# cairoshell/cairoshell

Cairo is a customizable, intuitive desktop environment for Windows.

Repository: https://github.com/cairoshell/cairoshell
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/cairoshell
Homepage: http://cairodesktop.com/
Language: C#
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Topics: desktop-environment, windows-desktop, shell, task-manager, launcher, wpf, csharp
Last push: 2026-08-21T23:30:59+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 72/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 98, release rhythm 24, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 6079, "days_push": 12, "days_rel": 294, "gap_med": 189, "n_releases_24m": 2}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 3360, forks 271 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:58.067576+00:00)

## What it is
Cairo is a customizable, open-source desktop environment (shell replacement) for Windows, offering an alternative taskbar, programs menu, dynamic desktop, and folder stacks. It is written in C# using WPF and supports Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 11.

## Use cases
- replace the windows taskbar with a customizable one
- organize applications into a categorized programs menu
- browse files directly from the desktop
- get quick access to frequently used folders
- give windows a more modern or mac-like desktop experience
- improve productivity with a better window switcher

## When to choose
- you want a full alternative desktop shell on Windows
- you dislike the default Windows taskbar and start menu
- you want drag-and-drop app organization and desktop folder navigation

## When to avoid
- you only need a start menu replacement rather than a full shell
- you are not on Windows
- you need a minimal tool that does not replace the system shell

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: gui, developer-tools
- domain: desktop-applications, developer-tools, windows
- platform: windows
- tags: desktop-environment, shell-replacement, taskbar, app-launcher, wpf, csharp, desktop

## Member repositories
- cairoshell/cairoshell (main) score 72

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:58.067576+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T18:40:21.431039+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/cairoshell/cairoshell (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:58.067576+00:00, sha 58b0ef6dec0e)
  - homepage: http://cairodesktop.com/ (fetched 2026-08-29T09:33:46.829204+00:00, sha b894219f670f)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.