Users can now pin/unpin apps from the top of AllApps extension (#40544)

Users can now use Ctrl+P to toggle pinning and unpinning applications
from the top of the All Apps extension.

This pinned status persists through restarts & reboots.


https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/86895a38-7312-438a-9409-b50a85979d12

Reference: #40543

---------

Co-authored-by: Mike Griese <migrie@microsoft.com>

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/AllAppsCommandProvider.cs

@@ -2,8 +2,12 @@
 // The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 
@@ -29,9 +33,12 @@ public partial class AllAppsCommandProvider : CommandProvider
             Subtitle = Resources.search_installed_apps,
             MoreCommands = [new CommandContextItem(AllAppsSettings.Instance.Settings.SettingsPage)],
         };
+
+        // Subscribe to pin state changes to refresh the command provider
+        PinnedAppsManager.Instance.PinStateChanged += OnPinStateChanged;
     }
 
-    public override ICommandItem[] TopLevelCommands() => [_listItem];
+    public override ICommandItem[] TopLevelCommands() => [_listItem, ..Page.GetPinnedApps()];
 
     public ICommandItem? LookupApp(string displayName)
     {
@@ -62,4 +69,9 @@ public partial class AllAppsCommandProvider : CommandProvider
 
         return null;
     }
+
+    private void OnPinStateChanged(object? sender, System.EventArgs e)
+    {
+        RaiseItemsChanged(0);
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/AllAppsPage.cs

@@ -2,14 +2,20 @@
 // The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Linq;
+using System.Numerics;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using ManagedCommon;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 
@@ -18,16 +24,22 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps;
 public sealed partial class AllAppsPage : ListPage
 {
     private readonly Lock _listLock = new();
-    private AppListItem[] allAppsSection = [];
+
+    private AppItem[] allApps = [];
+    private AppListItem[] unpinnedApps = [];
+    private AppListItem[] pinnedApps = [];
 
     public AllAppsPage()
     {
         this.Name = Resources.all_apps;
-        this.Icon = IconHelpers.FromRelativePath("Assets\\AllApps.svg");
+        this.Icon = Icons.AllAppsIcon;
         this.ShowDetails = true;
         this.IsLoading = true;
         this.PlaceholderText = Resources.search_installed_apps_placeholder;
 
+        // Subscribe to pin state changes to refresh the command provider
+        PinnedAppsManager.Instance.PinStateChanged += OnPinStateChanged;
+
         Task.Run(() =>
         {
             lock (_listLock)
@@ -37,89 +49,139 @@ public sealed partial class AllAppsPage : ListPage
         });
     }
 
+    internal AppListItem[] GetPinnedApps()
+    {
+        BuildListItems();
+        return pinnedApps;
+    }
+
     public override IListItem[] GetItems()
     {
-        if (allAppsSection.Length == 0 || AppCache.Instance.Value.ShouldReload())
-        {
-            lock (_listLock)
-            {
-                BuildListItems();
-            }
-        }
-
-        return allAppsSection;
+        // Build or update the list if needed
+        BuildListItems();
+        return pinnedApps.Concat(unpinnedApps).ToArray();
     }
 
     private void BuildListItems()
     {
-        this.IsLoading = true;
+        if (allApps.Length == 0 || AppCache.Instance.Value.ShouldReload())
+        {
+            lock (_listLock)
+            {
+                this.IsLoading = true;
 
-        Stopwatch stopwatch = new();
-        stopwatch.Start();
+                Stopwatch stopwatch = new();
+                stopwatch.Start();
 
-        var apps = GetPrograms();
+                var apps = GetPrograms();
+                this.allApps = apps.AllApps;
+                this.pinnedApps = apps.PinnedItems;
+                this.unpinnedApps = apps.UnpinnedItems;
 
-        this.allAppsSection = apps
-                        .Select((app) => new AppListItem(app, true))
-                        .ToArray();
+                this.IsLoading = false;
 
-        this.IsLoading = false;
+                AppCache.Instance.Value.ResetReloadFlag();
 
-        AppCache.Instance.Value.ResetReloadFlag();
-
-        stopwatch.Stop();
-        Logger.LogTrace($"{nameof(AllAppsPage)}.{nameof(BuildListItems)} took: {stopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms");
+                stopwatch.Stop();
+                Logger.LogTrace($"{nameof(AllAppsPage)}.{nameof(BuildListItems)} took: {stopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms");
+            }
+        }
     }
 
-    internal List<AppItem> GetPrograms()
+    private AppItem[] GetAllApps()
     {
         var uwpResults = AppCache.Instance.Value.UWPs
-            .Where((application) => application.Enabled)
-            .Select(UwpToAppItem);
+           .Where((application) => application.Enabled)
+           .Select(app => app.ToAppItem());
 
         var win32Results = AppCache.Instance.Value.Win32s
             .Where((application) => application.Enabled && application.Valid)
-            .Select(app =>
-            {
-                var icoPath = string.IsNullOrEmpty(app.IcoPath) ?
-                    (app.AppType == Win32Program.ApplicationType.InternetShortcutApplication ?
-                        app.IcoPath :
-                        app.FullPath) :
-                    app.IcoPath;
+            .Select(app => app.ToAppItem());
 
-                // icoPath = icoPath.EndsWith(".lnk", System.StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase) ? (icoPath + ",0") : icoPath;
-                icoPath = icoPath.EndsWith(".lnk", System.StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase) ?
-                    app.FullPath :
-                    icoPath;
-                return new AppItem()
-                {
-                    Name = app.Name,
-                    Subtitle = app.Description,
-                    Type = app.Type(),
-                    IcoPath = icoPath,
-                    ExePath = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(app.LnkFilePath) ? app.LnkFilePath : app.FullPath,
-                    DirPath = app.Location,
-                    Commands = app.GetCommands(),
-                };
-            });
-
-        return uwpResults.Concat(win32Results).OrderBy(app => app.Name).ToList();
+        var allApps = uwpResults.Concat(win32Results).ToArray();
+        return allApps;
     }
 
-    private AppItem UwpToAppItem(UWPApplication app)
+    internal (AppItem[] AllApps, AppListItem[] PinnedItems, AppListItem[] UnpinnedItems) GetPrograms()
     {
-        var iconPath = app.LogoType != LogoType.Error ? app.LogoPath : string.Empty;
-        var item = new AppItem()
+        var allApps = GetAllApps();
+        var pinned = new List<AppListItem>();
+        var unpinned = new List<AppListItem>();
+
+        foreach (var app in allApps)
         {
-            Name = app.Name,
-            Subtitle = app.Description,
-            Type = UWPApplication.Type(),
-            IcoPath = iconPath,
-            DirPath = app.Location,
-            UserModelId = app.UserModelId,
-            IsPackaged = true,
-            Commands = app.GetCommands(),
-        };
-        return item;
+            var isPinned = PinnedAppsManager.Instance.IsAppPinned(app.AppIdentifier);
+            var appListItem = new AppListItem(app, true, isPinned);
+
+            if (isPinned)
+            {
+                appListItem.Tags = appListItem.Tags
+                                            .Concat([new Tag() { Icon = Icons.PinIcon }])
+                                            .ToArray();
+                pinned.Add(appListItem);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                unpinned.Add(appListItem);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return (
+                allApps
+                    .ToArray(),
+                pinned
+                    .OrderBy(app => app.Title)
+                    .ToArray(),
+                unpinned
+                    .OrderBy(app => app.Title)
+                    .ToArray());
+    }
+
+    private void OnPinStateChanged(object? sender, PinStateChangedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        /*
+         * Rebuilding all the lists is pretty expensive.
+         * So, instead, we'll just compare pinned items to move existing
+         * items between the two lists.
+        */
+        var existingAppItem = allApps.FirstOrDefault(f => f.AppIdentifier == e.AppIdentifier);
+
+        if (existingAppItem != null)
+        {
+            var appListItem = new AppListItem(existingAppItem, true, e.IsPinned);
+
+            if (e.IsPinned)
+            {
+                // Remove it from the unpinned apps array
+                this.unpinnedApps = this.unpinnedApps
+                                            .Where(app => app.AppIdentifier != existingAppItem.AppIdentifier)
+                                            .OrderBy(app => app.Title)
+                                            .ToArray();
+
+                var newPinned = this.pinnedApps.ToList();
+                newPinned.Add(appListItem);
+
+                this.pinnedApps = newPinned
+                                        .OrderBy(app => app.Title)
+                                        .ToArray();
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // Remove it from the pinned apps array
+                this.pinnedApps = this.pinnedApps
+                                            .Where(app => app.AppIdentifier != existingAppItem.AppIdentifier)
+                                            .OrderBy(app => app.Title)
+                                            .ToArray();
+
+                var newUnpinned = this.unpinnedApps.ToList();
+                newUnpinned.Add(appListItem);
+
+                this.unpinnedApps = newUnpinned
+                                        .OrderBy(app => app.Title)
+                                        .ToArray();
+            }
+
+            RaiseItemsChanged(0);
+        }
     }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/AppItem.cs

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs;
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps;
@@ -26,7 +27,9 @@ internal sealed class AppItem
 
     public bool IsPackaged { get; set; }
 
-    public List<CommandContextItem>? Commands { get; set; }
+    public List<IContextItem>? Commands { get; set; }
+
+    public string AppIdentifier { get; set; } = string.Empty;
 
     public AppItem()
     {

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/AppListItem.cs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 using Windows.Storage.Streams;
@@ -23,14 +24,17 @@ internal sealed partial class AppListItem : ListItem
 
     public override IIconInfo? Icon { get => _icon.Value; set => base.Icon = value; }
 
-    public AppListItem(AppItem app, bool useThumbnails)
+    public string AppIdentifier => _app.AppIdentifier;
+
+    public AppListItem(AppItem app, bool useThumbnails, bool isPinned)
         : base(new AppCommand(app))
     {
         _app = app;
         Title = app.Name;
         Subtitle = app.Subtitle;
         Tags = [_appTag];
-        MoreCommands = _app.Commands!.ToArray();
+
+        MoreCommands = AddPinCommands(_app.Commands!, isPinned);
 
         _details = new Lazy<Details>(() =>
         {
@@ -121,4 +125,37 @@ internal sealed partial class AppListItem : ListItem
 
         return icon;
     }
+
+    private IContextItem[] AddPinCommands(List<IContextItem> commands, bool isPinned)
+    {
+        var newCommands = new List<IContextItem>();
+        newCommands.AddRange(commands);
+
+        newCommands.Add(new SeparatorContextItem());
+
+        // 0x50 = P
+        // Full key chord would be Ctrl+P
+        var pinKeyChord = KeyChordHelpers.FromModifiers(true, false, false, false, 0x50, 0);
+
+        if (isPinned)
+        {
+            newCommands.Add(
+                new CommandContextItem(
+                    new UnpinAppCommand(this.AppIdentifier))
+                {
+                    RequestedShortcut = pinKeyChord,
+                });
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            newCommands.Add(
+                new CommandContextItem(
+                    new PinAppCommand(this.AppIdentifier))
+                {
+                    RequestedShortcut = pinKeyChord,
+                });
+        }
+
+        return newCommands.ToArray();
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/CopyPathCommand.cs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using System;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.Text;
 using ManagedCommon;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 
@@ -13,14 +14,12 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 
 internal sealed partial class CopyPathCommand : InvokableCommand
 {
-    private static readonly IconInfo TheIcon = new("\ue8c8");
-
     private readonly string _target;
 
     public CopyPathCommand(string target)
     {
         Name = Resources.copy_path;
-        Icon = TheIcon;
+        Icon = Icons.CopyIcon;
 
         _target = target;
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/OpenInConsoleCommand.cs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using System;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using ManagedCommon;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 
@@ -13,14 +14,12 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 
 internal sealed partial class OpenInConsoleCommand : InvokableCommand
 {
-    private static readonly IconInfo TheIcon = new("\ue838");
-
     private readonly string _target;
 
     public OpenInConsoleCommand(string target)
     {
         Name = Resources.open_path_in_console;
-        Icon = TheIcon;
+        Icon = Icons.OpenConsoleIcon;
 
         _target = target;
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/OpenPathCommand.cs

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 
@@ -11,14 +12,12 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 
 internal sealed partial class OpenPathCommand : InvokableCommand
 {
-    private static readonly IconInfo TheIcon = new("\ue838");
-
     private readonly string _target;
 
     public OpenPathCommand(string target)
     {
         Name = Resources.open_location;
-        Icon = TheIcon;
+        Icon = Icons.OpenPathIcon;
 
         _target = target;
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/PinAppCommand.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
+
+internal sealed partial class PinAppCommand : InvokableCommand
+{
+    private readonly string _appIdentifier;
+
+    public PinAppCommand(string appIdentifier)
+    {
+        _appIdentifier = appIdentifier;
+        Name = Resources.pin_app;
+        Icon = Icons.PinIcon;
+    }
+
+    public override CommandResult Invoke()
+    {
+        PinnedAppsManager.Instance.PinApp(_appIdentifier);
+        return CommandResult.KeepOpen();
+    }
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/RunAsAdminCommand.cs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
@@ -13,8 +14,6 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 
 internal sealed partial class RunAsAdminCommand : InvokableCommand
 {
-    private static readonly IconInfo TheIcon = new("\uE7EF");
-
     private readonly string _target;
     private readonly string _parentDir;
     private readonly bool _packaged;
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ internal sealed partial class RunAsAdminCommand : InvokableCommand
     public RunAsAdminCommand(string target, string parentDir, bool packaged)
     {
         Name = Resources.run_as_administrator;
-        Icon = TheIcon;
+        Icon = Icons.RunAsIcon;
 
         _target = target;
         _parentDir = parentDir;

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/RunAsUserCommand.cs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
@@ -13,21 +14,19 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 
 internal sealed partial class RunAsUserCommand : InvokableCommand
 {
-    private static readonly IconInfo TheIcon = new("\uE7EE");
-
     private readonly string _target;
     private readonly string _parentDir;
 
     public RunAsUserCommand(string target, string parentDir)
     {
         Name = Resources.run_as_different_user;
-        Icon = TheIcon;
+        Icon = Icons.RunAsUserIcon;
 
         _target = target;
         _parentDir = parentDir;
     }
 
-    internal static async Task RunAsAdmin(string target, string parentDir)
+    internal static async Task RunAsUser(string target, string parentDir)
     {
         await Task.Run(() =>
         {
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ internal sealed partial class RunAsUserCommand : InvokableCommand
 
     public override CommandResult Invoke()
     {
-        _ = RunAsAdmin(_target, _parentDir).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        _ = RunAsUser(_target, _parentDir).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
         return CommandResult.Dismiss();
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/UnpinAppCommand.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
+
+internal sealed partial class UnpinAppCommand : InvokableCommand
+{
+    private readonly string _appIdentifier;
+
+    public UnpinAppCommand(string appIdentifier)
+    {
+        _appIdentifier = appIdentifier;
+        Name = Resources.unpin_app;
+        Icon = Icons.UnpinIcon;
+    }
+
+    public override CommandResult Invoke()
+    {
+        PinnedAppsManager.Instance.UnpinApp(_appIdentifier);
+        return CommandResult.KeepOpen();
+    }
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Helpers/Icons.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Helpers;
+
+public static partial class Icons
+{
+    public static IconInfo UnpinIcon { get; } = new("\uE77A");
+
+    public static IconInfo PinIcon { get; } = new("\uE840");
+
+    public static IconInfo RunAsIcon { get; } = new("\uE7EF");
+
+    public static IconInfo RunAsUserIcon { get; } = new("\uE7EE");
+
+    public static IconInfo CopyIcon { get; } = new("\ue8c8");
+
+    public static IconInfo OpenConsoleIcon { get; } = new("\ue838");
+
+    public static IconInfo OpenPathIcon { get; } = new("\ue838");
+
+    public static IconInfo AllAppsIcon { get; } = IconHelpers.FromRelativePath("Assets\\AllApps.svg");
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/JsonSerializationContext.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps;
+
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(string))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(PinnedApps))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(List<string>), TypeInfoPropertyName = "StringList")]
+[JsonSourceGenerationOptions(UseStringEnumConverter = true, WriteIndented = true, IncludeFields = true, PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true, AllowTrailingCommas = true)]
+internal sealed partial class JsonSerializationContext : JsonSerializerContext
+{
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Programs/UWPApplication.cs

@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ using System.Xml;
 using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 using Windows.System;
 using Windows.Win32;
@@ -70,9 +72,15 @@ public class UWPApplication : IProgram
         return Resources.packaged_application;
     }
 
-    public List<CommandContextItem> GetCommands()
+    public string GetAppIdentifier()
     {
-        List<CommandContextItem> commands = [];
+        // Use UserModelId for UWP apps as it's unique
+        return UserModelId;
+    }
+
+    public List<IContextItem> GetCommands()
+    {
+        List<IContextItem> commands = [];
 
         if (CanRunElevated)
         {
@@ -511,6 +519,25 @@ public class UWPApplication : IProgram
         }
     }
 
+    internal AppItem ToAppItem()
+    {
+        var app = this;
+        var iconPath = app.LogoType != LogoType.Error ? app.LogoPath : string.Empty;
+        var item = new AppItem()
+        {
+            Name = app.Name,
+            Subtitle = app.Description,
+            Type = UWPApplication.Type(),
+            IcoPath = iconPath,
+            DirPath = app.Location,
+            UserModelId = app.UserModelId,
+            IsPackaged = true,
+            Commands = app.GetCommands(),
+            AppIdentifier = app.GetAppIdentifier(),
+        };
+        return item;
+    }
+
     /*
     public ImageSource Logo()
     {

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Programs/Win32Program.cs

@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ using System.Windows.Input;
 using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 using Microsoft.Win32;
 using Windows.System;
@@ -186,9 +188,9 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
         return true;
     }
 
-    public List<CommandContextItem> GetCommands()
+    public List<IContextItem> GetCommands()
     {
-        List<CommandContextItem> commands = new List<CommandContextItem>();
+        List<IContextItem> commands = new List<IContextItem>();
 
         if (AppType != ApplicationType.InternetShortcutApplication && AppType != ApplicationType.Folder && AppType != ApplicationType.GenericFile)
         {
@@ -231,6 +233,12 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
         return ExecutableName;
     }
 
+    public string GetAppIdentifier()
+    {
+        // Use a combination of name and path to create a unique identifier
+        return $"{Name}|{FullPath}";
+    }
+
     private static Win32Program CreateWin32Program(string path)
     {
         try
@@ -933,4 +941,29 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
             return Array.Empty<Win32Program>();
         }
     }
+
+    internal AppItem ToAppItem()
+    {
+        var app = this;
+        var icoPath = string.IsNullOrEmpty(app.IcoPath) ?
+            (app.AppType == Win32Program.ApplicationType.InternetShortcutApplication ?
+                app.IcoPath :
+                app.FullPath) :
+            app.IcoPath;
+
+        icoPath = icoPath.EndsWith(".lnk", System.StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase) ?
+            app.FullPath :
+            icoPath;
+        return new AppItem()
+        {
+            Name = app.Name,
+            Subtitle = app.Description,
+            Type = app.Type(),
+            IcoPath = icoPath,
+            ExePath = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(app.LnkFilePath) ? app.LnkFilePath : app.FullPath,
+            DirPath = app.Location,
+            Commands = app.GetCommands(),
+            AppIdentifier = app.GetAppIdentifier(),
+        };
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs

@@ -213,6 +213,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties {
             }
         }
         
+        /// <summary>
+        ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Pin.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string pin_app {
+            get {
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("pin_app", resourceCulture);
+            }
+        }
+        
         /// <summary>
         ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Run as administrator.
         /// </summary>
@@ -267,6 +276,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties {
             }
         }
         
+        /// <summary>
+        ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Unpin.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string unpin_app {
+            get {
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("unpin_app", resourceCulture);
+            }
+        }
+        
         /// <summary>
         ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Experimental: When enabled, Command Palette will load thumbnails from the Windows Shell. Using thumbnails may cause the app to crash on launch.
         /// </summary>

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Properties/Resources.resx

@@ -199,4 +199,10 @@
     <value>Experimental: When enabled, Command Palette will load thumbnails from the Windows Shell. Using thumbnails may cause the app to crash on launch</value>
     <comment>A description for "use_thumbnails_setting_label"</comment>
   </data>
+  <data name="pin_app" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Pin</value>
+  </data>
+  <data name="unpin_app" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Unpin</value>
+  </data>
 </root>

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/State/PinStateChangedEventArgs.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
+
+public class PinStateChangedEventArgs : EventArgs
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets the identifier of the application whose pin state has changed.
+    /// </summary>
+    public string AppIdentifier { get; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets a value indicating whether the specified app identifier was pinned or not.
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool IsPinned { get; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PinStateChangedEventArgs"/> class.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="appIdentifier">The identifier of the application whose pin state has changed.</param>
+    public PinStateChangedEventArgs(string appIdentifier, bool isPinned)
+    {
+        AppIdentifier = appIdentifier ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(appIdentifier));
+        IsPinned = isPinned;
+    }
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/State/PinnedApps.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
+
+public sealed class PinnedApps
+{
+    public List<string> PinnedAppIdentifiers { get; set; } = [];
+
+    public static PinnedApps ReadFromFile(string path)
+    {
+        if (!File.Exists(path))
+        {
+            return new PinnedApps();
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            var jsonString = File.ReadAllText(path);
+            var result = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<PinnedApps>(jsonString, JsonSerializationContext.Default.PinnedApps);
+            return result ?? new PinnedApps();
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return new PinnedApps();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static void WriteToFile(string path, PinnedApps data)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            var jsonString = JsonSerializer.Serialize(data, JsonSerializationContext.Default.PinnedApps);
+            File.WriteAllText(path, jsonString);
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // Silently fail - we don't want pinning issues to crash the extension
+        }
+    }
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/State/PinnedAppsManager.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using ManagedCommon;
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.State;
+
+public sealed class PinnedAppsManager
+{
+    private static readonly Lazy<PinnedAppsManager> _instance = new(() => new PinnedAppsManager());
+    private readonly string _pinnedAppsFilePath;
+
+    public static PinnedAppsManager Instance => _instance.Value;
+
+    private PinnedApps _pinnedApps = new();
+
+    // Add event for when pinning state changes
+    public event EventHandler<PinStateChangedEventArgs>? PinStateChanged;
+
+    private PinnedAppsManager()
+    {
+        _pinnedAppsFilePath = GetPinnedAppsFilePath();
+        LoadPinnedApps();
+    }
+
+    public bool IsAppPinned(string appIdentifier)
+    {
+        return _pinnedApps.PinnedAppIdentifiers.Contains(appIdentifier, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
+    public void PinApp(string appIdentifier)
+    {
+        if (!IsAppPinned(appIdentifier))
+        {
+            _pinnedApps.PinnedAppIdentifiers.Add(appIdentifier);
+            SavePinnedApps();
+            Logger.LogTrace($"Pinned app: {appIdentifier}");
+            PinStateChanged?.Invoke(this, new PinStateChangedEventArgs(appIdentifier, true));
+        }
+    }
+
+    public string[] GetPinnedAppIdentifiers()
+    {
+        return _pinnedApps.PinnedAppIdentifiers.ToArray();
+    }
+
+    public void UnpinApp(string appIdentifier)
+    {
+        var removed = _pinnedApps.PinnedAppIdentifiers.RemoveAll(id =>
+            string.Equals(id, appIdentifier, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase));
+
+        if (removed > 0)
+        {
+            SavePinnedApps();
+            Logger.LogTrace($"Unpinned app: {appIdentifier}");
+            PinStateChanged?.Invoke(this, new PinStateChangedEventArgs(appIdentifier, false));
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void LoadPinnedApps()
+    {
+        _pinnedApps = PinnedApps.ReadFromFile(_pinnedAppsFilePath);
+    }
+
+    private void SavePinnedApps()
+    {
+        PinnedApps.WriteToFile(_pinnedAppsFilePath, _pinnedApps);
+    }
+
+    private static string GetPinnedAppsFilePath()
+    {
+        var directory = Utilities.BaseSettingsPath("Microsoft.CmdPal");
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
+        return Path.Combine(directory, "apps.pinned.json");
+    }
+}