WinLaunch

WinLaunch is an application that recreates the functionality of macOS Launchpad on Windows systems. It provides a visual application launcher with animation effects and organization by categories. The interface displays icons of installed programs in a configurable grid. Users can customize the appearance and behavior through specific settings.

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• Customizable grid interface. WinLaunch features an adjustable icon layout where users define the number of rows and columns. This configuration adapts to different screen resolutions and display preferences.
• Opening animation effects. Activating the launcher includes visual transitions with parallax and scaling effects. These animations simulate depth and movement during navigation.
• Organization by categories. Programs are grouped into thematic sections created by the user. Each category contains related applications and is identified with custom names.
• Real-time search. A filtering system shows matching results while typing. The search examines application names and categories without requiring additional confirmation.
• Multiple activation methods. The launcher is opened using keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures, or an icon in the notification area. Each method offers independent settings to avoid conflicts.
• Appearance customization. Transparency, background color, and blur adjustments modify the visual look. Changes apply immediately without restarting the application.
• Support for custom icons. Replace default icons with specific images in PNG, ICO, or JPG formats. New icons maintain aspect ratio and are automatically resized.
• Automatic program import. Detection of installed applications on the system with optional inclusion. The process scans common directories and the Windows registry to identify executables.
• Accessibility mode. Implementation of high contrast and enlarged icon sizes for better readability. This mode adjusts visual elements for users with specific needs.
• Drag and drop to rearrange. A drag-and-drop positioning system for arranging icons and categories. The interface shows visual markers during the drag operation.
• Launch applications with parameters. Adding command-line arguments to custom shortcuts. Parameters are specified in the properties of each item.
• Configuration synchronization. Export and import of settings and icon layout using an XML file. Synchronization transfers preferences between different computers.

WinLaunch was created in 2011 by independent developer Dennis Klemenz. The project started as a utility for users migrating from macOS to Windows. The first stable version was released in 2012 after twelve months of development. The application is programmed in C++ using the Qt framework for interface elements. This language allows direct integration with Windows APIs and efficient resource management. The codebase includes modules for custom animations and detection of installed applications.

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