Customizing Home menu

[jagged fiber]

when I go to add an item to a menu on the Main menu editor (pictured) how do I add an app?

if I click "browse" it just brings me to file explorer, I have no idea where the apps are stored

I can easily get something working if its on my desktop, but I cant figure out where system apps are stored (im very new to linux, dont even know what exactly to look FOR)

[primal spade]

which application are you wanting to add to the menu, and how do you currently start it?

[jagged fiber]

A bunch of them, cleared the menu to customize it (I can easily just put them all back) but I wanted to create the menu from scratch to make it how I like, im probably biting off more than I can chew though 😅

[primal spade]

yes you are

[jagged fiber]

I just dont know what files are the actual apps, and not files FOR the apps. what file format is used to launch apps?

[primal spade]

most, if not all programs don't have an extension and are located in /bin

[jagged fiber]

Wait, I think I get it, what I will just do is copy the commands used to launch apps and use that

like for system monitor it says gnome-system-monitor

easier than wading through files to FIND them 😂

[primal spade]

yeah whatever works to launch via terminal is the same for the command field when making a launcher

[jagged fiber]

lol i will figure out where the actual files are someday, but prob not rn 💀

[primal spade]

i hope u didnt remove Synaptic package manager from the menu. it uses a more complex command to start up in root mode; same for software manager

[jagged fiber]

I removed everything. luckily, there is a single button that restores it to system defaults

[primal spade]

i think all the launchers that the menu references live in /usr/share/applications/ but dont delete ANYTHING in that folder

u can view any .desktop file in a text editor to see actual binary locations and syntax

simply right-click, 'open with', text editor

[jagged fiber]

Okay, so my second question was: is it possible to create a launcher that launches firefox with a certain page (eg. youtube) , and if so, how?

[jagged fiber]

Lol I just finished a txt file with the commands for all the applications on the home menu when you first install linux mint:
(Plus steam and discord)

[pale sage]

You can create a launcher to start Firefox using a particular profile and you can create Web apps.

[primal spade]

i think the command field in the launcher can simply be firefox www.site.com

you can also simply set Firefox (or another browser) to open on any website as its first start page; that is within that application's own settings.

[jagged fiber]

this worked, thank you!