this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2024
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Is there a Windows 10 inspired launch menu? (lemm.ee)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by original_reader@lemm.ee to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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I’m looking for a launch menu that has similar functionality as the Windows 10 Start Menu. While I don’t think Windows is the pinnacle of OS development, I did find the "Start" menu quite useful in organizing my apps by task group and importance. Specifically, I’m interested in the following features:

  • The ability to resize the menu.
  • The option to create my own application layout in named groups.
  • The capability to create folders with applications.
  • Optionally, the ability to resize various application tiles.

The Cinnamenu applet for Cinnamon comes somewhat close, but it isn't quite it. Does anyone know of an app, a DE or anything else on Linux that offers these features?

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[–] anamethatisnt@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Uncertain if it has all the customization you want, but check out ArcMenu for GNOME
https://github.com/tau-OS/tau-arcmenu?tab=readme-ov-file
https://gitlab.com/arcmenu/ArcMenu

[–] original_reader@lemm.ee 7 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at it. It is basically a simplified Windows 7 menu. Decent, but it doesn't go far enough for me.

Gnome itself is actually not bad. It has a full screen menu and arrangeable application icons and folders, but I cannot group them the way I want, let alone resize them. I wish there was something for Gnome, but I don't see it.

Perhaps I am asking for an edge case. Even Microsoft has dumbed down its Start menu in 11 to essentially a mobile launcher. Too few people seem to want that.

[–] HouseWolf@lemm.ee 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I used to use ArcMenu back when I ran Gnome on PopOS and I remember you could switch the layout between a lot of different menu styles.

Wasn't just the Win7 style one.

[–] garrett@lemm.ee 14 points 1 month ago

Yep, ArcMenu (@ https://gitlab.com/arcmenu/ArcMenu which is the maintained one, last updated days ago instead of years ago) has a ton of different layouts which can mimic any version of Windows, and so much more.

screenshot of ArcMenu layout settings, with the "modern" category expanded

When using GNOME, use the "Extensions Manager" app (from Flathub) to search for "ArcMenu" and install it, then you can configure it there in the Extensions Manager app as well. In the ArcMenu configuration, go to layouts and select the modern group to see something like the screenshot above. (The previews are generic wireframe sketches; the result will look much more high fidelity.)

[–] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

That's a good looking menu. Thank you

[–] Vincent@feddit.nl 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Gnome itself is actually not bad. It has a full screen menu and arrangeable application icons and folders, but I cannot group them the way I want, let alone resize them.

I don't think resizing is an option, but isn't it possible to drag one app's icon on top of another app's icon to create a group?

[–] original_reader@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

You can. That's what I meant with folders. But I cannot position these icons and folders freely on a grid like the Win10 Start menu allows. Still, Gnome comes quite close.

[–] Vincent@feddit.nl 1 points 1 month ago

Ah, gotcha.

[–] tonyn@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

This is what I use, and I had totally forgotten that you could switch layouts. I switched from windows to Linux Mint Cinnamon about 12 years ago, and then to Ubuntu but I didn't like the gnome menu. Having grown up with windows, that style of menu was what I was most comfortable with, and ArcMenu was there to fill the gap.