Username-Generic: Rewrote a paragraph to be more comprehensible

2026-06-03T21:46:36Z

Rewrote a paragraph to be more comprehensible

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:46, 3 June 2026
Line 17:		Line 17:
	====Copying desktop items====		====Copying desktop items====

	~~Desktop items are typically stored within~~ <code>~~application~~</code> ~~subdirectories~~ of paths ~~assigned to the~~ <code>~~XDG_DATA_DIRS~~</code> ~~environment variable~~. On NixOS, ~~those files get included in~~ that variable ~~after being copied to an installed~~ package's <code>$out/share/applications</code> directory. This can be achieved by either linking or copying the files ~~in a~~ phase ~~manually~~, or by using the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/copy-desktop-items.sh copyDesktopItems] hook:		The environment variable <code>XDG_DATA_DIRS</code> can be read by application launchers in search of desktop files. More specifically, it lists paths which may contain <code>applications</code> directories that store them. On NixOS, once a package is installed, its desktop items become discoverable by that variable so long as they are placed in the package output's <code>$out/share/applications</code> directory. This can be achieved by either linking or copying the files there, during an installation [[Derivations#Phases\|phase]], or by using the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/copy-desktop-items.sh copyDesktopItems] hook:

	<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">		<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">

Username-Generic: Created an article about Desktop Items

2026-06-03T20:58:15Z

Created an article about Desktop Items

New page

Desktop items (more commonly referred to as "desktop entries") are special files used to provide information to application launchers regarding specific programs, directories, or URLs, which they are meant to handle. As a universal standard, these files should to adhere to [https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry/latest/index.html their freedesktop.org specification].

==Packaging==

====Creating desktop items====

If provided upstream, desktop item files can be copied over to a package's output directly. Alternatively, they may also be generated by using the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/pkgs/build-support/make-desktopitem/default.nix makeDesktopItem] builder:

<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
makeDesktopItem {
name = "Example Program";
exec = "example-program";
categories = [ "Education" ];
}
</syntaxhighlight>

====Copying desktop items====

Desktop items are typically stored within <code>application</code> subdirectories of paths assigned to the <code>XDG_DATA_DIRS</code> environment variable. On NixOS, those files get included in that variable after being copied to an installed package's <code>$out/share/applications</code> directory. This can be achieved by either linking or copying the files in a phase manually, or by using the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/copy-desktop-items.sh copyDesktopItems] hook:

<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
# The hook reads items from this variable.
desktopItems = [
(makeDesktopItem {
name = "Example Program";
exec = "example-program";
categories = [ "Education" ];
})
# ...
];

nativeBuildInputs = [
copyDesktopItems
];
</syntaxhighlight>

==Tips and Tricks==

====Validating desktop items====

To quickly validate an existing desktop item, the following command may be run:

<syntaxhighlight lang="sh">
$ nix-shell -p buildPackages.desktop-file-utils --run "desktop-file-validate ./path/to/file.desktop"
</syntaxhighlight>

Desktop Items - Revision history

Username-Generic: Rewrote a paragraph to be more comprehensible

Username-Generic: Created an article about Desktop Items