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Open-Shell avatar

Open-Shell/Open-Shell-MenuFork

0
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9,070 stars·511 forks·C++·MIT·21 views

Open Shell Menu

Open-Shell-Menu is a Windows shell extension and UI restorer designed to replace modern system interfaces with traditional styles. It functions as a start menu replacement and a customization tool for the Windows file manager and other system applications.

The project restores legacy hierarchical navigation to the start menu and reinstates classic visual elements, such as traditional title bars and copy dialogs. It specifically targets the restoration of legacy toolbars and status bars within the file manager and introduces traditional interface elements to web browser windows.

Features

  • Desktop Environment Customizers - Modifies the visual layout and functional elements of the operating system to match legacy workflows.
  • DLL Injection Hooks - Implements DLL-based system hooking to intercept Windows API calls and alter native shell behavior.
  • API Redirection - Routes internal Win32 OS function calls to custom handlers to modify the visual output of shell components.
  • Binary Instruction Patching - Modifies binary instructions in active system memory to disable modern UI elements and enable legacy views.
  • Shell Extensions - Registers custom components within the OS shell to extend file manager and start menu functionality.
  • Shell Interface Restorers - Replaces the modern Windows start menu and interface elements with traditional legacy styles.
  • UI Interface Enhancements - Adds legacy toolbars and status bars to the Windows file manager for enhanced utility and information.
  • Start Menu Replacements - Restores the classic hierarchical navigation and layout of older Windows start menus.
  • Classic Shell Restorers - Listens for window creation signals to restore classic styling and layout to system applications.
  • Legacy UI Component Restorers - Brings back traditional title bars and copy dialogs to system applications for a classic appearance.
  • Explorer Interface Customizers - Provides an interface enhancement that adds traditional toolbars and status bars to the native Windows file manager.
  • Desktop Emulators - Reverts modern system elements like copy dialogs and browser bars to a classic visual style.
  • Explorer Toolbars - Integrates a customizable toolbar into the file manager window for quick access to common tools.
  • Dynamic UI Injection - Provides mechanisms for injecting custom toolbars and status bars into existing native window handles.
  • Legacy Interface Restorers - Reverts the file copy interface to a legacy style to change the visual presentation of transfer progress.
  • Status Bars - Adds a real-time status bar to the file manager showing file size and disk space details.
  • Desktop Customization - Restores traditional Start Menu interface.

Star history

Star history chart for open-shell/open-shell-menuStar history chart for open-shell/open-shell-menu

How this analysis was created: This summary and feature list are AI-generated from collected project material and can contain mistakes. Stars, license and language are imported from GitHub. Inclusion does not mean that we have tested or audited this project. Check the source documentation for any feature you depend on. Learn more on our About page.

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Projects sharing features with Open Shell Menu

These projects share indexed features with Open Shell Menu. Shared tags can include platform or build tooling; verify the primary use case before treating a result as a replacement.
  • valinet/explorerpatchervalinet avatar

    valinet/ExplorerPatcher

    32,948View on GitHub↗

    ExplorerPatcher is a system utility designed to modify the behavior of the Windows shell by injecting custom code into core operating system processes. It functions as a background patching tool that intercepts internal function calls and replaces modern interface components with legacy alternatives, allowing for the restoration of traditional taskbar, menu, and task switcher behaviors. The project distinguishes itself through its use of dynamic link library injection and side-by-side binary replacement to alter the desktop environment at runtime. By redirecting execution flow within the syst

    C
    View on GitHub↗32,948
  • jdan/98.cssjdan avatar

    jdan/98.css

    11,110View on GitHub↗

    98.css is a CSS retro UI framework and component library designed to recreate the visual aesthetic of legacy desktop operating systems. It serves as a retro design system and web UI emulator, providing a collection of styles to build faithful reproductions of vintage user interfaces. The framework employs a CSS-only component architecture to emulate classic software environments. It uses border-shadow emulation and state-based visual transitions to simulate physical button presses and three-dimensional panels without requiring external JavaScript logic. The library covers a wide range of int

    CSS
    View on GitHub↗11,110
  • polybar/polybarpolybar avatar

    polybar/polybar

    15,280View on GitHub↗

    Polybar is a customizable X11 status bar and Linux desktop panel. It serves as a system information dashboard and window manager integration tool, rendering real-time hardware metrics, system status, and window state for Linux desktops. The project features an inter-process communication system that allows separate processes to trigger dynamic updates or execute actions across the environment. It also includes a system for building hierarchical interactive menus that use this messaging to launch applications and system settings. Capabilities cover system monitoring for network connectivity a

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  • alexays/waybarAlexays avatar

    Alexays/Waybar

    10,686View on GitHub↗

    Waybar is a modular status bar for Wayland compositors that provides a configuration-driven interface for system monitoring and desktop management. It functions as a shell component that integrates directly with Wayland protocols to track window manager states, manage system tray icons, and display real-time hardware, network, and power metrics. The project distinguishes itself through a highly flexible architecture that allows for independent or synchronized interface bars across multiple monitors, each with unique layout and styling rules. Users can extend the bar's functionality by creatin

    C++bargtki3status
    View on GitHub↗10,686
Compare all 30 related projects→

Frequently asked questions

What does open-shell/open-shell-menu do?

Open-Shell-Menu is a Windows shell extension and UI restorer designed to replace modern system interfaces with traditional styles. It functions as a start menu replacement and a customization tool for the Windows file manager and other system applications.

What are the main features of open-shell/open-shell-menu?

The main features of open-shell/open-shell-menu are: Desktop Environment Customizers, DLL Injection Hooks, API Redirection, Binary Instruction Patching, Shell Extensions, Shell Interface Restorers, UI Interface Enhancements, Start Menu Replacements.

Which projects share features with open-shell/open-shell-menu?

Projects with overlapping indexed features include: valinet/explorerpatcher — ExplorerPatcher is a system utility designed to modify the behavior of the Windows shell by injecting custom code into… jdan/98.css — 98.css is a CSS retro UI framework and component library designed to recreate the visual aesthetic of legacy desktop… polybar/polybar — Polybar is a customizable X11 status bar and Linux desktop panel. It serves as a system information dashboard and… alexays/waybar — Waybar is a modular status bar for Wayland compositors that provides a configuration-driven interface for system… std-microblock/breeze-shell — Breeze Shell is a custom shell extension and operating system context menu customizer. It provides a replacement… gokcehan/lf — lf is a terminal-based file manager and TUI file explorer that provides keyboard-driven navigation for browsing and…