D (Programming Language) VS dmenu

• Performance
  D is designed to be a high-performance systems programming language, offering performance comparable to C and C++ through native machine code compilation.
• Expressiveness
  D features a rich standard library and modern language constructs, such as garbage collection, first-class arrays, and advanced templating, making it easier to write expressive and maintainable code.
• Memory Safety
  D offers optional garbage collection along with manual memory management. This hybrid approach can help in developing safer applications by reducing memory-related errors.
• Interoperability
  D can easily interoperate with C API, enabling seamless integration with existing C libraries and systems. It also supports better C++ interoperability compared to other languages.
• Built-in Unit Testing
  D has built-in support for unit tests, allowing developers to write and run tests as part of the language itself, facilitating test-driven development.
• Concurrency
  D offers built-in concurrency support with message passing, similar to the actor model found in languages like Erlang, making it easier to write concurrent and parallel programs.

Possible disadvantages

• Adoption
  D is not as widely adopted as other languages like C, C++, or Java. This limited adoption means fewer libraries, frameworks, and community support.
• Toolchain Maturity
  While D's compilers and tools have improved over the years, they may still lack the maturity and feature set of more established languages, which can affect developer productivity.
• Learning Curve
  D's richness and combination of paradigms (such as imperative, object-oriented, and functional programming) can present a steep learning curve for new developers.
• Garbage Collection
  Although D offers optional garbage collection, its reliance on it for memory safety might be seen as a drawback for real-time system development where deterministic memory management is crucial.
• Ecosystem
  The ecosystem for D is less vibrant compared to more popular languages, leading to potentially fewer third-party libraries, tools, and resources.
• Standard Library Documentation
  The standard library documentation can be inconsistent or less comprehensive compared to other languages, making it difficult for developers to fully utilize all features of the language.

• Lightweight
  dmenu is known for its minimal use of system resources, ensuring fast performance even on older hardware.
• Flexibility
  dmenu can be easily integrated into scripts and customized to fit specific workflows, making it adaptable to various user needs.
• Minimalism
  Its minimalist design aligns with the philosophy of simplicity and efficiency, allowing for a straightforward user experience.
• Keyboard Driven
  dmenu is designed for efficiency with keyboard input, enabling quick navigation and selection without the need for a mouse.
• Scriptability
  Due to its simplicity and flexibility, it can be easily scripted and paired with other command-line tools for extended functionality.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Features
  Compared to more comprehensive launchers, dmenu lacks advanced features such as fuzzy searching or GUI configuration options.
• Steep Learning Curve
  For users unfamiliar with command-line tools or scripting, setting up and customizing dmenu can be challenging.
• Aesthetic Limitations
  The minimalist interface may not appeal to users who prefer more visually rich interactions or customization options.
• Dependence on External Scripts
  To extend its functionality, users often need to rely on additional scripts, which might require extra maintenance and setup.
• No Built-in Menu Structure
  dmenu does not support a predefined hierarchical menu structure out of the box, which might be a drawback for users looking for an organized menu system.

No analysis of dmenu yet.

D Language Tutorial

dmenu: Your own Custom Script Menus!

More videos

• Ask HN: What is your (AI) dev tech stack / workflow? (June 2026)

  I've spent 2 weeks (2-4h per day) to make D language[1] version of Sciter SDK [2] Choice of AI "tooling" was by accident - typed something like "how to define copy constructor in D for custom structure" in Microsoft's Copilot in Edge... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago

• Rue: Higher level than Rust, lower level than Go

  > Mostly, I am not really trying to compete with C/C++/Rust on speed, but I'm not going to add a GC either. So I'm somewhere in there. Out of curiosity, how would you compare the goals of Rue with something like D[0] or one of the... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago

• Pony: An actor-model, capabilities-secure, high-performance programming language

  The D language home page has something similar with a drop down with code examples https://dlang.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

View more

• Bspwm + Sxhkd + Polybar

  For dmenu modifications go to http://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/ and read about patching, or use some patched versions from github, like Luke Smiths https://github.com/LukeSmithxyz/dmenu. Source: almost 3 years ago

• Textual Web: TUIs for the Web

  Some features are nice to have. Give dmenu [0] a try, pipe it into other CLI utils and see how useful it can be to have drop-downs sometimes. [0] https://tools.suckless.org/dmenu/. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago

• Kera Desktop: open-source, cross-platform, web-based desktop environment

  This is a wonderful project! I've been thinking a lot about making such a unified desktop stack for a while now; web technology has matured to the point where I think it's feasible to build a complete environment a la Smalltalk/Symbolics... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

View more