Adding launcher icon for STS to Ubuntu 12.04

Googling for ubuntu add menu icon is an unfruitful experience, as Ubuntu keep changing the default windowing system.

I eventually had more luck with unity sts launcher

With the help of a colleague I arrived at:

1. Create a file called ~/.local/share/applications/sts.desktop

   [Desktop Entry]
   Name=STS
   GenericName=Spring Tool Suite
   X-GNOME-FullName=Spring Tool Suite
   Comment=Java Editor from SpringSource
   Exec=/home/timp/bin/sts
   Icon=/home/timp/springsource/sts-3.1.0.RELEASE/icon.xpm
   Terminal=false
   Type=Application
   Categories=GNOME;
   StartupNotify=true
   X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=sts
   
   

2. Invoke by searching for sts in Unity search ("Unity Dash Home")
3. When application is invoked right click on menu icon and click Lock to Launcher

Note that full paths are required for files referred to in the .desktop content model; tilde form file names do not work.