de.ipcon.tools

Class FreeDesktopMimeActionsHandler

java.lang.Object

de.ipcon.tools.FreeDesktopMimeActionsHandler

All Implemented Interfaces:

MimeActionsHandlerI

public class FreeDesktopMimeActionsHandler
extends java.lang.Object
implements MimeActionsHandlerI

Handles MIME type actions based on the Freedesktop.org (XDG) Desktop Entry Specification.

This class parses mimeapps.list and .desktop files to determine which application should handle a specific file type (MIME type). It resolves standard XDG directories (User and System) to find the appropriate "Exec" command.

See Also:

Freedesktop.org Desktop Entry Spec, MIME Applications Associations Spec

Constructor Summary

Constructors

Constructor and Description
FreeDesktopMimeActionsHandler() Constructor: Initializes the handler by scanning default directories and parsing MIME mappings.

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method and Description
MimeActionI[]	getAllActionsForType(java.lang.String type) Retrieves all actions associated with a MIME type.
MimeActionI	getDefaultActionForType(java.lang.String type) Locates the default application for a given MIME type.
static void	main(java.lang.String[] args) Main entry point for testing purposes.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

equals, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

FreeDesktopMimeActionsHandler

public FreeDesktopMimeActionsHandler()

Constructor: Initializes the handler by scanning default directories and parsing MIME mappings. Logic:

1. Resolves '~' in paths to user home.
2. Filters out non-existent directories.
3. Iterates directories from Machine (System) to User (Reverse order of DEFAULT_DESKTOP_DIRS). This ensures User settings overwrite System settings in the 'entries' HashMap.
4. Parses 'mimeapps.list' looking specifically for [Default Applications].

Method Detail

main

public static void main(java.lang.String[] args)

Main entry point for testing purposes. Configures logging, instantiates the handler, and queries for 'application/pdf'.

Parameters:

args - Command line arguments (unused)

getAllActionsForType

public MimeActionI[] getAllActionsForType(java.lang.String type)

Retrieves all actions associated with a MIME type.

Note: Current implementation implies only the Default action is returned.

FIXME! TH 2026-02-03: Reading the mimeinfo.cache would be much faster than iterating every .desktop file to see what MIME types it supports.

Specified by:

getAllActionsForType in interface MimeActionsHandlerI

Parameters:

type - The MIME type (e.g. "image/png")

Returns:

Array of MimeActionI objects

getDefaultActionForType

public MimeActionI getDefaultActionForType(java.lang.String type)

Locates the default application for a given MIME type.

1. Looks up the .desktop filename in the 'entries' map.
2. Searches for that .desktop file in the 'desktopDirs'.
3. Handles '-' to '/' path conversion if necessary (common in legacy KDE/Gnome structures).

Specified by:

getDefaultActionForType in interface MimeActionsHandlerI

Parameters:

type - The MIME type to look up.

Returns:

A MimeActionI instance (specifically an Entry) or null if not found.