Litestep

Litestep is a shell replacement for Windows. The default Windows shell, known as Explorer, is what provides you with your start menu, system tray, taskbar etc., but this shell can be turned off and replaced with a much more configurable and user-friendly desktop environment. Litestep replaces these standard items but also adds a whole slew of new, useful and totally configurable features.

You have complete control over how your desktop works, looks and feels. You can switch back to the standard Explorer shell at anytime as no files are removed or overwritten, but once you've tried it you'll realize how basic a shell Explorer really is. And the best thing of all? It's absolutely and completely free.

For the official documentation head over to http://docs.litestep.com/

Ancylus Desktop Environment

Well, ADE or Ancylus Desktop Environment, is my own Litestep theme, which I am pretty proud of. I started working on it last fall and its not finished yet, but I have come far! The theme is pretty much finished, but I have to make an intelligent installation program so users don't have to do all the hard things them selves. And to make an installation program is not the easiest! I use Nullsofts free scriptable installation program called NSIS or "Nullsoft (SuperPiMP|Scriptable) Install System". And I think that it is really good. I update the theme all the time though, even if i dont always upload it...

The theme however, is of a somewhat minimalistic nature, and tries to take little place, in the memory as well as on the desktop, but still be very usable.

Version 0.4 - Thursday, October 3, 2002

New install program and a settings program!

• Latest Indie build (2002.09.12)
• Now using core systray module. I was using an old sidebuild because it could display all tray icons in Windows 2000. Didnt give it much notice, but tested the latest core module and it worked great.
• Made a new Settings program. The bar and color options are no longer in the popup. I used NSIS to create this little program to set up program paths, mail and bar settings. Really nice.
• Added an "Appsbar" to the bar. Of cource this can be turned on/off in the settings program.
• Changed some graphics
• some other things i cant remember... erh... Oh yes, i made a html help, whith hotkey explanations and other stuff... well, no, not other stuff. i just made that page...
• something more? think so but i cant remember

Settings program!

Version 0.3b - Sunday, June 30, 2002 23:22

Just fixed a couple of XP problems!

• Latest Indie build (2002.06.26)
• Switched vbang module to a newer and smaller one. Now volume changing works in XP.
• Fixed some other XP problems...

Works great in XP now!

Version 0.3 - Monday, June 24, 2002 12:54

Ok, this time the theme itself is acctually updated pretty much.

• Latest Indie build (2002.06.19)
• Made the theme completely resolution independent(from 640 by 480 to 1600 by 1200 anyway)
• Added Mail checking, wich replaces the vwm, but you can switch between the wvm in the menu whenever you want. only one of these modules are loaded at the same time so that saves some RAM(40 k or something but anyways)
• Added a 'Superlabel' to the desktop with valuable information. This can be turned on/off in the menu aswell!
• Updated the graphics some, but you wont know the difference...
• The installation now installs the font, but you have to restart after install. The color scheme gets installed but you have to choose it yourself in Display/appearance
• In the installation you can now choose one, two or none mail accounts. Choosing none will activate the vwm instead, but this can also be turned of in the menu as i said above

Version 0.26b - Saturday, April 13, 2002 2:57

The changes in 0.26b is mostly in the installation program, which is the hardest to manage actually. I have also changed the bitmaps a little.

Since I don't have Win9x installed on my system its not tested, but I will install 98SE or ME or something soon. The Installation program works great in Windows 2000 and XP(I suppose). In 9XME it works but does not install the font and the color scheme, This is pretty easy to do by yourself though. The color scheme is included as a .reg file in the Misc dir, so just run it if you have Windows 9XME. The font is in the same folder and I wont explain to you how to install it.