diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e013340..629a117 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@
     "@jupyterlab/apputils": "^2.0.2",
     "@jupyterlab/mainmenu": "^2.0.2",
     "@jupyterlab/notebook": "^2.0.2",
+    "@jupyterlab/launcher": "^2.0.2",
     "@lumino/widgets": "^1.14.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 20a90b9..64691b1 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { JupyterFrontEnd, JupyterFrontEndPlugin } from '@jupyterlab/application';
 import { ICommandPalette, IThemeManager } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
-
+import { ILauncher } from '@jupyterlab/launcher';
 import { IMainMenu } from '@jupyterlab/mainmenu';
 import { IFileBrowserFactory } from '@jupyterlab/filebrowser';
 import { Menu } from '@lumino/widgets';
+
 import { JACDACWidget } from './widget';
 
 export const PALETTE_CATEGORY = "JACDAC"
@@ -18,13 +19,15 @@ export const COMMAND_PLAYER = 'jacdac:player';
 const extension: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
   id: 'jacdac',
   autoStart: true,
-  requires: [ICommandPalette, IMainMenu, IFileBrowserFactory, IThemeManager],
+  requires: [IFileBrowserFactory],
+  optional: [ICommandPalette, IMainMenu, IThemeManager, ILauncher],
   activate: (
     app: JupyterFrontEnd,
-    palette: ICommandPalette,
-    mainMenu: IMainMenu,
     fileBrowserFactory: IFileBrowserFactory,
-    themeManager: IThemeManager
+    palette: ICommandPalette | null,
+    mainMenu: IMainMenu | null,
+    themeManager: IThemeManager | null,
+    launcher: ILauncher | null
   ) => {
     const { commands, shell, serviceManager } = app;
     const { contents } = serviceManager
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ const extension: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
     // menu
     const menu = new Menu({ commands });
     menu.title.label = 'JACDAC';
-    mainMenu.addMenu(menu, { rank: 80 });
+    mainMenu?.addMenu(menu, { rank: 80 });
 
     const addCommand = (id: string, path: string, label: string, caption: string) => {
       // open recorder
@@ -58,8 +61,13 @@ const extension: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
             shell.activateById(widget.id);
           }
         });
-        palette.addItem({ command, category: PALETTE_CATEGORY });
-        menu.addItem({ command });
+        palette?.addItem({ command, category: PALETTE_CATEGORY });
+        menu?.addItem({ command });
+        launcher?.add({
+          command: command,
+          category: 'JACDAC',
+          rank: 1
+        });    
       }
     }
     
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 3d3a245..1b5dea3 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -128,6 +128,31 @@
     react-dom "~16.9.0"
     sanitize-html "~1.20.1"
 
+"@jupyterlab/apputils@^2.2.5":
+  version "2.2.5"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/apputils/-/apputils-2.2.5.tgz#382eb7dc89970d4d90c7b5c2a639e84e0d654af3"
+  integrity sha512-eDyt6eWH8WPeBCzgRV601C6YkxmPXAIzAcqC910KQhag7e41zVGtWqEsfSIeQeQJmbgf1yg9duTHzN3YQ6802Q==
+  dependencies:
+    "@jupyterlab/coreutils" "^4.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/services" "^5.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/settingregistry" "^2.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/statedb" "^2.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/ui-components" "^2.2.3"
+    "@lumino/algorithm" "^1.2.3"
+    "@lumino/commands" "^1.10.1"
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/disposable" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/domutils" "^1.1.7"
+    "@lumino/messaging" "^1.3.3"
+    "@lumino/properties" "^1.1.6"
+    "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/virtualdom" "^1.6.1"
+    "@lumino/widgets" "^1.11.1"
+    "@types/react" "~16.9.16"
+    react "~16.9.0"
+    react-dom "~16.9.0"
+    sanitize-html "~1.20.1"
+
 "@jupyterlab/attachments@^2.2.2":
   version "2.2.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/attachments/-/attachments-2.2.2.tgz#74225fc51267d41d974783892a08b9b32f3961db"
@@ -216,6 +241,19 @@
     path-posix "~1.0.0"
     url-parse "~1.4.7"
 
+"@jupyterlab/coreutils@^4.2.4":
+  version "4.2.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/coreutils/-/coreutils-4.2.4.tgz#f02ca96f435f94fa049748d2afe0921240fb502d"
+  integrity sha512-neDtamXNK+nwac6eXtlDitpJzjtGKVdZ9TNjfoSLmlHyenerd5+Hm5kmZbQ+FWSdyUPo9RZizFYqtdAbW2ZriA==
+  dependencies:
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/disposable" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
+    minimist "~1.2.0"
+    moment "^2.24.0"
+    path-posix "~1.0.0"
+    url-parse "~1.4.7"
+
 "@jupyterlab/docmanager@^2.2.2":
   version "2.2.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/docmanager/-/docmanager-2.2.2.tgz#ddb4649a01bcb698f3881a94648ca5233afcea99"
@@ -280,6 +318,21 @@
     "@lumino/widgets" "^1.11.1"
     react "~16.9.0"
 
+"@jupyterlab/launcher@^2.0.2":
+  version "2.2.5"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/launcher/-/launcher-2.2.5.tgz#c322c4a47674caa502bdd2e484f7b8de14ea19e0"
+  integrity sha512-Ur1h2VdkFZ4t4vHsSJHH/FXZf32GRE+aheoyowM2estBv2xo3zgNtzzvcXf/x7Kyuk1NxRXM1s7BOyw7gSNB/A==
+  dependencies:
+    "@jupyterlab/apputils" "^2.2.5"
+    "@jupyterlab/ui-components" "^2.2.3"
+    "@lumino/algorithm" "^1.2.3"
+    "@lumino/commands" "^1.10.1"
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/disposable" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/properties" "^1.1.6"
+    "@lumino/widgets" "^1.11.1"
+    react "~16.9.0"
+
 "@jupyterlab/mainmenu@^2.0.2":
   version "2.2.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/mainmenu/-/mainmenu-2.2.2.tgz#a0e12d0755dc52740fc5bca62aa60ca492640ea2"
@@ -301,6 +354,13 @@
   dependencies:
     "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
 
+"@jupyterlab/nbformat@^2.2.4":
+  version "2.2.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/nbformat/-/nbformat-2.2.4.tgz#073403249e636ee7334fd995fa37880570f031d6"
+  integrity sha512-++kWMuVJvduiUbbGlDsNAbDAreDRuYAlLKqlpRL+KfAgvmYNri3qxDw9/NQ3GvI+0HDjTXO0l4WfXVLS5SESIg==
+  dependencies:
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+
 "@jupyterlab/notebook@^2.0.2":
   version "2.2.5"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/notebook/-/notebook-2.2.5.tgz#deba051f631fb599b3091aef292106b91a95d3ee"
@@ -339,6 +399,17 @@
     "@lumino/messaging" "^1.3.3"
     "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
 
+"@jupyterlab/observables@^3.2.4":
+  version "3.2.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/observables/-/observables-3.2.4.tgz#2c58c9c859e888183e237674f151276507cb9b72"
+  integrity sha512-gdAv2H1Ccr9ARUyG3jgfjGJb6yewy3NWU/4uvtaFR7sTekI27Tb4ulCCUrartgSNydmTjRw4bZwnu4e1qVj9eg==
+  dependencies:
+    "@lumino/algorithm" "^1.2.3"
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/disposable" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/messaging" "^1.3.3"
+    "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
+
 "@jupyterlab/outputarea@^2.2.2":
   version "2.2.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/outputarea/-/outputarea-2.2.2.tgz#f1ad50c71e19e8f624c5bc083caa2705e1830ec2"
@@ -404,6 +475,24 @@
     node-fetch "^2.6.0"
     ws "^7.2.0"
 
+"@jupyterlab/services@^5.2.4":
+  version "5.2.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/services/-/services-5.2.4.tgz#e9331a98db435abc83ffa902799df59fe6b9c15c"
+  integrity sha512-of9GujFF4bhFUcTyR+OTc04mEwm7l+xyJOzW6h6sp2JRIkHm2Sa0UwS9RlkdjXzjwAzg68TW2h1OOU8CzgunLw==
+  dependencies:
+    "@jupyterlab/coreutils" "^4.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/nbformat" "^2.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/observables" "^3.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/settingregistry" "^2.2.4"
+    "@jupyterlab/statedb" "^2.2.4"
+    "@lumino/algorithm" "^1.2.3"
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/disposable" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/polling" "^1.1.1"
+    "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
+    node-fetch "^2.6.0"
+    ws "^7.2.0"
+
 "@jupyterlab/settingregistry@^2.2.3":
   version "2.2.3"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/settingregistry/-/settingregistry-2.2.3.tgz#5c8e81933efcf0751385e766032caf56760c3fab"
@@ -417,6 +506,19 @@
     ajv "^6.10.2"
     json5 "^2.1.1"
 
+"@jupyterlab/settingregistry@^2.2.4":
+  version "2.2.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/settingregistry/-/settingregistry-2.2.4.tgz#8fd7e443fd4e4d0949e162fc316d63b785c2ea66"
+  integrity sha512-fx3PFuuB3jSf3eAuQc6zpDrE06t96XRGFdw0mJ7fgUg4LudrYkXAuDL6d4bJXn/GcglGhVkQNWKR4LYX7VBrWA==
+  dependencies:
+    "@jupyterlab/statedb" "^2.2.4"
+    "@lumino/commands" "^1.10.1"
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/disposable" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
+    ajv "^6.10.2"
+    json5 "^2.1.1"
+
 "@jupyterlab/statedb@^2.2.3":
   version "2.2.3"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/statedb/-/statedb-2.2.3.tgz#e0b3034fbac834d126f7a74fe1c846693e4f9b3b"
@@ -428,6 +530,17 @@
     "@lumino/properties" "^1.1.6"
     "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
 
+"@jupyterlab/statedb@^2.2.4":
+  version "2.2.4"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/statedb/-/statedb-2.2.4.tgz#674d7b59b51c6b2f76e8557eb2ff64797f9a85e9"
+  integrity sha512-/JaabUJi0rFXZEYAFV9wVcXHllEgFAo59uqZ9/lU0i6gULSykCFdVw0QZPIaiaScQYKluhsOBMJB7uXOcDikRA==
+  dependencies:
+    "@lumino/commands" "^1.10.1"
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/disposable" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/properties" "^1.1.6"
+    "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
+
 "@jupyterlab/statusbar@^2.2.2":
   version "2.2.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/statusbar/-/statusbar-2.2.2.tgz#b6aab428729bed842976fe562610c639c43b72b2"
@@ -465,6 +578,22 @@
     react-dom "~16.9.0"
     typestyle "^2.0.4"
 
+"@jupyterlab/ui-components@^2.2.3":
+  version "2.2.3"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@jupyterlab/ui-components/-/ui-components-2.2.3.tgz#abd53c7387ca761c7ad1ab848a5efbafe7446b51"
+  integrity sha512-QCnPJ2G4YhnEutEG3Nhr1h+SqIlyTNk2NAYfj1xG6lGg4bnLmhzjwAp6LcPEKWkEYOYWpnWSQpEdfxDm8GRtIQ==
+  dependencies:
+    "@blueprintjs/core" "^3.22.2"
+    "@blueprintjs/select" "^3.11.2"
+    "@jupyterlab/coreutils" "^4.2.4"
+    "@lumino/coreutils" "^1.4.2"
+    "@lumino/signaling" "^1.3.5"
+    "@lumino/virtualdom" "^1.6.1"
+    "@lumino/widgets" "^1.11.1"
+    react "~16.9.0"
+    react-dom "~16.9.0"
+    typestyle "^2.0.4"
+
 "@lumino/algorithm@^1.2.3", "@lumino/algorithm@^1.3.3":
   version "1.3.3"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/@lumino/algorithm/-/algorithm-1.3.3.tgz#fdf4daa407a1ce6f233e173add6a2dda0c99eef4"