# How to add manually installed application to 'Show Applications' grid in Ubuntu

In this article we will cover how to add your manually installed application in the list of application list that Ubuntu shows natively. Often time we open such apps with terminal by running `sh /path/to/application.sh` or by running `./path/to/application.sh`.

So lets start with the template that is needed to add your application to the Ubuntu's desktop apps entry. All you need is:

1. Create a launcher for your application with `.desktop` file extension
    
2. Place your `.desktop` file inside `~/.local/share/applications` directory or if you want it to be visible to all users then place it under `/usr/share/applications`.
    
3. Your `.desktop` file should have following contents:
    

```bash
# <application_name>.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Application Name
Comment=A short description of the application
Exec=/full/path/to/application/executable
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=/full/path/to/icon-file
```

In this example we are going to use `RubyMine` as an example

1. download the `rubymine-xx.tar.gz`
    
2. Extract it and place it under your preferred place, I am placing it under `~/.local/.share` directory.
    
3. And now create a `rubymine.desktop` file inside `~/.local/share/applications`
    

```bash
touch ~/.local/share/applications/rubymine.desktop
```

4. Now we edit this file with following content
    

```bash
[Desktop Entry]
Name=RubyMine
Comment=RubyMine IDE
Exec=~/.local/share/rubymine/bin/rubymine.sh
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=~/.local/share/rubymine/RMlogo.svg
```

That's it, you should now be able to see your RubyMine application listed in your "Show Applications" list. If it is not, try restarting your PC and it should be there.