desktop-get

desktop-get is a lightweight CLI tool and curated repository of ready-to-use Freedesktop .desktop files to make Linux application integration easier.

This monorepo contains both the CLI client and the shared library of desktop files.

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📂 Repository Layout

desktop-get/
├── CLI/ # The Bash-based CLI
│ ├── main.sh # Entry point for the CLI
│ └── utils/ # utility scripts (e.g. logger)
│
├── desktop-files/ # Collection of .desktop files and metadata
│ ├── apps/ # Applications, organized by name
│ │ └── example/ # Example app
│ │ ├── example.desktop
│ │ ├── example.metainfo.xml
│ │ └── example.svg
│ ├── index.yml # Registry index of all apps
│ └── README.md # Contribution guide for desktop files
│
├── CONTRIBUTING.md # Guidelines for new submissions
├── LICENSE
└── README.md # This file

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🚀 CLI Usage

The CLI makes it easy to fetch and install .desktop files from this repository.

Install a desktop file

cd CLI
./main.sh install discord

By default, the .desktop file will be installed to:

~/.local/share/applications

Options

• -v, --verbose — enable debug logging
• -o, --output — specify a custom output directory

Examples:

./main.sh -v install discord
./main.sh install discord -o /tmp/apps

📦 Desktop Files

All desktop files live in desktop-files/ Each app has its own folder with:

• .desktop file (primary launcher)
• .metainfo.xml (AppStream metadata)
• .svg (icon, optional)

The registry of available apps is maintained in index.yml.

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! 🎉 see CONTRIBUTING.md for more info.

📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.