HTWind

HTWind is a highly customizable, HTML-based widget manager that brings your favorite web tools and system helpers directly to your Windows desktop. It also supports running PowerShell commands when you need quick system actions.

Website

Screenshots

Widget Library - Manage and toggle HTML widgets

Settings - Theme and startup configuration

About - Version info and project links

Highlights

• Native PowerShell script execution support for system automation and quick tasks
• Desktop HTML widgets with lock/unlock interaction modes
• Built-in widget library (clock, weather, system tools, file helpers, and more)
• Widget built-in code editor with live preview (hot reload)
• Tray integration (show/hide app, background workflow)
• Pin-on-top, visibility toggle, and persisted widget geometry/state
• Smart visibility suppression by display: hide widget windows while another app is fullscreen (toggle)
• Optional maximized-window suppression by display (separate toggle from fullscreen suppression)
• Startup toggle (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run)
• Localization infrastructure (resx + LocExtension)
• Built-in code editor with syntax highlighting and live preview (hot reload)
• Open-source and community-driven development

Visibility Suppression Modes

HTWind includes per-display runtime suppression options in Settings to reduce distraction and improve performance while other apps are in focus.

• Hide widgets on fullscreen apps (enabled by default): Widget windows are temporarily closed on the same display when another app enters fullscreen, then restored when fullscreen ends.
• Hide widgets on maximized apps (optional): Widget windows are temporarily closed on the same display when another app is maximized, then restored when that app is no longer maximized.

Notes:

• These options do not change the widget Visible state in app data.
• Suppression is runtime-only and windows are restored automatically.

Share Widgets and Feedback With The Community

Use GitHub Discussions and the HTWind Reddit community to share reusable widgets, desktop setups, bug reports, and feature requests.

• GitHub Discussions: https://github.com/sametcn99/HTWind/discussions
• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/HTWind/

Installation

Recommended for most users: install HTWind using the installer executable from GitHub Releases (HTWind-setup-<version>.exe). Portable ZIP and Microsoft Store installation are available as alternatives.

Option 1: From GitHub Releases (recommended)

1. Open Releases in this repository.
2. Download one of the assets:

• HTWind-setup-<version>.exe (installer, recommended)
• HTWind-portable-<version>.zip (portable alternative)

1. For installer mode, run the setup executable and follow the wizard.

Option 2: Run from source

Prerequisites:

• Windows 10/11
• .NET SDK 10.0+

Commands:

dotnet restore HTWind/HTWind.csproj
dotnet build HTWind/HTWind.csproj
dotnet run --project HTWind/HTWind.csproj

Uninstallation

If you are using the installed version of HTWind, you can uninstall it from Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

Important

Uninstalling HTWind will delete all widgets and data stored in %LocalAppData%\HTWind. If you are uninstalling the app to perform a clean update, make sure to take a backup of this folder before proceeding.

Widget Development

You can build custom widgets using plain HTML/CSS/JavaScript.

Generate Widgets With LLM Help

If you want AI assistance while creating widgets, use the dedicated HTWind system prompt:

• HTWind Widget Generator Prompt
• HTWind Widget Generator Prompt (shared)

You can copy this prompt into your preferred LLM and ask it to generate HTWind-compatible widgets (including PowerShell bridge usage) as a single HTML file.

Host Bridge API

Widgets can call:

• window.HTWind.invoke("powershell.exec", args)

Supported args include:

• script (required)
• timeoutMs
• maxOutputChars
• shell (powershell or pwsh)
• workingDirectory

Important:

• Only powershell.exec is currently supported.
• Output is clipped by maxOutputChars for safety.
• Scripts are executed with -NoProfile -NonInteractive -ExecutionPolicy Bypass.

Security and Responsibility Notice

• HTWind allows widgets to execute PowerShell commands via powershell.exec.
• Running commands can modify files, processes, registry entries, and network/system settings.
• All command execution risk is owned by the user running HTWind.
• On first launch, HTWind requires explicit acceptance of this risk before the app opens.

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for the full contribution guide.

Support

• Issues: https://github.com/sametcn99/HTWind/issues
• Discussions: https://github.com/sametcn99/HTWind/discussions
• Reddit community: https://www.reddit.com/r/HTWind/

If you find a bug, please include reproduction steps, expected behavior, and environment details.

License

This project is licensed under the GPL-3.0 License. See the LICENSE file for details.