Application Manager

The Application Manager provides a centralized grid view of all available applications in Time Capsule. Launch any application from a single window with visual icons and organized layout.

The Application Manager is implemented in appmanager.ts (52 lines) and provides a modal-style launcher following CDE’s application folder paradigm.

Opening Application Manager

Access the Application Manager through:

Front Panel
Menu Button

Click the App Manager button in the front panel (typically in the utilities or applications section).

The Application Manager opens as a modal-style window that centers on the screen and displays above other windows with a high z-index (10000).

Interface Layout

The Application Manager displays a grid of application icons:

Grid Layout

14 application icons in a responsive grid layout

Icon + Label

Each app shows an icon image and text label

Titlebar Path

Shows CDE path: /usr/dt/appconfig/appmanager

Status Bar

Displays “14 Objects” count

Available Applications

The Application Manager provides quick access to all Time Capsule applications:

Core Applications

Terminal Lab

Icon: computer.pngOpens the interactive Unix terminal with 22 lessons. Learn commands from basic navigation to advanced pipes and text processing.Action: Calls TerminalLab.open() and closes Application Manager

File Manager

Icon: filemanager.pngOpens the CDE-style file browser for navigating the virtual filesystem. Create, delete, rename, and organize files and folders.Action: Calls toggleFileManager() and closes Application Manager

Style Manager

Icon: org.xfce.settings.appearance.pngOpens the style customization interface. Choose from 76 color palettes, 168 backdrops, fonts, and other appearance settings.Action: Calls styleManager.openMain() and closes Application Manager

XEmacs

Icon: xemacs.png (pixelated style)Launches the XEmacs text editor with authentic Emacs keybindings, minibuffer, and GNU splash screen.Action: Calls window.Emacs?.openSplash() and closes Application Manager

Browsers & Documentation

Netscape Navigator

Icon: netscape_classic.pngOpens the 1990s web browser with authentic Netscape interface. Browse internal vintage pages or access modern websites via Web Archive.Action: Calls window.Netscape?.open() and closes Application Manager

Lynx Browser

Icon: Lynx.svgLaunches the text-based web browser with keyboard-driven navigation and numbered links.Action: Calls window.Lynx?.open() and closes Application Manager

Man Pages

Icon: man.pngOpens the Unix manual page viewer with 28 essential commands, clickable examples, and cross-referenced documentation.Action: Calls window.ManViewer?.open() and closes Application Manager

System Utilities

Audio Setup

Icon: multimedia-volume-control.pngOpens the Audio Manager for configuring system sounds and beep settings.Action: Calls styleManager.openBeep() and closes Application Manager

Process Monitor

Icon: org.xfce.taskmanager.pngLaunches the htop-style process viewer showing active windows, resource usage, and allowing process management.Action: Calls openTaskManagerInTerminal() and closes Application Manager

Calendar

Icon: calendar.pngOpens the interactive monthly calendar with date navigation and today highlighting.Action: Calls openCalendar() and closes Application Manager

Clock

Icon: gtkclocksetup.pngOpens the Clock/Time Manager for viewing time and date settings.Action: Calls timeManager.open() and closes Application Manager

Additional Tools

Screenshooter

Icon: org.xfce.screenshooter.pngCaptures a full-page screenshot of your current Time Capsule desktop.Action: Calls captureFullPageScreenshot() and closes Application Manager

Share Theme

Keyboard Shortcuts

Icon: preferences-desktop-keyboard-shortcuts.pngDisplays a help dialog showing all available keyboard shortcuts organized by category.Action: Calls AccessibilityManager.showShortcutsHelp() and closes Application Manager

Usage

Launching Applications

Open Application Manager

Click the App Manager icon in the front panel or press the designated menu button.

Select application

Click any application icon in the grid. Each icon is clearly labeled with the application name.

Application opens

The selected application opens immediately, and the Application Manager closes automatically.

The Application Manager automatically closes after launching an app, keeping your workspace clean. If you change your mind, press Escape or click the close button.

Grid Organization

Applications are organized in a logical flow:

Row 1: Terminal Lab, File Manager, Style Manager, Audio Setup
Row 2: Process Monitor, Calendar, Clock, XEmacs
Row 3: Screenshooter, Netscape, Lynx, Man Pages
Row 4: Share Theme, Keyboard Shortcuts

The grid uses CSS grid layout (.app-grid) with responsive columns that adapt to window size while maintaining consistent icon spacing.

Window Behavior

The Application Manager uses a modal-style window with specific characteristics:

Class: .cde-retro-modal for modal styling
Non-Maximizable: data-no-maximize="true" prevents maximizing
High Z-Index: Opens at z-index 10000, above regular windows
Centered: Automatically centered on screen via WindowManager.centerWindow()
Fixed Size: Sized to fit the 14-icon grid layout

Window Structure: AppManager.astro:6-11

<div class="cde-retro-modal app-manager-window" id="appManager" data-no-maximize="true">
  <div class="titlebar" id="appManagerTitlebar">
    <WindowMinimize windowId="appManager" />
    <span class="titlebar-text">Application Manager - /usr/dt/appconfig/appmanager</span>
    <WindowControls windowId="appManager" closeFunction="appManager.close" disableMaximize={true} />
  </div>

Audio Feedback

The Application Manager plays audio feedback:

Window Open: Plays window open sound via AudioManager.windowOpen()
Window Close: Plays window close sound via AudioManager.windowClose()

Audio Integration: appmanager.ts:38-40

if (window.AudioManager) {
  window.AudioManager.windowOpen();
}

Implementation Details

AppManager Class

The Application Manager is implemented as a class in appmanager.ts:

constructor()

Initializes the AppManager and binds the menu button listener

init()

Private method that attaches click event to .cde-menu-btn

open()

Opens the Application Manager window, centers it, and plays audio

close()

Closes the Application Manager window and plays close audio

Class Definition: appmanager.ts:4-52

export class AppManager {
  private id = 'appManager';

  constructor() {
    this.init();
  }

  public open(): void {
    const win = document.getElementById(this.id);
    if (win) {
      win.style.display = 'flex';
      win.style.zIndex = '10000';
      
      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
        WindowManager.centerWindow(win);
        if (window.focusWindow) {
          window.focusWindow(this.id);
        }
      });
    }
  }
}

Lazy Loading

Many applications use lazy loading via the moduleLoader:

Applications are loaded on-demand when first opened
Stub functions are exposed globally until the real module loads
This improves initial page load performance

Panel Stub Initialization: panel.ts:42-53

(window as any).appManager = appManagerStub;
(window as any).TerminalLab = createStub('terminal', 'TerminalLab');
(window as any).CalendarManager = createStub('calendar', 'CalendarManager', 'init');
(window as any).ManViewer = createStub('manviewer', 'ManViewer');
(window as any).Netscape = createStub('netscape', 'Netscape');
(window as any).Lynx = createStub('lynx', 'Lynx');

The first time you launch an application, there may be a brief loading delay as the module is fetched and initialized. Subsequent opens will be instant.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Shortcut
Close Application Manager	`Escape` or `Ctrl+W`
Minimize	`Ctrl+M`

Individual applications have their own keyboard shortcuts once opened. See the Keyboard Shortcuts guide for a complete reference.

Design Philosophy

The Application Manager follows CDE’s application folder paradigm:

Central Location: All applications accessible from one place
Visual Icons: Recognizable icons for each application
Path Display: Authentic CDE path in titlebar (/usr/dt/appconfig/appmanager)
Object Count: Status bar shows total application count
Auto-Close: Manager closes after launching an app to reduce clutter

The Application Manager replicates the CDE Application Manager functionality, which was the standard way to launch applications in the Common Desktop Environment on Unix workstations.

All Applications

Browse documentation for all 14 applications available in the Application Manager

Keyboard Shortcuts

Learn keyboard shortcuts for launching applications directly

Window Management

Understanding window operations and the modal window system

Panel

Tips for organizing and using the front panel effectively

Get Started

User Guide

Applications

Opening Application Manager

Interface Layout

Grid Layout

Icon + Label

Titlebar Path

Status Bar

Available Applications

Core Applications

Browsers & Documentation

System Utilities

Additional Tools

Usage

Launching Applications

Grid Organization

Window Behavior

Audio Feedback

Implementation Details

AppManager Class

constructor()

init()

open()

close()

Lazy Loading

Keyboard Shortcuts

Design Philosophy

All Applications

Keyboard Shortcuts

Window Management

Panel

Get Started

User Guide

Applications

​Opening Application Manager

​Interface Layout

Grid Layout

Icon + Label

Titlebar Path

Status Bar

​Available Applications

​Core Applications

​Browsers & Documentation

​System Utilities

​Additional Tools

​Usage

​Launching Applications

​Grid Organization

​Window Behavior

​Modal-Style Window

​Audio Feedback

​Implementation Details

​AppManager Class

constructor()

init()

open()

close()

​Lazy Loading

​Keyboard Shortcuts

​Design Philosophy

​Related Features

All Applications

Keyboard Shortcuts

Window Management

Panel

Opening Application Manager

Interface Layout

Available Applications

Core Applications

Browsers & Documentation

System Utilities

Additional Tools

Usage

Launching Applications

Grid Organization

Window Behavior

Modal-Style Window

Audio Feedback

Implementation Details

AppManager Class

Lazy Loading

Keyboard Shortcuts

Design Philosophy

Related Features