TouchGrass - Desktop Game Launcher

A lightweight, high-performance desktop game launcher built for gamers who value speed and minimalism.

Overview

TouchGrass is a minimal desktop game launcher designed to get out of your way. Built for a client who needed instant access to their game library without sacrificing system performance or desktop real estate. The result is an invisible, always-available launcher that prioritizes speed and usability.

Key Features

🚀 Instant Access - Global hotkey support for lightning-fast game launching
🎨 Smart Library Management - Auto-extracts game icons from executables and displays them in a clean, dark-themed grid
👻 True Invisibility - Complete system tray integration with optional zero-footprint mode
⚙️ Fully Configurable - Customize hotkeys, startup behavior, and library organization
🎮 Zero Gaming Impact - Minimal memory footprint and no background interference

Technical Stack

• Language: C#
• Framework: WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation)
• Core Capabilities: Win32 API integration, PE file parsing, global hotkey registration

Implementation Highlights

• Icon Extraction Engine - Automatically extracts and caches game icons from .exe files without manual setup
• Global Hotkey System - Lightweight Win32-based hotkey registration for instant access from any application
• Performant UI - Virtual grid rendering for smooth scrolling with hundreds of games
• Settings Persistence - Comprehensive configuration system for hotkeys, theme, and startup behavior

Demo

What This Shows

This project demonstrates expertise in:

• Desktop application development and Windows platform APIs
• Building performant, user-focused interfaces
• System-level integration (hotkey registration, file parsing)
• Client-focused problem solving (invisibility, performance constraints)
• UI/UX design for power users