Starling vs Start Menu Reviver

Starling is a desktop environment with a 2D workspace and an optional 3D city workspace. Its Linux desktop combines a Wayland compositor, window manager, dock, spaces, and nine first-party apps in a session alongside the existing desktop. It runs native Wayland clients and X11 apps, can launch applications installed on the machine, and includes an App Store for installing more. The supported Linux package target is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on amd64; the desktop can also run through Ubuntu 26.04 on WSL2. Starling’s Windows shell supports Windows 10 and 11 on x64, and its page says Store apps keep working. The shell, apps, build tools, documentation, and host code are open source under Apache 2.0, and the product is free. The Linux session runs without elevated privileges. Starling labels the desktop an early preview and says users should expect rough edges, missing pieces, and bugs. Its Windows preview installer installs per user without administrator privileges, but is unsigned and prompts SmartScreen on first run.

Start Menu Reviver is a free Windows utility that restores a Start Menu with a Metro-style interface. Its customizable tiles can open applications, Windows tasks, websites, shortcuts, documents, and media files; the product page says capacity increased from 32 to 64 tiles. A search box finds applications, computer settings, and documents. From the menu, users can launch traditional desktop programs and Windows 8 modern applications, or open the Windows 8 Start screen directly. The touch-optimized interface is described as suitable for Windows 8-based tablets. It is listed for Windows 7, 8, and 10, with requirements of a 300MHz-or-higher CPU, 256 MB RAM, and 22 MB of disk space. The download page offers version 3.0.6.4. ReviverSoft provides support articles and a contact-support option. The company says Corel acquired its Windows and Mac utility software and resources in September 2014.