Pros of NSudo

• Focuses on system administration and privilege elevation
• Provides a command-line interface for advanced users
• Offers more granular control over system privileges

Cons of NSudo

• Less user-friendly for average Windows users
• Narrower scope of functionality compared to ExplorerPatcher
• Requires more technical knowledge to use effectively

Code Comparison

NSudo (C++):

int wmain(int argc, wchar_t* argv[])
{
    NSudoCommandLineParser parser;
    return parser.Parse(argc, argv);
}

ExplorerPatcher (C):

int WINAPI wWinMain(
    _In_ HINSTANCE hInstance,
    _In_opt_ HINSTANCE hPrevInstance,
    _In_ LPWSTR lpCmdLine,
    _In_ int nShowCmd
)
{
    return EP_Launch(hInstance, lpCmdLine);
}

Summary

NSudo is a specialized tool for system administration and privilege elevation, offering more granular control but requiring more technical expertise. ExplorerPatcher, on the other hand, focuses on enhancing the Windows user interface, making it more accessible to average users. The code comparison shows that NSudo uses a command-line parser, while ExplorerPatcher employs a graphical user interface approach.

Pros of Open-Shell-Menu

• More customizable with extensive theming options
• Broader functionality, including Start Menu replacements for multiple Windows versions
• Larger community and longer development history

Cons of Open-Shell-Menu

• Heavier resource usage due to its comprehensive feature set
• May require more setup and configuration to achieve desired results
• Less focused on Windows 11-specific modifications

Code Comparison

ExplorerPatcher:

BOOL PatchExplorer(HANDLE hProcess)
{
    LPVOID lpRemoteBuffer = VirtualAllocEx(hProcess, NULL, sizeof(DWORD), MEM_COMMIT | MEM_RESERVE, PAGE_READWRITE);
    if (!lpRemoteBuffer) return FALSE;
    // ... (additional code)
}

Open-Shell-Menu:

void CStartMenuDlg::InitSettings()
{
    m_Settings.LoadSettings();
    m_bWin7Style=m_Settings.IsWin7Style();
    m_bClassicStyle=m_Settings.IsClassicStyle();
    // ... (additional code)
}

ExplorerPatcher focuses on targeted patches to the Windows Explorer process, while Open-Shell-Menu implements a more comprehensive replacement for various Windows shell components.

Pros of Cairo Shell

• Complete shell replacement, offering a more customizable and flexible desktop environment
• Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS)
• Extensible plugin system for adding new features and functionality

Cons of Cairo Shell

• Steeper learning curve due to replacing the entire shell
• Potential compatibility issues with some Windows applications
• Less seamless integration with native Windows features

Code Comparison

Cairo Shell (C#):

public class CairoDesktop : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    private string _wallpaperPath;
    public string WallpaperPath
    {
        get { return _wallpaperPath; }
        set { _wallpaperPath = value; OnPropertyChanged("WallpaperPath"); }
    }
}

ExplorerPatcher (C):

BOOL CALLBACK EnumChildProc(HWND hwnd, LPARAM lParam)
{
    WCHAR className[100];
    GetClassNameW(hwnd, className, ARRAYSIZE(className));
    if (!wcscmp(className, L"ReBarWindow32"))
    {
        *(HWND*)lParam = hwnd;
        return FALSE;
    }
    return TRUE;
}

Summary

Cairo Shell offers a more comprehensive desktop environment replacement with cross-platform support and extensibility. However, it may have a steeper learning curve and potential compatibility issues. ExplorerPatcher, on the other hand, focuses on enhancing the existing Windows Explorer, providing a more seamless integration with native Windows features but with less customization options.

Pros of TranslucentTB

• Focused on taskbar customization, providing a sleek and modern look
• Lightweight and minimal impact on system resources
• Offers dynamic taskbar appearance based on active windows

Cons of TranslucentTB

• Limited to taskbar modifications only
• May not be compatible with some third-party taskbar customization tools
• Requires running as a background process

Code Comparison

TranslucentTB (C++):

BOOL CALLBACK EnumWindowsProc(HWND hWnd, LPARAM lParam) {
    if (!IsWindowVisible(hWnd)) return TRUE;
    RECT rect;
    if (!GetWindowRect(hWnd, &rect)) return TRUE;
    // ... (window processing logic)
}

ExplorerPatcher (C):

BOOL CALLBACK EnumChildProc(HWND hwnd, LPARAM lParam) {
    WCHAR className[100];
    if (GetClassNameW(hwnd, className, ARRAYSIZE(className))) {
        if (!wcscmp(className, L"ReBarWindow32")) {
            // ... (rebar processing logic)
        }
    }
    return TRUE;
}

While both projects involve Windows UI customization, they focus on different aspects. TranslucentTB specializes in taskbar appearance, offering a streamlined solution for users wanting a modern look. ExplorerPatcher, on the other hand, provides broader Windows Explorer modifications, including Start menu and taskbar tweaks, making it more comprehensive but potentially more complex for users seeking simple taskbar customization.