FreeProgramm Launcher
Install, manage, and update everything from the catalog in one native application — with checksum verification on every download and no hidden behaviour.
No binary has been published to this instance yet. The full C++ source ships in the launcher/ directory — build instructions are below.
Built to be useful, not clever
Everything the launcher does, it does in the open.
The whole catalog, on your desktop
Browse popular programs and every category — pulled live from this site through the public API, never hardcoded into the app.
Install hosted packages
When a program is distributed as a package we host, the Launcher downloads it, unpacks it, and marks it Installed. Everything else opens the vendor's own download page.
SHA-256 checked before extract
A hosted archive is hashed after download and compared against the published checksum. If it does not match, nothing is unpacked.
See what's newer
The Launcher shows when an installed program has a newer version. Nothing updates unless you click.
Three settings, no more
Installation folder, language, and theme. That is the entire settings screen — no server config, no network tuning.
Open build
C++17 with Qt 6. Build it yourself from the launcher/ directory with CMake.
What the launcher will never do
These aren't marketing lines — they're constraints baked into the source you can read in launcher/.
- Nothing installs silently — every install starts with your click.
- Installed programs are never launched without you asking.
- No telemetry, no analytics, no background reporting.
- No startup entries or background services unless you enable them.
- No antivirus interference of any kind.
- Credentials are never requested or stored.
Build it yourself
Qt 6 and a C++17 compiler are the only requirements.
Requirements
- • Qt 6.5 or newer (Widgets, Network, Concurrent)
- • CMake 3.21+ and a C++17 compiler (MSVC 2019+, GCC 11+, Clang 13+)
- • libarchive (for extracting hosted packages)
Configure & build
cd launcher
cmake -B build -S . -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
cmake --build build --config ReleasePoint the launcher at this instance by setting the API base URL in Settings, or with the FREEPROGRAMM_API environment variable.