app caching

core/app_launcher.py

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 import os
 import configparser
+from typing import Optional
+
+_app_cache: Optional[list['App']] = None
 
 class App:
     def __init__(self, name: str, exec: str, icon: str = "", hidden: bool = False, generic_name: str = "", comment: str = "", command: str = ""):
@@ -90,7 +93,12 @@ def is_user_dir(path: Path) -> bool:
     user_home = str(Path.home())
     return path_str.startswith(user_home)
 
-def list_apps() -> list[App]:
+def list_apps(force_reload: bool = False) -> list[App]:
+    global _app_cache
+    
+    if _app_cache is not None and not force_reload:
+        return _app_cache
+        
     apps_dict = {}
     
     for desktop_dir in get_desktop_dirs():
@@ -109,7 +117,11 @@ def list_apps() -> list[App]:
                 else:
                     apps_dict[app.name] = (app, is_user)
     
-    return [app for app, _ in apps_dict.values()]
+    _app_cache = [app for app, _ in apps_dict.values()]
+    return _app_cache
+
+def reload_app_cache() -> list[App]:
+    return list_apps(force_reload=True)
 
 def launch(app: App):
     import subprocess

main.py

@@ -2,15 +2,22 @@
 import sys, json
 from pathlib import Path
 from PySide6 import QtWidgets
+import threading
 
 from core.discord_presence import presence
 from core.dukto import DuktoProtocol
 from core.updater import update_repository, is_update_available
+from core.app_launcher import list_apps
 
 from windows.main_window import MainWindow
 
 STRINGS_PATH = Path(__file__).parent / "strings" / "personality_en.json"
 
+def preload_apps():
+    print("Preloading application list...")
+    list_apps()
+    print("Application list preloaded.")
+
 def main():
     app = QtWidgets.QApplication(sys.argv)
     
@@ -38,6 +45,10 @@ def main():
         if update_available:
             update_repository()
     
+    # Start preloading apps in the background
+    preload_thread = threading.Thread(target=preload_apps, daemon=True)
+    preload_thread.start()
+            
     dukto_handler = DuktoProtocol()
     
     pet = MainWindow(dukto_handler=dukto_handler, strings=strings, restart=restart, no_quit=no_quit, super_menu=super_menu)

windows/app_launcher.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from PySide6 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
 
-from core.app_launcher import list_apps, launch
+from core.app_launcher import list_apps, launch, reload_app_cache
 
 class AppLauncherDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
     def __init__(self, strings, parent=None):
@@ -25,9 +25,17 @@ class AppLauncherDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
         
         # Buttons
         button_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        
+        refresh_button = QtWidgets.QPushButton()
+        refresh_icon = self.style().standardIcon(QtWidgets.QStyle.SP_BrowserReload) # type: ignore
+        refresh_button.setIcon(refresh_icon)
+        refresh_button.setToolTip("Reload application list")
+        refresh_button.clicked.connect(self.reload_apps)
+        
         close_button = QtWidgets.QPushButton(self.strings["close_button"])
         close_button.clicked.connect(self.close)
         
+        button_layout.addWidget(refresh_button)
         button_layout.addStretch()
         button_layout.addWidget(close_button)
         layout.addLayout(button_layout)
@@ -51,6 +59,18 @@ class AppLauncherDialog(QtWidgets.QDialog):
         finally:
             QtWidgets.QApplication.restoreOverrideCursor()
     
+    def reload_apps(self):
+        try:
+            QtWidgets.QApplication.setOverrideCursor(QtCore.Qt.WaitCursor) #type: ignore
+            self.apps = reload_app_cache()
+            self.apps.sort(key=lambda x: x.name.lower())
+            # Reapply current filter
+            self.filter_apps(self.search_box.text())
+        except Exception as e:
+            QtWidgets.QMessageBox.critical(self, self.strings["load_error_title"], self.strings["load_error_text"].format(e=e))
+        finally:
+            QtWidgets.QApplication.restoreOverrideCursor()
+
     def populate_list(self, apps):
         self.list_widget.clear()
         for app in apps: