Heimdall Desktop by Naidel

Heimdall Desktop is an advanced application launcher for Windows, developed in Python using PySide6.

It provides a powerful and well‑organized graphical interface to:

• Manage shortcuts to applications, scripts, and special locations.
• Execute advanced Windows commands.
• Automate local or remote actions through an embedded HTTP/HTTPS server.

The project is aimed at advanced users, technicians, and administrators who need a centralized control point without sacrificing flexibility or security.

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🌐 Web:

https://atmarquez.github.io/heimdall-desktop/

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✨ Key Features

• Modern graphical user interface based on PySide6 (Qt).
• Flexible shortcut organization:
  • Folder‑based (real filesystem structure).
  • Optional flat view.
• Creation and management of:
  • Windows shortcuts (.lnk).
  • Web shortcuts (.url).
• Configurable quick buttons for frequent folders and actions.
• Execution of:
  • Startup scripts (pre‑launch).
  • Exit scripts (post‑shutdown).
  • Scheduled tasks.
• Integration with the Windows Start Menu.
• Extensible catalog of special Windows commands:
  • shell:
  • ms-settings:
  • .msc
  • CLSID / GUID.
• Integrated HTTP / HTTPS server for automation:
  • TLS support.
  • Token‑based authentication.
  • Path and extension whitelist.
  • Action auditing.
  • Backoff and error‑rate limiting.
• Configurable Windows auto‑startup.
• Advanced logging system with integrated viewer.

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🖥️ Requirements

• Windows 10 / Windows 11
• Python 3.10 or later (only required when running from source)

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🚀 Getting Started

Running the application

Heimdall Desktop can be launched in two ways:

• From source code:

python main.py

• Using the packaged executable (.exe).

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Recommended initial configuration

1. Configure the base shortcuts folder in:

   Configuration → General

2. Configure server options if automation is required:

   Configuration → Server
   (port, local scope, TLS, token, etc.)

3. Create shortcuts and web links inside the configured base folder.

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Example HTTP server usage

Test the integrated server using a URL such as:

http://127.0.0.1:8080/?path=MyFolder\MyApp.exe&close=1

• If token authentication is enabled:
  • add the token=... parameter, or
  • use the HTTP header X-Launcher-Token.

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🖼️ Screenshots

The following screenshots illustrate the interface and main configuration panels of Heimdall Desktop. All images are stored under docs/images/.

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🪟 Main window

Main application view in category mode, showing:

• Filesystem‑based shortcut tree.
• Expandable/collapsible hierarchy.
• Integrated search.
• Quick buttons panel on the right.

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⚙️ Options · General

Configuration → General tab, where the core application settings are defined:

• Base shortcuts folder.
• Execution behavior.
• Automatic Windows startup.
• General launcher options.

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🎨 Options · Appearance

Settings tab → Appearance, dedicated to visual customization:

• Light, dark, or system theme.
• System theme mode with support for external QSS files.
• Fully customizable interface using user-defined QSS styles.
• Dynamic application of visual changes without restarting the application.
• Application icon.
• Initial window size and position.
• Visual integration with Windows 10/11.

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⚡ Options · Quick Buttons

Configuration → Quick Buttons tab, allowing permanent shortcuts:

• Buttons for frequently used folders (Documents, Downloads, etc.).
• User‑defined custom shortcuts.
• Name, path, and icon customization.

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🧩 Options · Scripts and Tasks

Configuration → Scripts tab, oriented toward automation:

• Startup scripts (pre‑launch).
• Exit scripts (post‑shutdown).
• Task scheduler configuration.
• Execution parameters, wait mode, and timeout.

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🧪 Options · Advanced

Configuration → Advanced tab, focused on maintenance and portability:

• Full configuration export to JSON.
• Import of previous configurations.
• Internal application state management.

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🌐 Options · HTTP / HTTPS Server

Configuration → Server tab, for the embedded automation server:

• Server enable/disable.
• Port and scope (local or network).
• TLS certificate support.
• Path whitelist.
• Allowed extensions control.
• Token‑based authentication.
• Backoff and error limiting.

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🧾 Options · Auditing and Logs

Configuration → Log tab, showing internal activity:

• Execution records.
• Errors and relevant events.
• Server request auditing.
• Log cleaning and inspection.

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ℹ️ Options · About

Configuration → About tab, containing institutional information:

• Project details.
• Version and build.
• GPLv3 license.
• Useful links.
• Access to documentation and help.

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📘 Documentation

Complete project documentation can be found in the docs/ directory:

• Architecture
  docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
• Detailed configuration
  docs/CONFIGURATION.md
• HTTP/HTTPS server API
  docs/HTTP_API.md
• Security notes
  docs/SECURITY_NOTES.md
• Code conventions and comments
  docs/CODE_COMMENTS.md
• Change log
  docs/CHANGELOG.md

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🧾 Docstrings and Comments

The main entry file (main.py) includes Spanish docstrings following the Google‑style convention, intended to facilitate:

• Code readability.
• Maintenance.
• Future extension of the project.

They should be used as a baseline reference when adding new modules.

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⚖️ License

This project is distributed under the:

GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3)

See the LICENSE file for legal details.

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🟢 Project Status

• Active project.
• Modular architecture.
• Designed for future extensions (new shortcut types, integrations, advanced automation).

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👤 Author

Antonio Teodomiro Márquez Muñoz (Naidel)