Task Description
Install an application launcher / icon on the desktop
Analysis
The desktop is represented by the files in the $HOME/Desktop directory. An application launcher can be added by installing a .desktop file as defined by http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Standards/desktop-entry-spec
Existing solutions
Proposed Solution
See xdg-desktop-icon in the xdg-utils directory of the Portland CVS module.
Known Problems
Support for the OnlyShowIn keyword is not available in older desktop versions.
No current Linux WM provides for the concept of a 'Global Desktop' - that is, the ability to place an icon on every desktop. [Waldo: KDE does provide that functionality, see http://www.kde.org/areas/sysadmin/startup.php#components]