microsoft / microsoft/winget-cli

Add desktop shortcut for applications

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Issue-Feature
Dominant language
C++
Stars
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Forks
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Avg merge
1d 11h
Merged PRs (30d)
15

Description

Description of the new feature / enhancement

It will be useful for software that does not create desktop shortcuts itself:
steascree
ppsspp
msiafterburner (msi afterburner also contains RTSS software and installer does not create desktop shortcut for it)
handbrake
keepassxc
parsec
dupeguru

And for portable programs like:
pcsx2-dev
yuzu
ryujinx
insomnia
syncthingtray
ds4windows
melonDS.melonDS
Reshade

Similar issue but for start menu shortcuts https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/issues/2299

Proposed technical implementation details

Example for AwthWathje.SteaScree non-portable package:

Installers:
- Architecture: x86
  InstallerUrl: https://steascree.download/steascree-1.5.4-windows.exe
  InstallerSha256: DDEB40DE6538F47A6666A656C867261D3349CA01D8F5DD1145B8E74574F270D4
  DesktopShortcut: "${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\SteaScree\SteaScree.exe" SteaScree

Example for syncthingtray portable package:

Installers:
Installers:
- Architecture: x64
  NestedInstallerType: portable
  NestedInstallerFiles:
  - RelativeFilePath: syncthingtray-1.4.11-x86_64-w64-mingw32.exe
    PortableCommandAlias: syncthingtray
  InstallerUrl: https://github.com/Martchus/syncthingtray/releases/download/v1.4.11/syncthingtray-1.4.11-x86_64-w64-mingw32.exe.zip
  InstallerSha256: 84BB58505DF4E9DE5653352A8357359E8B46D8376E0D6E7E197B0C6786F1C8FB
  DesktopShortcut: <INSTALLPATH>\syncthingtray-1.4.11-x86_64-w64-mingw32.exe SyncthingTray

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reviewing the winget-cli package installation and shortcut-related entry points, then compare the proposed DesktopShortcut examples for non-portable and portable packages. Use the linked start-menu shortcut issue as related context. Done means supported package definitions can create desktop shortcuts for both installer types without breaking existing installation behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
cli, desktop
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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