Early Feedback on Start Menu Extender

[the_architect]

OK, folks, the first not quite beta release is now available. You can download from HERE at the moment there are only two plugins that are shipping here. One is the launch internet search and the other basic math (ie: only one operator, two numbers sort of math). These will be advanced over time and there will be a lot more plugins to come.

At the moment, this is for Windows 7 only, and you will need the .NET 4 framework (from here)

If there are any .NET developers who would want to create plugins then PM me or send me an email (or if you would like to suggest any, also)

The "official" web page is here: http://www.lukepayne...cts/startmenux/

----

Here is a video of a start menu extender I am working on:

I currently have most of the base framework up and am just creating a few content plugins. The ones displayed in the video are able to do basic math, launch internet searches and lookup dictionary meanings. There are a few others I am tweaking including one that you can punch in a registry path and it launches the registry editor at that path.

.NET developers will be able to plugin to the framework once released.

I am wondering if people think this would be useful? and if so what plugins would you like to see? I'll also answer any other questions you may have

[the_architect]

Also - I will update here when I have a beta available for everyone.

If there are any developers who would like to help create some initial plugins to launch with this application, feel free to contact me.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

That is very cool Luke!

some suggestions (not about your program)

1) Record just a small box around your start menu, it's hard to see in that video, unless you full-screen it.

2) Don't make your poll multiple choice :p

Also, if you are interested in making this public to everyone, please send me a PM or email @ andrew.lyle[-at-]neowin.net, and I can maybe help you out with that ;)

[Nashy]

I can't see the video at work. Can you explain what it is?

[the_architect]

some suggestions (not about your program)

1) Record just a small box around your start menu, it's hard to see in that video, unless you full-screen it.

2) Don't make your poll multiple choice :p

Thanks!

Why not make the poll multiple choice, am I missing something

Here is a video that you do not need to view full screen, however this is an earlier (an buggier) version

I can't see the video at work. Can you explain what it is?

You know on the Windows Vista/7 start menu as you use the search box, and the results list comes up? This adds extra things to that list (such as exampled in the video: dictionary & calculator results for your search).

[Nashy]

Nice. I use the search bar the most out of every feature windows has on offer, so this should be pretty nifty.

[Jeston Veteran]

Thanks!

Why not make the poll multiple choice, am I missing something

He means don't allow people to select multiple answers in this sort of poll.

As for the app... Looks good, but I would never use it. I'm sure a lot would though.

[-KJ]

I would use it for the calc feature alone! Something that should've been included all along! :)

Great job!

[the_architect]

OK, folks, the first not quite beta release is now available. You can download from HERE at the moment there are only two plugins that are shipping here. One is the launch internet search and the other basic math (ie: only one operator, two numbers sort of math). These will be advanced over time and there will be a lot more plugins to come.

At the moment, this is for Windows 7 only, and you will need the .NET 4 framework (from here)

If there are any .NET developers who would want to create plugins then PM me or send me an email

The "official" web page is here: http://www.lukepaynesoftware.com/projects/startmenux/

[Guest]

What I'd love is a more OSX quicksilver style of search

For example, on windows, I have to type photoshop in full, or at least in order for it to find photoshop from my programs list.

In quicksilver, I could be as sloppy as I wanted phphp would work, toshop would work, even adbph would work.

[the_architect]

What I'd love is a more OSX quicksilver style of search

For example, on windows, I have to type photoshop in full, or at least in order for it to find photoshop from my programs list.

In quicksilver, I could be as sloppy as I wanted phphp would work, toshop would work, even adbph would work.

Great idea :) I am planning on working on something similar to this once I have the base appplication completely sorted out.

[fhpuqrgrpgvirzhpujbj]

Seems to have a memory leak. Tried to check the code and find it but it's obfuscated so I can't tell you anything more informative then that.

[the_architect]

Seems to have a memory leak. Tried to check the code and find it but it's obfuscated so I can't tell you anything more informative then that.

Thanks, I'll have a look into it. There is bound to be a few issues at this early stage

[Leonick]

Great idea :) I am planning on working on something similar to this once I have the base appplication completely sorted out.

i think you should actually implement it in this, no need to make so many apps :p

this looks awesome

[HawkMan]

You know on the Windows Vista/7 start menu as you use the search box, and the results list comes up? This adds extra things to that list (such as exampled in the video: dictionary & calculator results for your search).

didn't that Microsoft guy who used to be on these forums already make somethign like this, back in the vista days ?

yeah, Start++

http://brandontools.com/

not sure if that works on 7 too though.

[the_architect]

i think you should actually implement it in this, no need to make so many apps :p

this looks awesome

That's what I meant, as an extension for this application

didn't that Microsoft guy who used to be on these forums already make somethign like this, back in the vista days ?

yeah, Start++

http://brandontools.com/

not sure if that works on 7 too though.

Cool, haven't seen that before.

[Leonick]

didn't that Microsoft guy who used to be on these forums already make somethign like this, back in the vista days ?

yeah, Start++

http://brandontools.com/

not sure if that works on 7 too though.

yea i found that one too... there is something wrong with the site though so you can't download :(

[andrew_]

Open source it!

FWIW, this *looks way more streamlined than Start++.

[andrew_]

@luke_smily_face

So I spent some time in Reflector going through the app. (Nice obfuscation tool btw. Always cracks me up to see music symbols in source) It took me a bit to grok how you were putting this together, but with a little toying with Spy++ and putting 2 and 2 together, I figured out how you're doing this. Nice idea for an implementation! I wouldn't have thought to hook the start menu's textbox and listen for the appropriate input. Very novel approach.

One suggestion for you; the start menu's appearance can be achieved without static PNGs like you're using for the borders. You can use the DWM api to draw that for you. Granted you'll see whatever is behind the 'glass', but it'll look a lot more native and work with whatever tints, if any, the user applies, without having to ship the binaries with a poopton of images embedded. If you're up for opening the source on this, I'd love to pitch in. If not, no worries, I hope that helps some.

[the_architect]

@luke_smily_face

So I spent some time in Reflector going through the app. (Nice obfuscation tool btw. Always cracks me up to see music symbols in source) It took me a bit to grok how you were putting this together, but with a little toying with Spy++ and putting 2 and 2 together, I figured out how you're doing this. Nice idea for an implementation! I wouldn't have thought to hook the start menu's textbox and listen for the appropriate input. Very novel approach.

One suggestion for you; the start menu's appearance can be achieved without static PNGs like you're using for the borders. You can use the DWM api to draw that for you. Granted you'll see whatever is behind the 'glass', but it'll look a lot more native and work with whatever tints, if any, the user applies, without having to ship the binaries with a poopton of images embedded. If you're up for opening the source on this, I'd love to pitch in. If not, no worries, I hope that helps some.

Hi andrew_ - I know obfuscation isn't going to stop people who know what they are doing from finding out how it works, that isn't my intention. My intention is to stop those who don't from having somewhat of a copy and paste of the code available to them.

My plan was never to keep the static PNGs, I've been looking at better ways to accomplish this, the DWM API being one option :)

I haven't decided whether to open source this or not just yet, as I just want to make the code more solid and stable and integrate more features, at this stage. I'll be sure to let you know if I do open it up.

[YounGMessiah]

Nifty idea, I would not use it though as I rarely use my start menu :p.

[andrew_]

I know obfuscation isn't going to stop people who know what they are doing from finding out how it works, that isn't my intention. My intention is to stop those who don't from having somewhat of a copy and paste of the code available to them.

My plan was never to keep the static PNGs, I've been looking at better ways to accomplish this, the DWM API being one option :)

I haven't decided whether to open source this or not just yet, as I just want to make the code more solid and stable and integrate more features, at this stage. I'll be sure to let you know if I do open it up.

Thanks for the reply. Ya know, I subscribed to that philosophy for a long, LONG time. I've come around though and find that the fear I had about folks copying my work and releasing it as their own was unsubstantiated. I certainly understand how you think, but I've found that since I threw caution to the wind and started releasing things openly, I've had a really positive experience.

Looking forward to following the development at any rate.

[the_architect]

Nifty idea, I would not use it though as I rarely use my start menu :p.

Me neither, but I'm a keyboard guy, so I'm hoping to save a few keystrokes :)

[briangw]

Me neither, but I'm a keyboard guy, so I'm hoping to save a few keystrokes :)

Cannot download :( Says Access Denied. The requested URL cannot be retrieved.

[the_architect]

Cannot download :( Says Access Denied. The requested URL cannot be retrieved.

Seems to be working fine here, maybe try again?