Set As Launcher (SAL) is an ultra-minimalist, high-performance utility designed to transform ANY Android application into your system launcher. It is built for developers, minimalist enthusiasts, and legacy hardware recovery.
The philosophy is simple: Zero bloat. Absolute control.
In an era of multi-hundred-megabyte apps, SAL stands as a testament to surgical engineering.
| Metric | Normal Launcher | Set As Launcher (SAL) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| APK Size | 10 MB ~ 50 MB | < 30 KB | ⬇️ 99.9% |
| RAM Usage (PSS) | 150 MB ~ 300 MB | 30 MB ~ 50 MB | ⬇️ 80% |
| Java Heap | 50 MB ~ 120 MB | < 10 MB | ⬇️ 90% |
| Dependencies | 30+ (Material, etc.) | 0 (None) | Pure Java |
| Background Service | Multiple / Persistent | 0 (None) | Silent |
| Min Compatibility | Android 8.0+ | Android 2.3+ | Universal |
| Target SDK | Latest Only | Latest (API 37+) | Up-to-date |
- 🪶 Ultra-Lightweight: The final APK is a "dehydrated" masterpiece, often under 30KB.
- ⚡ Zero Dependencies: 100% Pure Java. No
AppCompat, noMaterial Components, noJetpack. We avoided Kotlin to eliminate thekotlin-stdliboverhead (saving ~1MB+ of metadata and method count), keeping the binary at its absolute minimum. - 📟 Extreme Compatibility: Runs on everything from Android 2.3 (Gingerbread, API 9) to the latest Android 17 (API 37+).
- 🚀 Lightning Fast: Instantaneous cold-start performance with zero background memory footprint.
- 🛡️ Privacy First: No internet permission. No tracking. No analytics. Just code.
Why use a dedicated tool instead of an automation script?
| Metric | Automation Engines | Set As Launcher (SAL) |
|---|---|---|
| Background Service | Persistent (Always running) | None (Triggered by OS) |
| Memory (Background) | 30 MB ~ 100 MB+ | 0 MB (Thoroughly released) |
| Launch Latency | High (Engine logic processing) | Zero (Direct OS Intent) |
| Power Consumption | Medium (Continuous monitoring) | None (Zero drain when idle) |
| Complexity | High (Complex rules/profiles) | Surgical (One-click setup) |
- Any-App-as-Launcher: Select any installed application to act as your primary Home interface.
- Intelligent Redirect: Automatically detects when it is invoked as the Home screen and launches your target app.
- Legacy Support: Specialized "Helper Class" logic to prevent crashes on pre-Honeycomb (API < 11) devices while using modern APIs where available.
- Surgical UI: Programmatic layouts for maximum speed and minimum resource consumption.
- R8/ProGuard Optimized: Fully optimized build pipeline to strip away every unnecessary byte.
- Install the SAL APK.
- Open the app from your drawer.
- Select the application you want to use as your "Real Launcher" from the list.
- Press Home and select "Set As Launcher" as your Always default.
- Boom. Your target app is now your launcher.
Need to change it? Simply open "Set As Launcher" again or use the built-in "Home Settings" shortcut.
- Language: Pure Java
- Min SDK: API 9 (Android 2.3)
- Target SDK: API 37+
- Size: ~ 26 KB (Release Build)
- Architecture: Single-Activity, Zero-Dependency Architecture.
For those who distrust modern build systems, SAL can be compiled using the raw Android SDK tools:
- Compile Java:
javac -target 1.8 -source 1.8 -bootclasspath path/to/android.jar MainActivity.java
- Dex it:
d8 --release --lib path/to/android.jar MainActivity.class
- Package it:
aapt package -f -M AndroidManifest.xml -I path/to/android.jar -F SAL.apk.unaligned
MIT License. Keep it light, keep it fast. Stay in control.
Developed with ❤️ by LiferLighdow