OfflineLauncher

A fast, offline application launcher for Windows that lets you quickly find and start applications.

🚀 Features

• Global Hotkey (Shift+F) – Instantly search and launch apps.
• Fast & Lightweight – Optimized for minimal resource usage.
• Portable & Installer Versions – Choose the best fit for your needs.
• Modern Dark Interface – Clean and distraction-free design.
• Comprehensive Scanning – Finds all installed applications quickly.
• Appears in Center of Screen – Easy to access without interfering with workflow.

📥 Download

Latest Release

• Installer Version: Download OfflineLauncher_Setup.exe
• Portable Version: Download OfflineLauncher_portable.zip

🛠 Installation

Installer Version

1. Download OfflineLauncher_Setup.exe from the link above.
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Once installed, launch the app using the Shift + F shortcut.

Portable Version

1. Download OfflineLauncher_portable.zip.
2. Extract the ZIP file to your preferred location.
3. Run OfflineLauncher.exe – no installation required!

📌 Usage

• Launch quickly: Press Shift + F to open the search bar.
• Type and search: Instantly find apps and open them.
• Minimal design: Simple and distraction-free interface.
• Navigation:
  • Press Enter to launch the selected application.
  • Press Escape to hide the launcher.
  • Use Up/Down arrows to navigate through results.

📂 Project Structure

src/

Contains the main source code for the application:

• launcher.py - Main application source code
• requirements.txt - Python dependencies
• launch.bat - Quick launch batch script

assets/

Contains visual assets for the application:

• app_icon.png - Application icon in PNG format
• app_icon.ico - Application icon in ICO format for Windows

docs/

Contains documentation:

• README.md - Main application documentation
• INSTALLER_README.md - Installation instructions

build_tools/

Contains scripts and specs for building the application:

• build_portable.py - Script to build the portable version
• build_installer.py - Script to build the Windows installer
• fix_startup_issue.py - Script to fix Windows startup issues
• OfflineLauncher.spec - PyInstaller spec file

installer/

Contains installer-related files:

• OfflineLauncher_installer.nsi - NSIS installer script
• OfflineLauncher_Setup.exe - Windows installer
• nsis/ - NSIS setup files

portable/

Contains portable versions of the application:

• OfflineLauncher_portable.zip - Portable version (ZIP)
• OfflineLauncher_Installer/ - Installer distribution folder

build/ and dist/

Auto-generated build directories used by PyInstaller

⚙ Development

To build from source:

1. Install requirements: pip install -r src/requirements.txt
2. Build portable: python build_tools/build_portable.py
3. Build installer: python build_tools/build_installer.py

❗ Troubleshooting

If not all applications are showing up:

• Run the launcher as administrator once to ensure it can access all registry locations.
• Wait for the initial scan to complete (may take a moment on first run).
• Check the console for any error messages during scanning.

If hotkeys don't work:

• Make sure another application isn't already using the same hotkeys.
• Try running the launcher as administrator.
• Check the console for any error messages related to hotkey registration.
• Note that the keyboard library requires administrative privileges on some systems.

📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License – see the LICENSE file for details.

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Feel free to contribute and improve OfflineLauncher! Fork, star ⭐, and submit PRs!