How to Create Desktop Shortcut for Video Editor 'Shotcut' on Multiple Linux Distro

 

Creating desktop shortcuts on Linux is a breeze, and this guide will walk you through three simple methods that work across various distributions, from Debian to Arch.

Method 1: Menu Editor for Seamless Shortcut Creation

The Menu Editor, a user-friendly graphical tool, provides a streamlined way to manage desktop shortcuts. You can install it using your distribution's package manager:

# Debian, Ubuntu, Kali Linux, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Pop!_OS, etc.
$ sudo apt install menulibre

# Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, etc.
$ sudo dnf install menulibre

# Arch Linux, Manjaro, BlackArch, Garuda, etc.
$ sudo pacman -S menulibre
    

Once installed, launch Menu Editor and you'll find a window with all your shortcuts listed on the left. Click the "+" (plus) button in the top left corner and select "Add Launcher" to create a new shortcut. A blank entry will appear where you can:

• Choose a desktop icon.

• Enter a title for your shortcut.

• Specify the path to the file, script, or application you want to launch.

Click the save button in the menu bar when you're done. Your new shortcut will be accessible from the application menu.

Method 2: AppImageLauncher for Simplified AppImage Management

AppImageLauncher specializes in creating shortcuts for AppImages, offering an integrated approach for managing these applications. While it hasn't been updated recently, it remains a reliable tool.

Download the appropriate DEB (Debian-based) or RPM (Red Hat-based) package from the project release page. Make sure you download the "x86_64" or "amd64" version for your 64-bit system.

$ cd ~/Downloads/

# On Debian, Ubuntu, Kali Linux, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Pop!_OS, etc.
$ sudo dpkg -i ./appimagelauncher_*_amd64.deb 

# On Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, etc.
$ sudo rpm -i ./appimagelauncher-*.x86_64.rpm
    

If you encounter dependency errors on Debian-based systems, run "sudo apt --fix-broken install."

After installation, launch AppImageLauncher from the application menu. You'll be presented with a settings window where you can adjust the default AppImage location, disable automatic updates, or prevent the launcher from starting at boot.

To create a shortcut for an AppImage, locate the AppImage file in your file manager and double-click it. An AppImageLauncher prompt will appear, giving you two options:

• "Integrate and run" - Creates a shortcut and launches the AppImage.

• "Run once" - Launches the AppImage without creating a shortcut.

Choosing "Integrate and run" will add the shortcut to the application menu. Deleting a shortcut created by AppImageLauncher is as simple as right-clicking it and selecting the delete option.

Method 3: Text Editor for Manual Shortcut Creation (For Experienced Users)

This method requires familiarity with the command line. It involves manually creating a ".desktop" file and placing it in the appropriate application folder.

Open your preferred text editor (Nano or Vim) and create a file named after your application in the "~/.local/share/applications/" directory:

      $ nano ~/.local/share/applications/audacity.desktop
    

Alternatively, you can create the shortcut in "/usr/share/applications/".

Paste the following desktop shortcut template into the file, replacing the highlighted fields (in green) with your specific details:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=MyApp
Exec=/path/to/file
Icon=/path/to/icon
    

Save and close the file. Run the following command to update the desktop database:

      $ update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/
    

Your new shortcut will appear in the application menu.

Final Word

These three methods provide flexible options for creating desktop shortcuts on Linux. Choose the method that best suits your needs and experience level. Whether you prefer the user-friendly Menu Editor, the AppImage-centric AppImageLauncher, or the manual approach using a text editor, you'll find it easy to create shortcuts that streamline your workflow.