App Drawer Manager (Fedora / GNOME)

Easily create, import, edit and remove custom application launchers for your GNOME Activities overview (Super / Windows key).

Crafted by Ray — discover more projects at https://rayistec.dev.

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Turn scripts (Python, Shell, Node, AppImage, binaries) into first‑class desktop apps with icons & categories in seconds.

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✨ Features

• Scan and list custom launchers (tagged with X-Custom-Added=1).
• Add from: executable, script (.py, .sh, .js), AppImage, or existing .desktop file.
• Auto wrapper detection (python3 / bash / node) + manual override.
• Optional extra arguments, terminal toggle, and executable bit fixer.
• Icon picker (copies into ~/.local/share/icons/hicolor/128x128/apps).
• Edit existing launchers (name, exec, icon, categories, terminal mode).
• Safe delete with confirmation.
• Instant feedback via toast notifications.
• Modern GTK4 + Libadwaita UI (resizable, responsive list area).

🖼 Screenshots

(Add your screenshots here – e.g. docs/screenshot-main.png and docs/screenshot-add.png)

![Main Window](docs/screenshot-main.png)
![Add Launcher](docs/screenshot-add.png)

🚀 Quick Start

# Fedora dependencies
sudo dnf install -y python3 python3-gobject gtk4 libadwaita python3-libadwaita adwaita-icon-theme

# Clone & run
python3 app_launcher_manager.py

Install a launcher for the manager itself:

chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh

Then open Activities and search: App Drawer Manager.

🧩 Adding Applications

1. Click Add Application.
2. Pick a file (script, binary, AppImage, etc.).
3. Select wrapper (Auto usually correct) and optionally add arguments.
4. (Optional) Choose / attach an icon image (PNG / SVG).
5. Set categories (e.g. Utility;Development;).
6. Save — it appears in Activities almost immediately.

Editing

Click the pencil icon to modify an existing launcher (exec, name, icon, terminal, categories).

Deleting

Click the trash icon → confirm → launcher file is removed from ~/.local/share/applications.

🛠 How It Works

Creates .desktop files under:

~/.local/share/applications

Icons (when you choose a file) are copied to:

~/.local/share/icons/hicolor/128x128/apps

GNOME indexes these automatically. The marker line:

X-Custom-Added=1

lets the app distinguish its managed entries.

🔍 Troubleshooting

Issue	Fix
Launcher not visible	Run touch ~/.local/share/applications and reopen Activities.
Icon not showing	Ensure image is PNG/SVG, then run (optional) `gtk4-update-icon-cache ~/.local/share/icons/hicolor
Script doesn’t run	Ensure executable bit if using Direct, or use wrapper (python3 / bash).
Path with spaces fails	App now quotes paths; re-create or edit & save to regenerate Exec.
Still cached old icon	Log out/in or restart gnome-shell (on Xorg: Alt+F2, type r).

🧪 Supported File Types

Type	Auto Behavior
.py	Runs with python3 unless executable & chosen Direct
.sh / .bash	Runs with bash
.js	Runs with node
AppImage / Binary	Direct if executable

🗺 Roadmap

• Drag & drop file to create launcher
• Bulk import / export
• Icon preview thumbnail
• MIME / URL handlers
• Actions (right-click menus)

🤝 Contributing

PRs and issues welcome. Ideas: improve accessibility, add localization, add advanced desktop entry fields.

🧾 License

MIT — see LICENSE (add one if not present).

👨‍💻 Author

Ray — more projects & updates at: https://rayistec.dev

If you like this tool, ⭐ the repo and share it.

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Security Note

Always review scripts you convert into launchers. Launchers can execute arbitrary code.

Disclaimer

Tested on Fedora GNOME (GTK4/Libadwaita). Other distros with GNOME 42+ should work; file an issue if not.