this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Click here to download it.

  • What it is

A minimal, windows 95-esque application launcher... with fancy directory icons over binary name suggestions, mouse support (you can doubleclick a binary name to run it) and a real-time clock on the far lower right.

  • Why

Nostalgia... and a "futureproof" likeness (If both X11 and wayland gets ditched/replaced for whatever reason... this will still work as intended.). Also, due to how it works on both X11 and wayland regardless of whatever you have installed. Yes, distro hoppers -- I heard your plea. :')

  • Dependencies

Type "sudo apt install build-essential libsdl2-dev" if you are on Debian/ubuntu

  • How to compile

After downloading and extracting the tarball,

make -j$(nproc)

It'll create a "notwin95" binary.

Then run it with ./notwin95.

  • How to install

Type "sudo cp notwin95 /usr/local/bin/.".

  • Commands

Arrow keys (up/down/left/right) or mouse left click to navigate between suggestions. Press enter (or mouse double left click) to run a binary. Press ESC to quit.

  • Notes

I've tested this on a orange pi 5 max and the CPU usage was pretty much nil. So I'm sure all of you will have no problems/issues running it.

  • License

This is under the "DO WHATEVER YOU WANT" license. Should be self-explanatory.

-EDIT- I forgot to mention this -also- can be run outside the window manager.

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[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)
  • what it is

stretched

[–] jdr@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What's going to happen when you click on lzmainfo

[–] GustavoM@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

I just tried it -- it pops a lil' fart and closes. :')

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

windows 95-esque application launcher

it's fascinating that everything seems to start here.

[–] ms_lane@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

'start me up' plays

[–] RedSnt@feddit.dk 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Idk why, but Ark extracted a file without a file extension, but I figured that was the tar file, so I did tar -xf on it, and sure enough. And to get make to work I had to use make -B for "always make".

[–] GustavoM@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

That's odd. Thanks for your input/tip.

[–] hexagonwin@lemmy.today 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

looks cool. screenshot kinda feels like those bootleg "win98 for super famicom" game(?)s.

[–] GustavoM@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

That's the idea. Also, thank you.

[–] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

its a windows system. i know this.

[–] dingleberrylover@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Life… ugh… finds a way

[–] tasankovasara@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago

Looks like a Windows mockup running on the ZX Spectrum. Highly meta 😅

[–] data1701d@startrek.website 2 points 1 week ago

Uploading a gz source archive to a Git repository is absolutely cursed. Still, looks like a cool project.

[–] gandalf_der_13te@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago

for a minimal window manager / desktop environment i can also recommend fluxbox