Someone actually rebuilt Windows 8.1’s tiled Start menu as a standalone launcher for Linux — a small, earnest piece of open‑source nostalgia that has briefly lit up a corner of Reddit and the Linux customisation scene.
Background
Windows 8’s Start screen and 8.1’s tiled Start menu remain design lightning rods in Microsoft’s history: loved by a small cohort for its bold, touch‑first grid and loathed by many desktop users who preferred the classic Start menu. The conversation about Start menu design and why people cling to older models is still active in the press and community write‑ups, which document how users and third‑party projects have repeatedly tried to restore or reimagine Start behavior across platforms. This particular remake emerged not as a polished distro spin or a corporate project, but as a personal hobby: a Python program that mimics Windows 8.1’s tile grid, with movable tiles, groups/folders, color and wallpaper controls, and support for launching Flatpaks, Steam entries and native system apps. The author posted the project to Reddit and published the code on Pastebin; the Reddit thread quickly drew hundreds of upvotes and comments.
What the project is — the facts verified
- The project is a Python‑based launcher that emulates the tiled Start menu model used in Windows 8.1. The Reddit post describing it lays out the feature set (movable tiles, color and background customization, groups/folders, Flatpak/Steam/native app support) and notes missing features compared with the original Windows 8 menu (no search mode and no ability to produce larger tiles).
- The author states the program sits in the system tray and appears on a hotkey (reported as Super+P), and that it was designed around GNOME (it depends on gnome‑terminal for script launches). These implementation details are provided in the original post.
- The code was shared via Pastebin because the developer had trouble with GitHub two‑factor authentication and preferred a simple upload; the post specifies the two Python dependencies required: PyQt6==6.10.1 and pynput==1.8.1. Both package versions are published on PyPI, confirming the dependency claims are plausible and current at the time of reporting.
These are the core, verifiable claims: the project exists; it’s Python + PyQt6; it uses pynput; the author shared code on Pastebin; and the launcher targets GNOME users while supporting Flatpak and Steam entries.
Why someone would build this (and why the Linux community enables it)
There are three overlapping motivations that make a project like this unsurprising — even if a little eccentric.
- Nostalgia and affection for a particular UI model. A small but vocal group of users still remember Windows 8.1 fondly for its grid‑first, full‑screen app launcher. Re‑creating that experience is partly a nostalgia exercise and partly an exploration of whether the paradigm has practical value outside of the original platform. The Reddit thread itself is full of exactly that mix of affection, bemused derision and curiosity.
- Linux’s culture of tinkering. Desktop Linux is built on modularity: toolkits, shells, launchers and extension points let hobbyists and maintainers assemble unusual interfaces. Prior experiments to make Linux look and feel like Windows (or vice versa) are common and well documented; they’re frequently implemented as GNOME extensions, custom launchers, or lightweight standalone apps. That culture is what enables a single developer to prototype a Windows‑style Start menu and get feedback quickly.
- Practicality for certain workflows. Full‑screen or tiled launchers can be useful for organizing large software collections, for kiosk or lean‑UI rigs, or for touchscreens. A launcher that understands Flatpaks and Steam entries can be a tidy, single place to launch sandboxed and game content, which has practical appeal independent of the nostalgia angle. The author explicitly notes Flatpak and Steam support, showing an eye on real‑world Linux workflows.
What it gets right — notable strengths
- Simple, honest scope. The project’s stated aim is to reproduce core tile behavior (move tiles, change colors, create folders/groups). That scoped approach makes it easier to iterate without promising full parity with Microsoft’s codebase.
- Practical Linux integrations. Support for Flatpak, Steam, and native apps demonstrates the developer thought about real Linux packaging and gaming workflows rather than only reproducing visuals.
- Python + PyQt6 makes development accessible. Using Python and PyQt6 lowers the barrier to contribution and experimentation; interested users can read and modify the code without a deep C++/Qt build chain. The specific version the author lists, PyQt6 6.10.1, is available on PyPI.
- Keyboard activation and tray behavior fit desktop expectations. The app sits in the tray and binds to Super+P — a sensible, lightweight UX that avoids forcing a complete DE integration.
- Open‑source availability (Pastebin → potential Git repo). Even if the code is on Pastebin temporarily, sharing it publicly is the first step toward peer review, forks and improvements.
What to watch out for — technical and security risks
Building and running a GUI launcher from unvetted code has non‑trivial hazards. The most important are:
- Running unreviewed code from Pastebin is risky. Pastebin is a convenient hosting option but not a package distribution mechanism. Code can include harmful operations (network connections, credential exfiltration, privilege escalation attempts). Treat any Pastebin script as untrusted until audited.
- pynput is a powerful input library — privilege risk. The project depends on pynput (the cited version is 1.8.1, which exists on PyPI). pynput gives programs the ability to monitor and simulate keyboard and mouse events; used legitimately it powers hotkeys and input automation, but it can also be abused to capture keystrokes. That capability means you should be particularly careful about trusting a program that uses it.
- Toolkit mismatch and GNOME dependencies. The launcher is PyQt (Qt toolkit) but depends on GNOME terminal for script launching. Mixing toolkits and DE expectations can produce brittle behavior across distros and desktop environments (X11 vs Wayland differences, terminal command availability, DBus/service differences). The author notes a GNOME dependency; that implies limited cross‑DE portability without changes.
- No built‑in sandbox or privilege separation. Lightweight desktop tools often run with the user’s permissions. If the launcher or any scripts it executes are compromised, the attacker inherits the user’s access to files, network, and X/Wayland session devices.
- Package version and compatibility risk. Python GUI bindings and their binary wheels are released frequently. The project targets PyQt6 6.10.1; while that version is listed on PyPI, compatibility with a given Python interpreter and OS glibc/kernel pairing depends on available wheels and runtime environment. If the author bundled an sdist or a wheel for their platform, other users must ensure matching Python and platform compatibility.
- Maintenance and update drift. Small, single‑developer projects can attract attention but often lack sustained maintenance. If users adopt the tool, they should understand the lifecycle risk: future DE updates or library changes (Qt, GNOME Shell, Python versions) may break it. Community forks are a likely outcome, but they require contributors.
Because of these risks, the project is best treated as an experimental artifact for hobbyist testing — not a production launcher for sensitive environments.
Concrete, safe steps to evaluate the project locally
If you want to see how authentic the Windows 8 tile experience feels, do so safely. Follow this sequence:
- Create an isolated test environment.
- Use a throwaway VM or a disposable container (a GNOME‑based live session or a spare virtual machine). Never test untrusted UI code on your primary workstation.
- Inspect the code before running it.
- Download the Pastebin content into a local directory and open every file. Look for:
- network socket code
- code calling subprocesses as root or modifying system files
- use of pynput with listeners that capture input
- Run in a Python virtualenv.
- Create a venv and install precisely the pinned dependencies: PyQt6==6.10.1 and pynput==1.8.1. Installing in a venv avoids contaminating the system Python.
- Run with reduced permissions.
- Use an unprivileged user with limited access to critical files, and avoid running with sudo.
- Monitor runtime behavior.
- Use strace or auditd in the test VM to watch file/network activity during the first runs.
- Prefer a containerized approach for extra isolation.
- If feasible, run the launcher inside a Wayland/X11 socket‑bound container or use Firejail to add an extra capability limit.
- If you like it, migrate to a curated install method.
- Instead of running Pastebin scripts directly, encourage the author (or community) to publish a vetted repository or package with checksums and release notes.
These steps reduce the immediate risks of running unknown code while letting enthusiasts experiment with the UI.
Design and UX analysis: how authentic is the Windows 8 experience?
From the feature list the author provided (movable tiles, color edits, group/folder creation, Flatpak/Steam/native app launchers), this launcher appears to capture the prominent visual and interaction patterns of Windows 8’s Start menu. The author self‑rates the implementation at roughly “80% functionality” of the original and openly admits missing search mode and larger tile sizing, which are both nontrivial features in the original Windows implementation. Those are honest limits: search is heavily integrated with system indexing and app metadata, while larger tile rendering requires additional layout and skinning logic. The author’s transparency about these gaps is a strength — it sets realistic expectations for testers. The choice of PyQt6 for rendering tiles produces a fast and native‑looking Qt UI, but the UX on GNOME (a GTK ecosystem) may feel slightly foreign to some users. That mismatch is a trade‑off: Qt brings stable widget rendering and easier cross‑platform packaging, but using it in GNOME means the component won’t inherit GTK styling or theming automatically. The developer mitigates this by focusing on tile visuals (which are toolkit‑agnostic in concept) and by delegating terminal launches to GNOME Terminal. Still, expect cosmetic inconsistencies unless the launcher ships its own theme assets or stylesheets.
Broader context: this is part of a long tradition
Recreating and reimagining the Start menu on alternate platforms is not new. Over the past decade there have been many attempts: GNOME extensions and Arc Menu variants that emulate Windows‑style launchers, full distro spins themed to look like Windows, and userland utilities to return classic Start behavior within Windows itself. The Linux customisation community routinely experiments with interface metaphors and pieces them together (Dash to Panel, Arc Menu, custom GTK themes). That context frames this project as another iteration in the ongoing desktop‑UI conversation rather than an isolated curiosity.
Where this can reasonably go next
There are several plausible, practical directions for the project if it gains contributors:
- Add a safe, built‑in search mode that hooks into GNOME’s tracker or a local indexing service; this would close one of the largest functionality gaps compared with the original Windows Start. Any search implementation should respect user privacy and be opt‑in.
- Replace Pastebin with a version control host (GitHub / GitLab) and adopt release tagging. That will make auditing easier and permit reviewers to file issues and PRs. The author already signalled intent to move the code once account friction is resolved.
- Offer a packaging path (Flatpak or distro‑specific package) that bundles only UI code and avoids shipping arbitrary helper scripts; this reduces the attack surface and improves install reliability.
- Add sandbox and capability options (e.g., a Firejail profile) to let users run the launcher with strong limitations by default.
- Broaden DE support by abstracting terminal invocation and window management, so the launcher works on KDE, XFCE, and Wayland sessions as well as GNOME.
Final judgment: a charming, niche experiment with practical caveats
This Windows 8 Start menu remake for Linux is precisely the kind of oddball, hobbyist project that keeps desktop communities lively. It’s honest about its scope, integrates with Linux packaging and gaming workflows, and uses accessible technology (Python + PyQt6) that encourages tinkering.
At the same time, it is not recommended for casual, unprotected installation on a primary workstation. The dependency on pynput (input capture), the Pastebin distribution vehicle, and the GNOME/terminal coupling all point to sensible, non‑trivial security and stability caveats. For anyone curious enough to try it, the right way in is a virtual machine, a code inspection, and basic sandboxing — then decide whether the nostalgia and usability payoff justifies the risk.
The project also serves as a reminder: desktop UI is as much cultural memory as it is software — and Linux’s modularity turns even odd nostalgic impulses into working prototypes. If you value curiosity and the hackability of the desktop, this is an interesting weekend project. If you value a hardened, supported environment for daily work, wait until the code is packaged, audited, and available through a trusted distribution channel.
Conclusion
A single developer’s side project has recreated a controversial piece of Windows UX on Linux: it’s playful, functional in core areas, and emblematic of what open‑source desktop tinkering looks like in 2026. The honest trade‑offs — missing search, reliance on pynput, and distribution via Pastebin — are not fatal, but they matter. Treat the build as an experimental artifact: admire, test in isolation, and contribute improvements if you want to help turn a nostalgic hack into a safe, maintained utility.
Source: XDA
Someone recreated the Windows 8 Start menu in Linux for some reason