this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2025
71 points (98.6% liked)

Linux and Tech News

2352 readers
2 users here now

This is where all the News about Linux and Linux adjacent things goes. We'll use some of the articles here for the show! You can watch or listen at:

You can also get involved at our forum here on Lemmy:

Or just get the most recent episode of the show here:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 23 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] callyral@pawb.social 12 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

i use Kvaesito Launcher though i've used Nova Launcher before.

[–] Damage@feddit.it 3 points 4 weeks ago

I just started using Kvaesitso, but without folders it's rough

[–] maggio@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 4 weeks ago

Kvaesito had lag issues on GrapheneOS in the past, but it was fixed about a year ago. Finally made the switch from Nova, and can only say good things about it

[–] variety4me@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 weeks ago

Its my daily on grapheneos

[–] Cris_Color@lemmy.world 12 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

I'm still waiting for a FOSS launcher to add padding adjustments for the home screen, widgets, and dock, half grid snapping, allowing overlap, and setting any widget as a search bar

And maybe other stuff. Still really sad Nova fell into this state, I genuinely depend on settings that are exclusive to it

I'll probably just be using Nova with network connectivity disabled for some time to come. Maybe when I blow up my home screen setup and start over I'll try to work within the constraints of another launcher :/

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 weeks ago

That's where I am, too.

[–] Statick@programming.dev 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Maybe make some feature requests for Lawn chair? Or show support for existing feature requests if they're already made?

https://github.com/LawnchairLauncher/lawnchair

[–] Cris_Color@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, I do need to sit down and do that sometime

[–] jotaro__@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Not FOSS, but the one that got me to let go of Nova was Octopi Launcher.

Very close to a drop in replacement, brings most of the features and customizability that I got very used to.

[–] Klordok@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm liking it so far. Is there a way to add internet search to the app search bar?

[–] jotaro__@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago

Most I could find is this, so maybe in the future?

https://lemmy.world/comment/16703742

[–] hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip 5 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I am currently using Nova with internet access blocked. There is one feature no other launcher I have ever used has that Nova does: swiping on an icon on the homescreen up or down allows to launch a different app or activity.

I want to find an open source replacement but no matter what launcher I find, they all lack this feature.

[–] lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I just went launcher shopping recently - Total Launcher lets you assign different swipe shortcuts for four directions and a few other options IIRC. It's very customisable so I'm giving it a go in parallel with my normal default of Kvaesitso.

[–] hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I'll give this launcher a shot. It's UI and setup is clunky comparatively to Nova. But I will play around with it more yet!

[–] lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah definitely not as polished from a setup POV, that threw me too

[–] hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I've been playing with it. And I can't say I love it like I love Nova.

It sure seems customizable, but the UI and wording about options could be better.

I can't seem to make my taskbar/dock have more than 4 icons.

[–] lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Took me a while the get the place to long-hold just right, but if you do it on the edge of one of those app drawer/dock widgets it should pop up the top settings bar, there you hit the cog and there should be slides for row and column count.

[–] hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 weeks ago

Perfect! Thank you!

[–] Leg@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 weeks ago

I'm forever on Nova 7.0.58. The ship has been sinking for some time now.

[–] Fuck_u_spez_@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 weeks ago

Lawnchair isn't bad if you like the stock Pixel launcher.

[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 2 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Stupid question, but I've never used any of the Android launchers: what are people using them for? What do they do that makes them worth using over the stock interface?

[–] Numuruzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago

I can't give a good answer but here's my answer: I use Nova because it lets me set a custom image for folders. I made a custom background for my home screen and then set up folders with transparent images to make "hotspots". It's neat.

[–] whiwake@lemmy.cafe 1 points 4 weeks ago

You shouldn’t be using android anyway, it’s google influenced. You can’t degoogle fully while using anything google influencies, which includes chromium/blink. …..this also includes electron and its apps (sorry)