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Turbo Launcher ​

The Turbo Launcher is a desktop application that provides seamless integration between native Windows applications and Turbo's virtualization platform. It scans your system's Start Menu and Desktop shortcuts, applies configurable security policies, and launches applications through Turbo's virtualization layer for enhanced security and isolation.

What you'll learn

  • Launcher features and user interface
  • Start Menu and Desktop integration
  • Policy-based security controls
  • Troubleshooting and known issues

Core Features ​

Start Menu Integration ​

  • Automatic scanning of Windows Start Menu shortcuts
  • Support for both user-specific and system-wide shortcuts
  • Real-time monitoring of shortcut changes
  • Flattened folder structure for improved usability

Desktop Integration ​

  • Desktop shortcut scanning and cataloging
  • Support for .lnk shortcuts, .url internet shortcuts, and direct .exe files
  • Seamless integration with existing desktop workflows

Policy-Based Security ​

  • JSON-based whitelist security model with fail-safe defaults
  • Granular control over which applications can be launched
  • Policy modifications for launch parameters and Turbo flags
  • Enterprise-ready policy deployment and management

Application Virtualization ​

  • Applications run in isolated containers that protect the host system and resolve application conflicts
  • Policy-driven control over network access, file system isolation, DLP prevention via Secure Sandbox, and other security settings
  • Multiple versions of the same application can run simultaneously without interference

Installation ​

The Turbo Launcher is installed as part of the Turbo Client installation process. During installation, a desktop shortcut named "Turbo.net Desktop Launcher" is created for easy access.

The launcher can be configured to run in different execution contexts, which affects how launched applications interact with the Turbo system.

User Interface ​

Main Application ​

The Launcher provides a desktop application interface that displays available applications based on your policy configuration. Left-click on any application to launch it in a Turbo container.

Turbo Launcher Interface

Application Context Menu ​

Right-click on any application within the Launcher to access additional options:

  • Run: Runs the application in a Turbo container
  • Run in diagnostic mode: Runs the application in a Turbo container with the --diagnostic flag for additional diagnostic logging
  • Reset session: Deletes the application's session, removing all application data and settings

Windows Shell Integration ​

The Turbo Client provides Windows Explorer integration through a shell extension. Enable with: turbo config --enable=RunInContextMenu

Once enabled:

  • Right-click on .exe files in Windows Explorer to see "Run in Turbo" option
  • Launches applications through the Launcher with full policy evaluation and security controls

Scan Locations ​

The Launcher automatically scans the following Windows locations:

Start Menu Locations ​

  • User Programs: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
  • System Programs: %PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Desktop Locations ​

  • User Desktop: %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
  • System Desktop: %PUBLIC%\Desktop

Supported File Types ​

  • .lnk files: Windows shortcut files with target path, arguments, and working directory
  • .url files: Internet shortcut files containing URLs
  • .exe files: Direct executable files (when accessed via context menu)

Configuration ​

The Launcher uses JSON-based policy files for security and launch configuration. See the Policy System documentation for detailed configuration options.

Integration Points ​

Turbo Client Integration ​

Applications are launched through Turbo Client using the command:

turbo run base {turbo-flags} --name={instance-name} --startup-file="{executable}" -- {arguments}

Next Steps ​

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