[fpc-pascal] Want to create a program launcher for Windows 11, suggestions please.

[Bo Berglund]

So I have been forced to update my laptop to Windows 11, which I have resisted
for a long time. As expected there are a lot of changes that are not to my
liking but can be worked around or so.

But for my productivity I have for ages used the Quick Launch Bar integrated in
the bottom toolbar of my laptop. It has worked really well to collect my most
often used application icons at the bottom with a 1-click launch function.

Now Microsoft has removed support for extra toolbars and I have tried to use the
opensource ExplorerPatcher (find it on Github) to return the QuickLaunch
toolbar, but apparently in a recent Windows build this has been blocked. :-(

After spending a lot of time moving to Win 11 and trying to configure it in some
sensible way similar to what I had I have given up and here I am...

DIY solution:
------------
I would like to write a FreePascal program that implements a ribbon type window
on which I can show the icons of selected programs side by side and if one is
clicked the corresponding application is started.
Ideally I should be able to populate the ribbon by drag-drop of an application
shortcut icon on the desktop, but I can live with having a config file where the
apps are defined.

What I need is some advice as follows:
- How can I show the application icon on a form given the path to the exe file?

- How can I drag-drop an application icon onto the main form and retrieve its
data to make it part of the launch list?

- How do I make the application "dock" itself to the bottom of the desktop?

I have written a good many Windows appliocations using Lazarus/FreePascal but I
have never gone into these Windows internals before...

Grateful for any help!

-- 
Bo Berglund
Developer in Sweden