Fast Launcher

If you want to quickly launch programs without letting shortcuts overwhelm your desktop, these can be added to the taskbar, but there’s only so many you can add there too. An alternative is to use one of many alternatives like Fast Launcher in order to create a dedicated space, and keep both the taskbar, and desktop a clean space.

Although it’s not fitted with any kind of special visuals, the application manages to make a proper good impression, and delivers it until the end. There are several preset categories fitted with general Windows features, just to provide an example of what can be achieved.

As stated by the initial tooltip window, you can launch the main window either using hotkeys, or through the dedicated tray icon. In case the default hotkey configuration is already used, you can change it from the options menu by combining any special key with the rest of the buttons. What’s more, shortcuts you add can also be launched through hotkeys, providing even more comfort.

A couple of item managers help you quickly edit, and add more groups, and shortcuts. Groups only require a name an icon, whereas shortcuts can be fitted with a bit more. Apart from icon, and hotkey, shortcuts can be set to run as administrator, use specific parameters, launch in a custom state.

You’re free to add any shortcut by simply dragging it over the launcher bar, thus skipping the whole creation screen. However, using the item properties panel lets you set up links instead of shortcuts, by simply writing it down in the filename section.

For a bit more comfort, the application can be set to run with Windows, so you don’t have to launch it every time. Apart from hotkeys, and the tray icon, you can configure the the middle mouse button to bring up the launcher.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that Fast Launcher is a powerful application which can help you keep the desktop, and taskbar clean by creating multiple categories to quickly run any kind of file, and even website. Although visual customization is minimum, it’s packed with a great deal of flexibility, making it worth more than a try.