Create Launcher in GNOME Shell

If you want to create an application launcher in GNOME Shell, perhaps for a script you have written, then create a file with the following contents:

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Formal Name of Launcher

GenericName=informal-name-of-launcher (optional)

Exec=/absolute/path/to/launcher.sh

Icon=/absolute/path/to/picture.png (spaces in the path apparently don't work, even if escaped or quoted)

Type=Application

StartupNotify=true

Give the file a name, such as program_launcher.desktop and place the file in $HOME/.local/share/applications. Make the file executable with:

$ chmod +x program_launcher.desktop

You can then double-click to launch the application. You can also add the launcher to the Dash in your favorites.