Appetizer is an
open source
Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...
dock
The word dock () in American English refers to one or a group of human-made structures that are involved in the handling of boats or ships (usually on or near a shore). In British English, the term is not used the same way as in American Engl ...
for Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, which allows organizing the user's shortcuts and applications. It can be customized via skins and plugins and is available in 25 languages. Various other features are available including support for keyboard shortcuts, custom icons and tray icon support. Appetizer also features a function to automatically launch certain applications when it starts.
Appetizer started as a
PortableApps.com
PortableApps.com is a website that distributes free applications for Windows that have been packaged for portability. These portable applications are intended to be used from removable storage devices such as USB flash drives.
The site was foun ...
application. As such it is designed to be
portable
Portable may refer to:
General
* Portable building, a manufactured structure that is built off site and moved in upon completion of site and utility work
* Portable classroom, a temporary building installed on the grounds of a school to provide a ...
and can be installed on a USB drive or other portable device. If the standard PortableApps.com folder structure is detected on the drive, Appetizer will automatically import the user's shortcuts.
Reception
Appetizer has been reviewed by several websites and magazines. It was chosen as "freeware of the month" by
UpdateStar in 2009 and was in the "top 10 of the best launchers" on
Clubic
''Clubic'' is a French web site, which was owned by M6 Web until March 2018, and is now independent.
Created in 2000, this webzine about computing and multimedia offers news, reviews and downloads of software applications, as well as community s ...
. Clubic appreciated its ease of use and the small size of its executable. DownloadSquad reviewed Appetizer and noted that thanks to its open source nature, "it is easy for anyone to develop skins, plugins, or other features for the application". Likewise,
LifeHacker
''Lifehacker'' is a weblog about life hacks and software that launched on 31 January 2005. The site was originally launched by Gawker Media and is owned by Ziff Davis. The blog posts cover a wide range of topics including Microsoft Windows, M ...
called it a "free, polished, and highly customizable open source candidate".
Softonic
Softonic is a Spanish software download platform that distributes, categorizes, and evaluates programs for Windows, Android, and Mac. The platform was founded in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in June 1997.
History
Softonic started in 1997 as a ...
noted that the application didn't "really add many new functions to the Start menu" but was "a very eye-catching alternative menu" and "goes straight to the point". ''
PC World
''PC World'' (stylized as PCWorld) is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. Since 2013, it has been an online-only publication.
It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal tec ...
'' reviewed Appetizer and noted that it "would likely be of most use when run alongside the also-free portable app suite".
Appetizer was also reviewed in 2009 on the French TV channel
Game One
Game One is a French television channel owned by Paramount Networks EMEAA. The channel shows several programs based on video gaming. It also airs Japanese anime on a regular basis.
In Germany between 2006 and 2014, a television show about video ...
during the Funky Web TV show.
References
External links
*{{Official website, appetizer.cozic.net
Application launchers
Free system software
Windows-only freeware
Software that uses wxWidgets
2008 software
Portable software