Initial commit: DeskIcons source

2026-10-04 14:27:32 +00:00
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+# DeskIcons
+
+A tiny Windows utility (about 120 KB, no installer) that sends any window to the desktop as a draggable label, the way Windows 3.1 used to put minimized programs on the desktop.
+
+## Using it
+
+Run `DeskIcons.exe`. It lives in the system tray.
+
+- **Send a window to the desktop:** hold Shift and click the window's minimize button, or press Ctrl+Alt+I while the window is active. The window leaves the taskbar and appears on the desktop as a label with its title.
+- **Move it:** drag the label anywhere.
+- **Bring it back:** double-click the label.
+- **Right-click a label** to restore or close that window.
+
+Tray menu options:
+
+- Restore all windows
+- Show program icons (off by default, text only)
+- Keep icons on top of windows (off by default, labels sit at desktop level)
+- Start with Windows
+- Exit (brings every held window back)
+
+If DeskIcons is closed unexpectedly, it remembers which windows it was holding and rebuilds their labels the next time it starts.
+
+## Notes
+
+- Windows from programs running as administrator can only be grabbed if DeskIcons also runs as administrator.
+- The exe is unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen may warn the first time. Choose "More info" and then "Run anyway."
+
+## Building
+
+Plain Win32 C, no dependencies beyond the standard Windows DLLs.
+
+```
+sh build.sh
+```
+
+Requires MinGW-w64 (`x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc` and `windres`).