uLauncher

(github.com)

42 points by dtj11235 days ago

5 comments

  • Aarvay3 hours ago
    This is what I use - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;tanujnotes&#x2F;Olauncher" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;tanujnotes&#x2F;Olauncher</a>, and it&#x27;s amazing!
    • dtj112321 minutes ago
      The git README is pretty minimal. Can you summarise what it is that you like so much about this?
    • JamesTRexx59 minutes ago
      Same here since my new phone. I wanted a very simple interface and have no need for widgets and don&#x27;t like a grid of toy icons. I just saw the pro version has folders but I don&#x27;t have a lot of programs installed so the flat list is managable.
  • cachius3 hours ago
    Man there are about 50 Android launchers on F-Droid: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;search.f-droid.org&#x2F;?q=launcher" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;search.f-droid.org&#x2F;?q=launcher</a><p>Feels like picking a distro when going to Linux.<p>Notable changes compared to it&#x27;s base Finn&#x27;s Launcher: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;jrpie&#x2F;launcher&#x2F;blob&#x2F;0.1.0&#x2F;docs&#x2F;launcher.md" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;jrpie&#x2F;launcher&#x2F;blob&#x2F;0.1.0&#x2F;docs&#x2F;launcher.m...</a> (link is broken in readme on master branch)<p>Compatible with work profile, so apps like Shelter can be used.<p>Compatible with private space<p>...<p>The name of this one is a bit too clever: On GitHub in the URL it&#x27;s just launcher, on HN uLauncher, actually on the website and stores it&#x27;s µLauncher. I don&#x27;t even know how to type and pronounce this &#x27;micro&#x27; character - or is it &#x27;mu&#x27;? <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;old.reddit.com&#x2F;r&#x2F;YouShouldKnow&#x2F;comments&#x2F;wy53dr" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;old.reddit.com&#x2F;r&#x2F;YouShouldKnow&#x2F;comments&#x2F;wy53dr</a><p>For accessibility and shareability to people without an academic background an easier name would be better.
    • jrpie2 hours ago
      &gt; Feels like picking a distro when going to Linux.<p>Yes, there are lots of options, a community member started compiling a list of open source launchers some time ago: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;launcher.jrpie.de&#x2F;docs&#x2F;alternatives&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;launcher.jrpie.de&#x2F;docs&#x2F;alternatives&#x2F;</a><p>The reason for µLauncher to exist is that I really like the approach of Finn&#x27;s Launcher (gestures for the important stuff, search for everything else) - massive thanks to Finn! - and had been using it for years, but - after switching to GrapheneOS - I needed a launcher with support for private space. Launcher was unfortunately no longer actively maintained, so what started as a weekend project to implement some improvements ultimately lead to me becoming maintainer of a fork.<p>&gt; The name of this one is a bit too clever<p>The name of the original app is simply &quot;Launcher&quot;, hence the name of the repo - as I said, I didn&#x27;t intend to maintain a fork when starting this. Not being very creative (and unaware of uLauncher) I just called my fork µLauncher (I&#x27;m pronouncing it &#x27;mu&#x27;-Launcher like the greek letter). On a German keyboard, µ is readily available and I had never imagined that this small fork would be used by anyone except a few friends...
    • Latty3 hours ago
      I guess it&#x27;s been a while, but using µ in a name isn&#x27;t exactly unprecedented, μTorrent was <i>the</i> BitTorrent software to use at the time, and so that discussion played out then. Everyone just called it uTorrent because it was the easier thing to type and made the pronunciation obvious and singular.
      • kgwxd1 minute ago
        Until just now I would have sworn uBlockOrigin used μ. It&#x27;s the first thing I&#x27;ve installed after the OS since it existed, but your lack of mentioning it made me check.
    • mavamaarten3 hours ago
      Yeah. Plus the fact that ulauncher is already an existing launcher-type app for Linux: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;ulauncher.io&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;ulauncher.io&#x2F;</a>
  • aerzen2 hours ago
    My launcher of last 8years: Lawndesk. It&#x27;s not on play store and you have to download it from github, but it is the only no-nonsens launcher on android without a drawer.<p>I just want a grid of apps, each of which appears exactly once. And then folders, to keep things on known locations
  • ymgch53 minutes ago
    Really love this launcher. Can&#x27;t recommend more!
  • pataar3 hours ago
    As a fanatic Niagara Launcher user, what are the main differences?
    • dtj11233 hours ago
      If I remember correctly, Niagara gives you fast text based app lookup as the primary means of accessing apps. Ulauncher offers the same interface as a fallback, but the primary means of accessing apps is via a small set of gestures on your homescreen.