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[FEATURE] Native Quickshell-based Application Launcher as a lightweight alternative #1805
Description
Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
With ML4W's transition to Quickshell for the statusbar and dock, the desktop environment has become incredibly fluid, modern, and unified.
Following the deprecation of Walker, users currently rely on Rofi as the primary launcher. While Rofi (via rofi-wayland) is a solid tool, its styling is detached from the QML ecosystem.
Furthermore, Walker and its backend dependencies (like the elephant libraries) are only available via the AUR. This makes installation and updates complex and introduces package maintenance overhead for users.
Describe the solution you'd like
An optional, native application launcher built entirely on Quickshell (QML) to complete the QML desktop experience.
Key benefits of this solution:
- No AUR/Dependency Overhead: It runs directly on the already installed Quickshell runtime. No need to install Walker or
elephantpackages from the AUR. - Native QML API: It accesses applications instantly using Quickshell's native
DesktopEntries.applications.valuesAPI. - Zero Wayland Mapping Lags: By running the window permanently mapped (
visible: true) and dynamically routing mouse/keyboard inputs via Wayland input masks (mask: Region), it launches instantly without typical Wayland window-mapping flicker. - Persistent Recents: Stores and displays recently opened apps at the top using the
QtCoreSettingsAPI. - Matugen Integration: Inherits colors and updates in real-time from the active ML4W colors.
Describe alternatives you've considered
- Rofi (rofi-wayland): A solid and reliable fallback, but its configuration and styling (.rasi) are detached from the QML styling paradigm.
- Walker: Great feature set, but introduces maintenance overhead due to AUR-only dependencies (
elephant).
Additional context
I have successfully implemented this custom Quickshell launcher on my system. The entire setup is very modular, living under ~/.config/quickshell/launcher/.
Here is the wrapper script (qslauncher) used to toggle the instance instantly via IPC:
Click to view the full qslauncher
#!/usr/bin/env bash
CONFIG_DIR="$HOME/.config/quickshell/launcher"
if pgrep -f "quickshell -p .*quickshell/launcher" > /dev/null; then
qs -p "$CONFIG_DIR" ipc call launcher toggle
else
nohup quickshell -p "$CONFIG_DIR" > /dev/null 2>&1 &
for i in {1..20}; do
if qs -p "$CONFIG_DIR" ipc call launcher open >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
break
fi
sleep 0.1
done
fiAnd here is the QML configuration (shell.qml) containing the user interface, search logic, and style bindings:
Click to view the full shell.qml (approx. 400 lines)
import QtQuick
import QtQuick.Controls
import QtQuick.Layouts
import Quickshell
import Quickshell.Io
import Quickshell.Wayland
import QtCore
PanelWindow {
id: window
// Centered window via Wayland Layer-Shell
anchors {
left: false
right: false
top: false
bottom: false
}
color: "transparent"
property bool opened: false
property var recentIds: []
property int selectedIndex: 0
WlrLayershell.namespace: "quickshell-launcher"
WlrLayershell.layer: WlrLayer.Overlay
WlrLayershell.keyboardFocus: opened ? WlrKeyboardFocus.Exclusive : WlrKeyboardFocus.None
focusable: true
visible: true
width: 750
height: 550
mask: Region {
item: opened ? maskCover : null
}
Item {
id: maskCover
anchors.fill: parent
}
Settings {
id: appSettings
category: "QuickshellLauncher"
property string recentIdsSerialized: "[]"
}
property string searchQuery: searchField.text.trim().toLowerCase()
property var filteredApps: {
var q = searchQuery;
var vals = DesktopEntries.applications.values;
if (!vals) return [];
if (q !== "") {
return vals.filter(function (e) {
if (e.name && e.name.toLowerCase().indexOf(q) !== -1)
return true;
if (e.genericName && e.genericName.toLowerCase().indexOf(q) !== -1)
return true;
if (e.keywords) {
for (var i = 0; i < e.keywords.length; i++) {
if (e.keywords[i] && e.keywords[i].toLowerCase().indexOf(q) !== -1)
return true;
}
}
return false;
}).sort(function (a, b) {
return a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
});
}
var recent = recentIds || [];
return vals.slice().sort(function (a, b) {
var ai = recent.indexOf(a.id);
var bi = recent.indexOf(b.id);
if (ai !== -1 && bi !== -1)
return ai - bi;
if (ai !== -1)
return -1;
if (bi !== -1)
return 1;
return a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
});
}
onFilteredAppsChanged: {
selectedIndex = 0;
}
// Dynamic Matugen Colors Integration
FileView {
id: matugenColorsFile
path: Quickshell.env("HOME") + "/.config/ml4w/colors/colors.json"
watchChanges: true
onFileChanged: reload()
JsonAdapter {
id: matugenColors
property string primary: "#88d1ec"
property string background: "#0f1416"
property string surface: "#0f1416"
property string surface_container: "#1b2124"
property string on_background: "#dee3e6"
property string on_surface_variant: "#c0c8cc"
property string outline: "#8a9296"
}
}
// Global ESC shortcut to dismiss the launcher instantly
Shortcut {
sequence: "Escape"
enabled: window.opened
onActivated: window.closeLauncher()
}
// IPC Endpoint to open / toggle the launcher instantly
IpcHandler {
target: "launcher"
property bool active: window.opened
function toggle(): void {
if (window.opened) {
window.closeLauncher();
} else {
window.openLauncher();
}
}
function open(): void {
window.openLauncher();
}
function close(): void {
window.closeLauncher();
}
}
function openLauncher() {
window.opened = true;
selectedIndex = 0;
searchField.text = "";
searchField.forceActiveFocus();
}
function closeLauncher() {
window.opened = false;
searchField.focus = false;
}
function recordLaunch(appId) {
var list = recentIds.slice();
var idx = list.indexOf(appId);
if (idx !== -1) {<details>
<summary>Click to view the full qslauncher</summary>
```bash
#!/usr/bin/env bash
CONFIG_DIR="$HOME/.config/quickshell/launcher"
if pgrep -f "quickshell -p .*quickshell/launcher" > /dev/null; then
qs -p "$CONFIG_DIR" ipc call launcher toggle
else
nohup quickshell -p "$CONFIG_DIR" > /dev/null 2>&1 &
for i in {1..20}; do
if qs -p "$CONFIG_DIR" ipc call launcher open >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
break
fi
sleep 0.1
done
fi list.splice(idx, 1);
}
list.unshift(appId);
if (list.length > 10) {
list = list.slice(0, 10);
}
recentIds = list;
appSettings.recentIdsSerialized = JSON.stringify(list);
}
function launchSelected() {
if (selectedIndex >= 0 && selectedIndex < filteredApps.length) {
var app = filteredApps[selectedIndex];
recordLaunch(app.id);
app.execute();
window.closeLauncher();
}
}
// Modern glass-morphic container
Rectangle {
anchors.fill: parent
radius: 20
focus: true
opacity: opened ? 1.0 : 0.0
Behavior on opacity {
NumberAnimation {
duration: 260
easing.type: Easing.OutCubic
}
}
Keys.onPressed: (event) => {
if (event.key === Qt.Key_Escape) {
window.closeLauncher();
event.accepted = true;
}
}
// Dynamically themed background and border from Matugen
color: {
var bg = Qt.color(matugenColors.background);
return Qt.rgba(bg.r, bg.g, bg.b, 0.97);
}
border.color: matugenColors.primary
border.width: 2
ColumnLayout {
anchors.fill: parent
anchors.margins: 20
spacing: 15
// Top Layout containing Search Bar and Close Button
RowLayout {
Layout.fillWidth: true
spacing: 15
// Search Bar
Rectangle {
Layout.fillWidth: true
height: 55
Layout.preferredHeight: 55
color: {
var sc = Qt.color(matugenColors.surface_container);
return Qt.rgba(sc.r, sc.g, sc.b, 0.8);
}
radius: 12
border.color: searchField.activeFocus ? matugenColors.primary : "transparent"
border.width: 1
RowLayout {
anchors.fill: parent
anchors.leftMargin: 15
anchors.rightMargin: 15
spacing: 10
Text {
text: "➔"
color: matugenColors.primary
font.pixelSize: 18
}
TextField {
id: searchField
Layout.fillWidth: true
placeholderText: "Search apps..."
placeholderTextColor: Qt.rgba(1, 1, 1, 0.4)
color: matugenColors.on_background
font.family: "Fira Sans"
font.pixelSize: 18
background: null
focus: true
onTextChanged: {
selectedIndex = 0;
}
Keys.onPressed: (event) => {
if (event.key === Qt.Key_Down) {
selectedIndex = (selectedIndex + 1) % filteredApps.length;
event.accepted = true;
} else if (event.key === Qt.Key_Up) {
selectedIndex = (selectedIndex - 1 + filteredApps.length) % filteredApps.length;
event.accepted = true;
} else if (event.key === Qt.Key_Return || event.key === Qt.Key_Enter) {
window.launchSelected();
event.accepted = true;
} else if (event.key === Qt.Key_Escape) {
window.closeLauncher();
event.accepted = true;
}
}
}
}
}
// Sleek Close Button
Rectangle {
id: closeButton
width: 55
height: 55
Layout.preferredWidth: 55
Layout.preferredHeight: 55
radius: 12
color: closeMouseArea.containsMouse ? Qt.rgba(1, 0.2, 0.2, 0.25) : Qt.rgba(1, 1, 1, 0.08)
border.color: closeMouseArea.containsMouse ? "#ff5555" : "transparent"
border.width: 1
Text {
anchors.centerIn: parent
text: "✕"
color: closeMouseArea.containsMouse ? "#ff5555" : matugenColors.on_background
font.pixelSize: 18
font.bold: true
}
MouseArea {
id: closeMouseArea
anchors.fill: parent
hoverEnabled: true
onClicked: window.closeLauncher()
}
}
}
// Scrollable App ListView
ScrollView {
Layout.fillWidth: true
Layout.fillHeight: true
clip: true
ListView {
id: listView
model: window.filteredApps
spacing: 6
currentIndex: window.selectedIndex
delegate: Item {
width: listView.width
height: 55
Rectangle {
anchors.fill: parent
anchors.leftMargin: 5
anchors.rightMargin: 5
radius: 8
// Accent selection glow using Matugen primary color
color: matugenColors.primary
opacity: index === window.selectedIndex ? 0.2 : 0.0
Behavior on opacity {
NumberAnimation { duration: 80 }
}
}
// App Item layout
RowLayout {
anchors.fill: parent
anchors.leftMargin: 20
anchors.rightMargin: 20
spacing: 15
// Dynamic App Icon from system theme
Image {
width: 32
height: 32
Layout.preferredWidth: 32
Layout.preferredHeight: 32
source: modelData.icon ? "image://icon/" + modelData.icon : "image://icon/system-run"
fillMode: Image.PreserveAspectFit
}
// Combined Name & Description with consistent layout width
Text {
text: modelData.name + (modelData.genericName ? " <font color='" + (index === window.selectedIndex ? "#e0e0e0" : matugenColors.on_surface_variant) + "'>— " + modelData.genericName + "</font>" : "")
textFormat: Text.StyledText
color: index === window.selectedIndex ? "#ffffff" : matugenColors.on_background
font.family: "Fira Sans"
font.pixelSize: 16
font.bold: index === window.selectedIndex
Layout.fillWidth: true
elide: Text.ElideRight
}
// Subtle "Recent" badge
Text {
visible: searchQuery === "" && recentIds.indexOf(modelData.id) !== -1 && recentIds.indexOf(modelData.id) < 5
text: "Recent"
color: matugenColors.primary
font.family: "Fira Sans"
font.pixelSize: 11
font.bold: true
opacity: index === window.selectedIndex ? 1.0 : 0.7
}
}
MouseArea {
anchors.fill: parent
hoverEnabled: true
onEntered: window.selectedIndex = index
onClicked: window.launchSelected()
}
}
}
}
}
}
// Auto-focus and window focus management
onOpenedChanged: {
if (opened) {
visible = true;
Qt.callLater(function() {
searchField.forceActiveFocus();
});
}
}
Component.onCompleted: {
try {
recentIds = JSON.parse(appSettings.recentIdsSerialized) || [];
} catch(e) {
recentIds = [];
}
}
}
</details>
### Support or Contribution
- [x] [I am willing to contribute or support this feature](https://github.com/mylinuxforwork/dotfiles)
Activity
mylinuxforwork commentedon Aug 30, 2026
Hi, You request makes totally sense and I am already planning a launcher for the next version. But this requires that also all other rofi based selectors must be replaced. So, I need something that is very flexible and also supporting custom menus (dmenu mode).
Can you share a screenshot from your solution?
tetam01 commentedon Aug 30, 2026
Here is a screenshot of the launcher running on my desktop!
Regarding the dmenu mode and replacing other Rofi selectors: That makes total sense! My launcher
shell.qmlcurrently focuses on desktop applications, but extending the model to accept custom lists (dmenu/stdin/JSON) to replace all Rofi selectors in ML4W would be an awesome feature for the next version.As an example of replacing another Rofi selector, I also built a native Quickshell Clipboard Manager with live image/text previews to replace Rofi cliphist. Here is the QML and helper script for that:
Click to view Clipboard Manager shell.qml
Click to view preview_helper.sh