is there any way to extend the windows Explorer in java, i am wanting to make my own version of windows explorer, but dont know how you would deal with showing the different windows and getting the current running tasks, is this even possible with java? all explorer is is a GUI and doesnt have anything really important to the stability of windows so its safe to shut it off.
What are you trying to accomplish, and why do you think you need to extend Windows Explorer for that to happen?
im wanting to make a new windows explorer… something that looks different from the norm, and easier to skin, without having to install software that is packed with adware to make your theme look different. But i know there are things on windows that only explorer has access too, like whose logged in and stuff like that, mabye if i know how to access that information, that would be cool. or is explorer only made up of a file traversal and displaying the taskbar?
I know this isnt a gaming question, but this is the only forum i know of wsith people as helpful and knowledgebal as you guys here.
You will absolutely need native code to do what you want… but chances are it is impossible… by that I mean: replacing the task bar entirely with something else in a way that is compatible with the OS and the applications is not something that the OS is going to facilitate with built-in APIs. You are hacking an integral part of the OS and Java is certainly not the tool for the job.
You could make a cool shell that does a lot of what explorer does… like browsing the filesystem and launching applications… but hooking into the OS to provide an alternative “Start” bar where application windows would show up and a System Tray that the tray icons for existing apps would appear in… well that’s just asking for trouble. I can say for certain that if you need to ask on these forums then you are not even remotely ready for what it would take.
I’d disagree. For instance, its the only mainstream program I can think of that launches one of two completely different programs depending upon how many copies of itself are running when it launches (first explorer process creates the startbar and desktop, but no filesystem browser; all subsequents create filesystem browsers but no desktop etc).
Aside from that, IIRC it is possible to replace start bar etc - modulo the security system on windows that e.g. traps ctrl-alt-del - you just have to make sure explorer is not loaded (and isnt periodically re-launched by the OS - IIRC some versions of win2k and XP do this). Google for “alternative windows shell” and you should find many projects doing it, with interesting info, to varying degrees.