example of dynamic window maker menu for freedesktop *desktop files.

freedesktop_wmaker_menu.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
import argparse
import configparser
from collections import defaultdict
import os


class WMMenu:
    APP_DESK_PATH = '/usr/share/applications'

    def __init__(self, name):
        self._desktop = defaultdict(list)
        self._app_map = {}
        self.name = name

    def _parse_desktop_files(self):

        for fname in os.listdir(self.APP_DESK_PATH):
            if not fname.endswith('.desktop'):
                continue

            config = configparser.ConfigParser()
            config.read(os.path.join(self.APP_DESK_PATH, fname))
            if not config.has_section('Desktop Entry'):
                continue

            if config['Desktop Entry'].get('nodisplay'):
                continue

            name = config['Desktop Entry'].get('name')
            exe = config['Desktop Entry'].get('exec', raw=True)

            if not exe:
                continue

            for x in ['%f', '%F', '%u', '%U']:
                if x in exe:
                    exe = ' '.join([e.strip() for e in exe.split(x)])

            category = config['Desktop Entry'].get('categories',
                                                   '').split(';')[0]
            if not category:
                category = 'uncategorized'

            self._desktop[category].append(f'"{name}" EXEC "{exe}"')

    def get_menu(self):
        menu = ['#include "wmmacros"', f'"{self.name}" MENU']
        self._parse_desktop_files()

        for category in sorted(self._desktop):
            menu.append(f'"{category}" MENU')
            for item in sorted(self._desktop[category]):
                menu.append(item)
            menu.append(f'"{category}" END')

        menu.append(f'"{self.name}" END')
        return menu

    def __str__(self):
        return "\n".join(self.get_menu())


def run():
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
    parser.add_argument("-n", "--name", help="Name of the menu",
                        default='Applications')
    args = parser.parse_args()

    wmmenu = WMMenu(args.name)
    print(wmmenu)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    run()