Pros of PowerToys

• Broader feature set, including utilities like FancyZones, PowerRename, and PowerToys Run
• Official Microsoft product with regular updates and support
• Modern UI design that integrates well with Windows 10 and 11

Cons of PowerToys

• Higher system resource usage due to more features
• May require more configuration to achieve desired functionality
• Not specifically focused on Start Menu customization

Code Comparison

While a direct code comparison is not particularly relevant due to the different scopes of these projects, we can look at how they handle configuration:

Open-Shell-Menu:

void CSettingsUI::LoadSettings()
{
    m_Settings.LoadSettings();
    UpdateSettings();
}

PowerToys:

public static void LoadSettings()
{
    var settings = SettingsUtils.GetSettings<GeneralSettings>();
    // Apply settings
}

Both projects use similar approaches for loading settings, but PowerToys uses a more modern C# implementation compared to Open-Shell-Menu's C++ code.

Pros of Rainmeter

• Highly customizable desktop widgets and skins
• Active community with a large library of user-created skins
• Supports scripting for advanced functionality

Cons of Rainmeter

• Steeper learning curve for creating custom skins
• Can be resource-intensive with multiple complex skins
• Less integrated with Windows UI compared to Open-Shell-Menu

Code Comparison

Open-Shell-Menu (C++):

void CMenuContainer::RefreshIcons(void)
{
    for (std::vector<CMenuButton>::iterator it=m_Buttons.begin();it!=m_Buttons.end();++it)
        it->RefreshIcon();
}

Rainmeter (C++):

void Measure::ReadConfig(ConfigParser& parser, const WCHAR* section)
{
    m_Name = parser.ReadString(section, L"Measure", L"");
    m_MeasureName = parser.ReadString(section, L"MeasureName", L"");
}

Both projects use C++, but Rainmeter focuses on skinning and customization, while Open-Shell-Menu aims to enhance the Windows Start Menu. Rainmeter's code deals with parsing configuration files for measures, while Open-Shell-Menu's example shows icon refreshing for menu buttons.

Pros of Cairo Shell

• More modern and visually appealing interface
• Customizable widgets and desktop elements
• Active development with frequent updates

Cons of Cairo Shell

• Steeper learning curve for new users
• Less compatibility with older Windows versions
• Fewer customization options for the Start menu

Code Comparison

Cairo Shell (C#):

public class CairoDesktop : Window
{
    public CairoDesktop()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        SetupDesktop();
    }
}

Open-Shell Menu (C++):

class CStartMenu : public CWindowImpl<CStartMenu>
{
public:
    DECLARE_WND_CLASS_EX(L"OpenShellMenu.CStartMenu", CS_DBLCLKS, COLOR_MENU)
    BEGIN_MSG_MAP(CStartMenu)
    END_MSG_MAP()
};

Cairo Shell focuses on creating a complete desktop environment, while Open-Shell Menu primarily aims to replace the Windows Start menu. Cairo Shell uses C# and WPF for a more modern development approach, whereas Open-Shell Menu uses C++ and Win32 APIs for better compatibility with older Windows versions. Cairo Shell offers more extensive customization for the entire desktop, while Open-Shell Menu provides deeper customization options specifically for the Start menu.

Pros of ExplorerPatcher

• Focuses on enhancing the existing Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu
• Provides a more native look and feel compared to Open-Shell-Menu
• Offers additional customization options for Windows 11 specific features

Cons of ExplorerPatcher

• Limited to Windows 11, while Open-Shell-Menu supports multiple Windows versions
• Less extensive customization options for the Start menu compared to Open-Shell-Menu
• Smaller community and potentially less frequent updates

Code Comparison

ExplorerPatcher:

BOOL PatchExplorer()
{
    VnPatchIAT(GetModuleHandleW(NULL), "user32.dll", "CreateWindowExW", CreateWindowExW_Hook);
    return TRUE;
}

Open-Shell-Menu:

void CStartMenuDlg::InitSettings()
{
    m_Settings.LoadSettings();
    UpdateSettings();
}

The code snippets show different approaches:

• ExplorerPatcher focuses on patching existing Windows functions
• Open-Shell-Menu implements its own Start menu dialog and settings

Both projects aim to enhance the Windows user experience, but ExplorerPatcher is more focused on Windows 11 modifications, while Open-Shell-Menu provides a more comprehensive replacement for the Start menu across multiple Windows versions.