Users can customize its appearance with skins and extend it through plugins for web searches, calculations, custom commands, and bookmark access. Other listed plugin examples include PuTTY sessions, task switching, and system power controls; these are made by other developers, and Launchy does not guarantee their functionality or behavior. Portable mode stores configuration files in the directory where Launchy runs, so it can be used from a USB stick. The bundled Calcy calculator supports addition, division, subtraction, multiplication, and parentheses. The listed platforms are Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Launchy is free to download with no fixed price; the listed recommended value is $10 USD, and the plan notes suggest considering a $3 contribution.

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.