An easy way to create desktop app shortcuts in GNOME

Overview

This simple extension tries to make easier the GNOME process to create a desktop shortcut for apps.

The idea is simple: instead of searching for the .desktop files through multiple folders let's use the application launcher that already groups all our apps.

This extension adds a new line to the app context menu in the application launcher, the new entry ('Add to Desktop') if clicked automatically creates a desktop shortcut to the app.

Dependencies

This extension needs the Desktop Icons extension (or any alternative to see Desktop icons) installed and enabled to work properly, otherwise you will not be able to see the shortcuts you are creating.

Installation

Using Extension Manager (Suggested)

• Install Extension Manager
• Open Extension Manager
• Open Browse tab
• Search for Add to Desktop
• Click Install
• Click Install again
• Enjoy

Manual Installation

• Download zip from the releases section
• Extract in a folder named add-to-desktop@tommimon.github.com
• Add the add-to-desktop@tommimon.github.com folder to GNOME extensions folder*
• Restart the GNOME shell**
• Open (or restart) the Extensions app (or Tweaks app)
• Enable 'Add to Desktop'
• Restart the GNOME shell again**
• Enjoy

* Default folder should be ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/ for manually installed extensions if there isn't this directory, create it.

** Hit Alt + F2 type r and hit Enter, if you prefer you can log out instead.

Submitting a new Translation

You can improve this extension by translating it in a new language:

• First make sure the langues is not present in the list of supported languages yet
• To submit the translation you can open an Issue or a Pull Request:

1. Issue

   • Go to issue template page
   • Chose Translation Request template
   • Fill the form with the information contained in your .po file
   • Submit the form

2. Pull Request

   • Start from the translation.po template
   • All parts you must replace are marked with square brackets [...]
   • Run po-verifier.py to check your syntax
   • Submit a Pull Request containing the new file

In any case the translation will be checked as soon as possible and included in next extension release. Translations not following these guidelines will be rejected.

How does it work?

What this extension actually do is creating on your Desktop folder a copy of the original .desktop file used from the application launcher.

This approach has a downside: if your application gets updated the behavior of the .desktop file may change, I experienced app icons changing path updating, this may make your shortcut no more working properly, and you have to create a new one from zero.