How to create a launcher on the Ubuntu desktop

For some versions already, Ubuntu does not have an option to can bring to life un pitcher. Here we explain how to create one.

This is a contribution from Ezequiel Ruiz Montecino, thus becoming one of the winners of our weekly competition: «Share what you know about Linux«. Congratulations Ezequiel!

Steps to follow

I opened a terminal and wrote the following:

gnome-desktop-item-edit ~ / Desktop --create-new

Where ~ / Desktop is where you want the launcher to be created. Subsequently, the following will be displayed:

From here you can customize the launcher.

In Type you can choose between Terminal Application or Application only. If the application has a graphical interface, choose Application. In case you need to see the "feedback" or the progress of a script, you should choose the first option.

In Command enter the place where the script or application to be executed is hosted. It is even possible to select a custom icon or image by clicking on the trampoline button.

Now all you have to do is click OK.

Finally, it remains to give execution permissions to the script or the application that the launcher points to.

To do this, you can right click on the file to be executed and from the Properties section change its execution permissions. Otherwise, open a terminal and run:

sudo chmod + x path_y_file_name_to_run