Emerge Desktop is a replacement shell

Shell (computing)

A shell is a piece of software that provides an interface for users of an operating system which provides access to the services of a kernel. However, the term is also applied very loosely to applications and may include any software that is "built around" a particular component, such as web...

 for Windows 2000

Windows 2000

Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...

, Windows XP

Windows XP

Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...

 (both Home and Professional editions), Windows Vista

Windows Vista

Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...

 and Windows 7 written in C++

C++

C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...

, primarily developed with the MinGW

MinGW

MinGW , formerly mingw32, is a native software port of the GNU Compiler Collection and GNU Binutils for use in the development of native Microsoft Windows applications; MinGW can function either as a cross compiler targeting Windows or as a native toolchain run on Windows itself...

 compiler, and is licensed under the GNU General Public License

GNU General Public License

The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....

, Version 3.

Applets

Most of the Emerge Desktop applets are capable of being run as both standalone as well as being integrated, however the core applet (emergeCore) must be running in order for each applet to communicate with another in the suite. Each applet is aimed at replacing or extending a functionality of the default Windows shell and offers various configuration and visual customization features.

emergeTasks

emergeTasks is the 'Tasks' applet for Emerge Desktop. It displays an icon for each running task in a movable, resizeable window.

emergeTray

emergeTray is the 'system tray' applet of Emerge Desktop. It displays the system icons in a movable, resizeable window.

emergeWorkspace

emergeWorkspace is the desktop component of Emerge Desktop. It provides the mouse RightClick and MiddleClick menus.

Additional Applets

emergeDesktop has several additional applets that can be used. These are all standalone applets and can be run independently of the three core applets above. They are also be run on top of Windows Explorer or any other Windows Shell Replacement.

emergeCommand

emergeCommand is a clock / command line launcher applet for Emerge Desktop. By default it displays the date and time in a configurable format.

When the left mouse button is clicked on the text, it allows for the typing in of a command to execute.

emergeHotkeys

emergeHotkeys is the hotkey applet of Emerge Desktop. It defines a set of hotkeys which allow quick access to Emerge Desktop functions and other applications.

emergeLauncher

emergeLauncher provides a "Quick Launch" applet for Emerge Desktop. It displays icons of applications in a movable, resizeable window.

emergePower

emergePower reports the status of battery power for laptops computers, in a movable and resizeable window.

emergeSysMon

emergeSysMon reports the CPU usage, the Commit Charge, The Physical Memory Usage, and the Pagefile Usage in a a movable, resizeable window.

emergeVWM

emergeVWM is Emerge Desktop's "Virtual Window Manager" applet. It allows the user to switch monitor views between different virtual "desktops", and displays a grid of corresponding mini-windows in a movable and resizeable window.

New

• Theme support
• Dynamic positioning
• Support for 'Run As'
• Re-added 'My Documents' Special Folder
• Created native 64-bit version of Emerge Desktop
• Context menu for emergeDesktop menu items (right click on a item to activate them)
• New Internal Commands:
  • VWM_1 to VWM_9 - jump to VWM desktop
• New EmergeVars:
  • %AppletDir% - location of Emerge Desktop applets
  • %EmergeDir% - location of Emerge Desktop configuration files
  • %ThemeDir% - location of current theme

New applets

• emergeSysMon - a system resource monitor
• emergePower - a battery charge monitor)
• reg2xml - a utility to convert previous registry based settings to an XML based Theme
• Relative paths for schemes
• Colorful startup Theme functionally similar to Explorer
• Ability to run as a self contained/portable shell

Changed

• Switched from storing settings in the registry to storing settings in XML files
• improved fullscreen checking
• Improved shortcut handling
• Multi-tabbed configuration for each applet
• New icons
• Internal default theme changed from overlapped squares to a gray colored Theme functionally similar to Explorer

Fixed

• Win7 tray support
• UTF16 to UTF8 and vice versa conversion routines, so non-English characters are better supported
• emergeTasks crash when an application rapidly changes it's title
• execution of apps failing that require elevated privileges

External links

• Official website
• Emerge Desktop at Sourceforge.net
• Emerge Desktop at DeviantArt.com
• Emerge Desktop review at the Technology Cooler
• Five Best Desktop Customization Tools (Lifehacker)
• Versatile Underground - [How To Use Emerge Desktop – A Novice’s Guide to Greatness]
• emergeDesktop on CNET
• emergeDesktop on Customize.Org!