Desktop Files Creator For Linux

There are so many distros and flavors of Linux out there that it would have been (and will probably continue to be) impossible to create a unified desktop ecosystem. That's one of the reasons why creating a desktop file on Linux is not as straightforward as doing it on Windows or macOS.

On linux, a .desktop file is the equivalent of a shortcut (on Windows) used for launching an app. Without this specific .desktop file, the app in question doesn't appear in the Applications menu, and will most probably never be displayed in the system-wide search procedures.

Of course, some apps, when installed, will create this .desktop file automatically (and also place themselves in the Application menu for quick access). However, others, for example AppImage ones, won't. Compiling an app from source or downloading an app in archive format will also somewhat of an issue since it also doesn't create the needed .desktop file.

There are multiple ways to create .desktop files on Linux (using the Terminal, manually copying the app you want to create a shortcut for in the "applications" folder), but by far the easiest way is to use Desktop Files Creator.

As its name clearly states, this app is all about allowing you to create .desktop files on GNU/Linux with the least amount of effort (very similar to an older app called Arronax).

Desktop Files Creator is a stylish, and modern, little application that's a joy to use.

To create a .desktop/application launcher file, simply open the app, enter the name for the app, the executable's path, the icon's path, add a category and a comment (optional), and that's about it. Simply press the "+Create" button at  the top, and the associated .desktop file should appear in your system's "Applications" folder.

You're also provided with two more options: you can choose to make the file not visible in the Menu, and you can choose to automatically run it in the Terminal.

While not particularly groundbreaking, Desktop Files Creator is a stylish, modern, and very efficient little app that does exactly what it says on the tin.