this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2024
86 points (97.8% liked)

Open Source

41710 readers
467 users here now

All about open source! Feel free to ask questions, and share news, and interesting stuff!

Useful Links

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon from opensource.org, but we are not affiliated with them.

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I deleted nova launcher from my device after seeing this: https://lemmy.ca/post/19914345

Can anybody recommend alternatives?

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] d3Xt3r@lemmy.nz 35 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Kvaesitso. Opensource, minimal, search-based launcher. My only complaint is that it's not optimised for foldables, otherwise it's a great launcher.

[–] notnotmike@programming.dev 6 points 2 years ago

Really interesting take on layout. Seems pretty well developed though so my initial impressions are good.

Plus bonus points for putting the APK in their releases

[–] wwwgem@lemmy.ml 26 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I use the open source KISS launcher for years now. Your data never leaves your device, and you can expect to save battery life and speed up your device compared to complex and bloated launchers. KISS is just 250 KB and never connects to the Internet.

The best thing is that - behind a simplistic configuration menu - you can configure it from an ultra minimalist black screen with one text box to call when you need to launch an app, search for a contact, search on internet... to a full app drawer organized however you want (alphabetical order, your own defined categories...). It's just insane and unfortunately so much overlooked.

[–] halm@leminal.space 2 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Yeah, KISS is amazing, versatile and simple with a small footprint. It honestly should be the default throughout Android.

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] FrostKing@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Quick question—does the kiss launch have the ability to hide apps? This is often a deal breaker for me with launchers

[–] sag@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, It have

[–] DickJones@lemmy.ml 18 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Lawnchair 14 has a beta and nightly version out right now

[–] AlexanderTheGreat@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

It doesn't seem to be nearly customizable enough.

[–] pol@infosec.pub 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Where do you install it from? GitHub ?

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] darkham@lemmy.ml 15 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

Already tested lawnchair, Neo Launcher, kvaesitso,... Since KISS installation, I didn't try another one.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] peregus@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Neo Launcher, open source!

Edit: there haven't been releases for a while, but it appears that a new one is coming soon:

Till now we have no alpha release of 1.0.0, but this would come in the next weeks.

🤞🏼

[–] uninvitedguest@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Unfortunately my launcher is one piece of closed source software that I just can't break away from. I've tried plenty open source alternatives and always switched back.

[–] Cyanogenmon@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yep same thing.

Moved from Nova to Niagara after trying about 30 different launchers (closed and open) and I don't think I'll be changing for quite a long time.

[–] wetnoodle@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Niagara is much cleaner and simpler. Takes some getting used to but I can use it quicker than I ever did nova!

My home page now:

[–] Deebster@programming.dev 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I like it too, even though it didn't notify me when the trial was up like it said it would. I was planning on buying the lifetime (or uninstalling) but it autobilled me for a year instead.

Anyway, here's mine:

[–] Canadian_Cabinet@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 years ago

I really like Lawnchair!

[–] dessalines@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Olauncher is highly rated and collects/shares 0 data (at least according to the data safety section on its Google Play page, though I have no idea how reliable that is).

I installed it yesterday. I'm not hating it but not sure if I like it. It's very minimal. Like you don't even see the notification bar from the home screen and are limited to putting 8 apps on there (after you adjust the setting from 4). Everything else is on an alphabetical list, which has forced me to remember the names of apps instead of just remembering the icon and position I gave it in Nova. But it might just be something I need to get used to, so I'll give it some more time.

[–] Nativeridge@aussie.zone 5 points 2 years ago

I switched to Lawnchair from Nova and haven't looked back...

[–] whzfux@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 years ago

Mlauncher - Text only and distraction free! Available on fdroid

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Even though I paid for Nova years ago, I went back and downloaded a modded version of 7.0.58, the last version before they were bought out and the code was changed.

I really wanted to like Lawnchair but I always end up back with Nova. It does exactly what I want it to.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] guttermonk@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Lawnchair and Neo Launcher are close seconds but, unfortunately, there is no one for one alternative. Just use a firewall to block Nova's internet access.

[–] cflewis@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago

Yes, I turned off network access and it works identically. This is a good path. Lawn chair was ok.

[–] datendefekt@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

I've settled on Fast Draw. You get to use exactly one widget, but it's lightweight and lets me launch apps.

[–] valen@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago

Action launcher is good

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

There are a bunch of alternatives recommended in that post...

[–] decended_being@midwest.social 1 points 1 year ago

Which post?

[–] Uebercomplicated@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I LOVE the Lunar Launcher!

[–] Uebercomplicated@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Okay, seriously though: the Lunar Launcher is the only one I have found consistently minimalist and yet practical. I can only recommend it.

[–] AlexanderTheGreat@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)
load more comments
view more: next ›