mkshortcut

As 'mkshortcut' is not a standard command, there is no universal synopsis. However, the functionality it implies is achieved via the following common methods:

1. For Symbolic Links (Command Line):
To create a soft link to a file or directory:
ln -s TARGET LINK_NAME
Example: `ln -s /usr/bin/firefox ~/Desktop/firefox_shortcut`

2. For Desktop Entry Files (GUI Launchers):
To create a custom application launcher for graphical environments:
This involves creating a plain text file (e.g., `MyApplication.desktop`) in a relevant directory (like `~/.local/share/applications/` or `~/Desktop/`) with the following structure and making it executable:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=/path/to/executable [arguments]
Name=My Application Name
Icon=icon-name-or-path
Terminal=false
Comment=A short description of the application
Categories=Utility;Development;

N/A
    The command `mkshortcut` is not a standard Linux utility and therefore does not have defined parameters. The functionality it implies is typically achieved using other commands like `ln` for symbolic links, or by manually creating and configuring `.desktop` files for GUI launchers. Please refer to the 'Synopsis' section for common methods and their specific syntax and options.

The command 'mkshortcut' is not a standard Linux command found in common Linux distributions. Therefore, there is no official manual page or universally recognized syntax for it. When discussing 'making a shortcut' on Linux, it typically refers to one of two primary methods:

1. Symbolic Links (Soft Links): These are special files that serve as pointers to other files or directories on the filesystem. Created using the `ln -s` command, symbolic links are primarily used for providing convenient access to frequently used files, directories, or executables from multiple locations without duplicating the actual data. They are a core filesystem feature.

2. Desktop Entry Files (.desktop): These are plain text configuration files that adhere to the freedesktop.org Desktop Entry Specification. They are utilized by graphical desktop environments (such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, Cinnamon, MATE, etc.) to represent applications, URLs, or specific directories within application menus, on the desktop, or in panels. These files contain metadata like the application's display name, the command to execute, the icon to use, and categorized information.

While a specific utility or script named `mkshortcut` might exist on particular systems or in specialized environments, this analysis focuses on the standard, widely adopted methods used to achieve the functionality implied by 'mkshortcut' in a typical Linux context.

• The command `mkshortcut` is not a standard Linux command. Its presence on a system likely indicates a custom script, alias, or a utility from a specific, non-standard software package.
• It is crucial to understand the distinction between symbolic links (which operate at the filesystem level, acting as pointers to files or directories) and desktop entry files (which are configuration files interpreted by graphical desktop environments to launch applications or URLs). They serve different purposes and behave differently.
• Desktop entry (`.desktop`) files must have executable permissions (`chmod +x`) and may need to be explicitly 'trusted' or 'allowed to launch' by your specific desktop environment before they become active clickable icons.
• The visual appearance and management of desktop shortcuts can vary significantly between different Linux desktop environments (e.g., GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, LXQt), even though they generally adhere to the freedesktop.org standards for `.desktop` files.

Symbolic Links are direct pointers within the filesystem hierarchy. When you interact with a symbolic link (e.g., `cat my_symlink`), the system resolves it to the target file or directory, and the operation is performed on the target. They are transparent at the command-line level and are used for various purposes, including creating aliases for commands, linking shared libraries, or providing access to deeply nested directories from a more convenient location.

Desktop Entries, conversely, are not filesystem pointers in the same sense. They are descriptive configuration files that define how an application should be launched and presented within a graphical desktop environment. A `.desktop` file provides metadata such as the application's name, the command to execute (which might be complex), an icon, and categories for menu organization. They are essential for integrating software seamlessly into the user's graphical workspace and providing user-friendly clickable icons in menus, docks, or on the desktop itself.

To manually create a desktop shortcut (launcher) for a GUI application, follow these general steps:

1. Choose a location: For personal use, save the file in `~/.local/share/applications/` to add it to your application menu, or in `~/Desktop/` for a desktop icon.
2. Create the file: Use a text editor to create a new file with a `.desktop` extension (e.g., `MyCustomApp.desktop`).
3. Add content: Populate the file with the necessary fields according to the Desktop Entry Specification. Essential fields include:
- `[Desktop Entry]`: The mandatory header that identifies the file type.
- `Type=Application`: Specifies that this entry describes an application (can also be `Link` for URLs or `Directory`).
- `Exec=/path/to/executable [arguments]`: The command to execute when the shortcut is activated. Ensure the full path to the executable.
- `Name=My Custom Application`: The name that will be displayed in menus or on the desktop.
- `Icon=icon-name` (or `/path/to/icon.png`): The icon associated with the launcher. Use a system icon name (e.g., `firefox`) or a full path.
- `Terminal=false`: Set to `true` if the application runs in a terminal window, `false` otherwise.
- `Comment=A brief description of my custom application.`: A tooltip or longer description.
- `Categories=Utility;Development;`: Optional; helps organize the application in menus.
4. Set permissions: Make the `.desktop` file executable using `chmod +x MyCustomApp.desktop`. This is crucial for it to be recognized as a launcher.
5. Trust the launcher: Some desktop environments require you to right-click the newly created `.desktop` file and select an option like 'Allow Launching', 'Mark as Trusted', or 'Trust and Launch' before it becomes a clickable icon.

There is no specific historical development or origin for a command named `mkshortcut` within the standard Linux command-line utilities. However, the underlying concepts and technologies used for creating shortcuts on Linux have a long and distinct history:

• Symbolic Links: The concept of symbolic links (also known as soft links or symlinks) has been a fundamental feature of Unix-like operating systems since the 1980s. They were introduced to provide a flexible way to manage file system structure and access.
• Desktop Entry Files: The `.desktop` file format and the broader Desktop Entry Specification were developed and standardized by the freedesktop.org project. This initiative began in the early 2000s with the goal of fostering interoperability between different Linux desktop environments, allowing applications and their launchers to be managed consistently across various desktop interfaces.

ln(1), chmod(1), xdg-desktop-menu(1), xdg-open(1), desktop-file-install(1)