# dremin/retrobar

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4,223 stars · 333 forks · C# · Apache-2.0

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/dremin-retrobar.md

## Description

RetroBar is a Windows taskbar replacement and desktop customization tool designed to restore the classic visual style and layout of legacy operating system versions to modern Windows environments. It functions as a shell extension that replaces modern taskbar elements with a vintage aesthetic.

The project includes a multi-monitor taskbar manager to organize and position navigation bars across several screens. It features a theme management system that applies predefined style sets or custom resource dictionaries to the interface.

The software provides capabilities for interface localization through built-in translation sets and custom language files. It manages a reorderable task list and notification area using event-driven updates.

## Tags

### User Interface & Experience

- [Legacy UI Skins](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/legacy-ui-skins.md) — Restores the classic visual style and layout of legacy Windows taskbars to modern Windows environments.
- [Dynamic Theme Switching](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/color-themes/theme-application-switching/dynamic-theme-switching.md) — Enables swapping visual styles at runtime by loading different XAML resource dictionaries.
- [Desktop Windowing Management](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/desktop-windowing-management.md) — Customizes the Windows desktop environment to mimic the aesthetic of nineties and early two-thousands operating systems.
- [Interface Appearance Theming](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/interface-appearance-theming.md) — Implements a theme management system to apply predefined style sets or custom resource dictionaries to the interface. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/dremin/retrobar@master/README.md))
- [Persistent Taskbar Interfaces](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/persistent-taskbar-interfaces.md) — Renders a persistent classic visual style for the taskbar, including a notification area and reorderable task list. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/dremin/retrobar@master/README.md))
- [Layout Configurations](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/persistent-taskbar-interfaces/layout-configurations.md) — Allows adjusting the position and visibility of the taskbar across multiple monitors to optimize screen space. ([source](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/dremin/retrobar@master/README.md))
- [Windows Appearance Customizers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/terminal-user-interfaces/visual-styling-presentation/interface-appearance-customization/component-appearance-customizers/application-appearance-customizers/windows-appearance-customizers.md) — Modifies the visual style of Windows shell elements to apply legacy visual themes and resource dictionaries.
- [WPF UI Development](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/user-interface-experience/wpf-ui-development.md) — Utilizes the Windows Presentation Foundation framework to render overlapping UI elements with transparency and vector graphics.

### Business & Productivity Software

- [Multi-Monitor Workspace Managers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/business-productivity-software/desktop-workspace-organizers/macos-workspace-managers/multi-monitor-workspace-managers.md) — Organizes and positions navigation bars across several screens to improve workspace usability.

### Operating Systems & Systems Programming

- [Taskbar Customization Utilities](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/desktop-environment-frameworks/desktop-environment-components/desktop-environments-ui/window-management-utilities/taskbar-customization-utilities.md) — Replaces the modern Windows taskbar with a shell component that restores a classic visual style and layout.
- [Multi-Monitor Taskbar Managers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/desktop-environment-frameworks/desktop-environment-components/desktop-environments-ui/window-management-utilities/taskbar-customization-utilities/multi-monitor-taskbar-managers.md) — Provides a configuration tool for adjusting the position and visibility of the taskbar across multiple monitors.

### Game Development

- [Multi-Monitor Geometry Resolution](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/game-development/mobile-game-automation-tools/multi-resolution-display-support/multi-monitor-geometry-resolution.md) — Calculates display geometry to correctly position the taskbar across multiple monitors with varying boundaries.

### Software Engineering & Architecture

- [Event-Driven UI Updates](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/software-engineering-architecture/event-driven-ui-updates.md) — Updates the task list and notification area by listening to system-level events for application lifecycle changes.

### Part of an Awesome List

- [System Customization](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/awesome-lists/devtools/system-customization.md) — Replaces modern taskbars with classic Windows-style interfaces.