{
  "schema": "tesign-radar/item/1",
  "generated_at": "2026-09-17T01:56:13.055Z",
  "lang": "en",
  "slug": "deskbox",
  "url": "https://tesign.com/en/item/deskbox/",
  "alternates": {
    "ko": {
      "html": "https://tesign.com/item/deskbox/",
      "json": "https://tesign.com/item/deskbox/index.json",
      "markdown": "https://tesign.com/item/deskbox/index.md"
    },
    "en": {
      "html": "https://tesign.com/en/item/deskbox/",
      "json": "https://tesign.com/en/item/deskbox/index.json",
      "markdown": "https://tesign.com/en/item/deskbox/index.md"
    }
  },
  "name": "DeskBox",
  "use_label": "Desktop organizer for Windows users",
  "one_liner": "Free Windows desktop organizer with folder-backed widgets; open-source Fences alternative",
  "text": {
    "why": "It organizes desktop files with widgets backed by real folders, laid over the desktop without replacing Explorer or changing how files work. The README positions it as an open-source alternative to tools such as Stardock Fences and treats the todo, quick-note, search, weather and music widgets as extras. The current 1.5.1 x64 and ARM64 installers are .NET 10 Native AOT builds bundling Windows App Runtime 2.4, so they install offline.",
    "take": "The core promise is that files stay ordinary files and folders in Explorer; the widgets only sit on top.",
    "build": [
      "The C#, WinUI 3 and .NET 10 Native AOT code with a Rust native Shell layer is a reference for desktop-layer widgets and Native AOT packaging. External pull requests are not being merged, so treat it as something to read or fork rather than contribute to."
    ],
    "who": [
      {
        "role": "Windows users with a cluttered desktop",
        "situation": "folder-backed widgets, collapsible capsules"
      },
      {
        "role": "Paying Fences users",
        "situation": "try a free GPL alternative"
      },
      {
        "role": "WinUI 3 developers",
        "situation": ".NET 10 Native AOT plus a Rust Shell layer as reference"
      }
    ],
    "start": [
      {
        "command": false,
        "text": "1. Download DeskBox_Setup_1.5.1_x64.exe (Intel/AMD) or DeskBox_Setup_1.5.1_arm64.exe (Snapdragon and other Windows on ARM) from GitHub Releases"
      },
      {
        "command": false,
        "text": "2. Verify the hash with the matching .sha256 sidecar (installers are currently unsigned)"
      },
      {
        "command": false,
        "text": "3. Run the installer — per-user by default, starts silently in the tray"
      },
      {
        "command": false,
        "text": "4. Install Everything separately if you want file results in the search widget"
      }
    ],
    "caveat": [
      "Licence GPL-3.0-only (earlier MIT releases stay MIT). Free, no account or cloud.",
      "Windows 10 21H2 (build 19044) or later; Windows 11 22H2+ for the full visuals. Installers are unsigned, so verify the .sha256 hash. Weather and update checks use the network.",
      "Solo developer, external PRs not accepted. File search needs Everything installed separately."
    ]
  },
  "cta": {
    "type": "install",
    "label": "INSTALL",
    "url": "https://deskbox.fun/"
  },
  "ready": "install",
  "categories": [
    "productivity"
  ],
  "categories_confirmed": true,
  "tags": [
    "windows",
    "desktop-organizer",
    "winui3",
    "widgets",
    "dotnet",
    "fences-alternative"
  ],
  "platform": [
    "windows"
  ],
  "license": {
    "spdx": "GPL-3.0",
    "scope": "copyleft",
    "scope_text": "Use freely. Release your source if you redistribute (copyleft).",
    "url": "https://spdx.org/licenses/GPL-3.0.html",
    "note": null,
    "open_source": true
  },
  "language": "C#",
  "source_urls": {
    "canonical": "https://deskbox.fun/",
    "github": "https://github.com/tianyu199509/deskbox",
    "huggingface": null,
    "app_store": null,
    "sightings": [
      {
        "source": "github",
        "url": "https://github.com/tianyu199509/deskbox",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-12T22:00:00.000Z",
        "hn_url": null
      }
    ]
  },
  "numbers": {
    "as_of": "2026-09-16T21:00:00.000Z",
    "stars": 4547,
    "stars_unit": "GitHub stars",
    "stars_checked_at": "2026-09-15T19:34:23.474Z",
    "stars_observed_since_check": 2,
    "star_delta_24h": 2,
    "star_delta_7d": 89,
    "star_delta_30d": 235,
    "star_delta_unit": "GitHub stars gained in the window, GH Archive events summed to as_of",
    "spark_14d": [
      null,
      37,
      60,
      34,
      10,
      null,
      5,
      null,
      12,
      55,
      18,
      2,
      null,
      2
    ],
    "hf_likes": null,
    "hf_likes_observed_at": null,
    "hn_points": null,
    "hn_points_observed_at": null,
    "store": null,
    "method": "Star total = the value last checked on GitHub (stars_checked_at) + increases observed via GH Archive since. The 24h · 7d · 30d gains are GH Archive hourly events summed to the reference time (as_of). No score of ours."
  },
  "ranks": {
    "as_of": "2026-09-16T21:00:00.000Z",
    "all_time": null,
    "rising": {
      "24h": null,
      "7d": null,
      "30d": 83
    },
    "categories": []
  },
  "activity": {
    "pushed_at": "2026-09-15T17:09:12.000Z",
    "owner_type": "User",
    "open_issues": 81,
    "contributors": 1,
    "releases_count": 51,
    "latest_release": {
      "tag": "v1.5.2",
      "published_at": "2026-09-15T01:32:57.000Z",
      "prerelease": false
    },
    "checked_at": "2026-09-15T19:34:23.474Z",
    "core_checked_at": "2026-09-15T19:34:23.474Z"
  },
  "signals": [],
  "images": {
    "og": "https://tesign.com/img/deskbox-bc09bda34f.webp",
    "cover": "https://tesign.com/img/deskbox-bc09bda34f.webp",
    "cover_width": 1600,
    "cover_height": 840,
    "gallery": [
      "https://tesign.com/img/deskbox-bc09bda34f.webp",
      "https://tesign.com/img/deskbox-7b2c8bf686.webp",
      "https://tesign.com/img/deskbox-c81fb7e14f.webp",
      "https://tesign.com/img/deskbox-4cf8125d9a.png"
    ],
    "alt": "DeskBox desktop in the Mica material: a search launcher in the centre and music, weather, todo, file and quick-capture widgets on the right (Windows 11, some Chinese file names)",
    "tier": 1
  },
  "dates": {
    "first_seen_at": "2026-09-13T07:43:42.354Z",
    "source_created_at": "2026-06-11T10:55:22.000Z",
    "discovery_hours": 2252.805653888889,
    "launch_signal_at": "2026-09-12T22:00:00.000Z",
    "kept_at": "2026-09-14T19:27:43.444Z",
    "first_published_at": "2026-09-14T19:27:43.735Z",
    "updated_at": "2026-09-15T04:36:56.841Z",
    "ingestion_mode": "live"
  },
  "notes": [
    "This file was produced by the same build, from the same data, as the tesign.com item page. The text is editorial; the numbers are stored observations.",
    "null in the JSON means not observed — never zero. The Markdown writes [unconfirmed] for it.",
    "Star total = the value last checked on GitHub (stars_checked_at) + increases observed via GH Archive since. The 24h · 7d · 30d gains are GH Archive hourly events summed to the reference time (as_of). No score of ours.",
    "A summary, not legal advice."
  ]
}