No. 16 of 39 ·Start Menu Customization Software

Starling

Windows · Linux

Freedom report

One barScore 5.3

Starling is ranked #16 of 39 in start menu customization software on Freedom251. It runs on Linux, Windows.

Compared on start menu customization software

Product: Starling is a desktop environment with a 2D workspace and an optional 3D city workspace.
Features: Its Linux desktop includes a Wayland compositor, window manager, dock, spaces, and nine first-party apps.
App compatibility: The Linux desktop runs native Wayland clients and X11 apps, and the Windows shell page says Store apps keep working.
Linux support: The desktop is supported on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (amd64), where it adds a session alongside the existing desktop.
Windows support: The Windows shell supports Windows 10 and 11 x64; the Linux desktop can also run through Ubuntu 26.04 on WSL2.
Integrations: The Linux desktop launches applications installed on the machine; its App Store can install more applications.
Security: The Linux session runs unprivileged, with DRM master and input provided through logind via libseat.
Windows installer: The Windows preview installer is unsigned, installs per user without administrator privileges, and prompts SmartScreen on first run.
Licensing: Starling's own shell, apps, build tools, documentation, and host code are Apache-2.0 licensed.
Support: The user guide directs users to GitHub Issues for problems and questions.
Status: The project describes the desktop as an early preview and says users should expect rough edges, missing pieces, and bugs.

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