Introduction
On Linux, productivity often comes from small but powerful tools. dmenu and rofi are great examples: minimalist application launchers that make your desktop more efficient.
But I wanted to go further. Instead of just launching programs, what if I could explore my system, run scripts, and interact with the shell — without opening a terminal?
That’s how I created dmenu_all, an extensible, open tool that transforms dmenu into a universal system navigator.
What It Does
- Browse your files: Navigate directories quickly through a dmenu-driven menu.
- Launch applications: Use it like a classic launcher.
- Run scripts: Define your own actions and execute them from the same interface.
- Chain commands: Build workflows without typing shell commands manually.
In short, dmenu_all makes dmenu (or rofi) a hub for your daily Linux tasks.
How It Works
At its core, dmenu_all is a set of scripts that dynamically feed options into dmenu or rofi.
- When you launch it, it presents you with a menu of available actions.
- Choosing an item either executes it directly (if it’s a command or script) or opens a submenu (for navigation).
- The design is modular and extensible: you can add your own scripts to extend functionality.
This means you can tailor dmenu_all to your workflow — whether you’re a developer, sysadmin, or power user.
Why It Matters
Most launchers stop at “open this app.” dmenu_all turns that idea into:
- A file explorer (fast, keyboard-driven).
- A command runner (without typing in a terminal).
- A scripting playground (drop in new scripts to extend it).
And because it’s built on simple tools (bash, dmenu, rofi), it stays lightweight and hackable.
Extensibility
One of the main design goals was openness:
- You can add any script to the system and it will appear as a new menu item.
- Scripts can do anything: launch Docker containers, search logs, manage configs, or automate repetitive tasks.
- Because it’s just shell under the hood, your creativity is the only limit.
This makes dmenu_all less a static program and more a framework for productivity menus.
Conclusion
dmenu_all is about reclaiming speed and simplicity on Linux. By extending dmenu/rofi into a universal system navigator, it makes interacting with your machine faster and more keyboard-centric.
👉 Check it out: GitHub Repo