Desktop shortcuts provide native OS shortcuts that launch game profiles directly, bypassing the GenHub interface for quick access to your favorite configurations.

Overview

Desktop shortcuts provide:

• One-click launching: Start your profile directly from the desktop
• Single-instance handling: If GenHub is already running, the profile launches without opening a second window
• Platform support: Native .lnk files on Windows, .desktop files on Linux
• Profile-specific: Each shortcut launches a specific game profile with all its configured mods and settings

Creating Shortcuts

From the Launcher

1. Navigate to the Game Profiles section
2. Enable Edit Mode using the pencil icon
3. Click the link icon on the profile card you want to create a shortcut for
4. The shortcut is created on your desktop automatically

Shortcut Location

Platform	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
Linux	~/Desktop

How It Works

Shortcut Arguments

When you create a shortcut, GenHub generates a native shortcut file that:

1. Points to the GenHub executable
2. Includes the --launch-profile "{ProfileId}" command-line argument
3. Uses the profile name as the shortcut display name

Launch Flow

Single-Instance Behavior

GenHub uses a single-instance pattern to prevent multiple windows:

1. First launch: GenHub starts normally and processes the --launch-profile argument
2. Subsequent launches: If GenHub is already running, the shortcut sends an IPC command to the existing instance via Named Pipes, which then launches the profile

Technical Implementation

Windows Shortcuts

Windows shortcuts use the IWshRuntimeLibrary COM interop to create .lnk files:

Shortcut Target: GenHub.Windows.exe
Arguments: --launch-profile "profile-id-here"
Working Directory: GenHub installation folder

Linux Shortcuts

Linux shortcuts create XDG-compliant .desktop files:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Profile Name
Exec=/path/to/GenHub.Linux --launch-profile "profile-id-here"
Terminal=false

Architecture

Components

Component	Purpose
IShortcutService	Platform-agnostic interface for shortcut operations
WindowsShortcutService	Windows .lnk file creation using COM interop
LinuxShortcutService	Linux .desktop file creation
SingleInstanceManager	Named Pipe IPC for single-instance coordination

Service Registration

Shortcut services are registered in platform-specific DI modules:

• Windows: WindowsServicesModule.RegisterServices()
• Linux: LinuxServicesModule.RegisterServices()

IPC Communication

The single-instance IPC uses Named Pipes:

• Pipe Name: GenHub_SingleInstance_Pipe
• Protocol: Simple text-based commands (e.g., launch-profile:{profileId})
• Threading: Commands are dispatched to the UI thread via Dispatcher.UIThread.Post()

Usage Scenarios

Quick Launch Profiles

Create shortcuts for your most-used profiles:

• Vanilla Generals: Base game with no mods
• ROTR with Gentool: Rise of the Reds mod with community tools
• Competitive Zero Hour: Balance patches for ranked play

Multiple Game Configurations

Switch between different setups instantly:

• Modded: Full mod experience with all add-ons
• Clean: Minimal configuration for troubleshooting
• LAN Party: Optimized settings for local multiplayer

Troubleshooting

Shortcut Doesn't Launch Profile

1. Verify the profile still exists in GenHub
2. Check that GenHub is installed in the expected location
3. Try deleting and recreating the shortcut

GenHub Opens But Profile Doesn't Start

1. Check the GenHub logs for error messages
2. Verify the profile's workspace is prepared
3. Ensure the game installation is valid

IPC Not Working (Windows)

If clicking a shortcut while GenHub is running doesn't launch the profile:

1. Check Windows Firewall isn't blocking Named Pipes
2. Verify the GenHub process has proper permissions
3. Try restarting GenHub completely

Related Features

• Game Profiles - Create and manage game configurations
• Workspace Management - Prepare isolated game environments
• Launching - Advanced game launching options