--- a/runtime/autoload/netrw.vim
+++ b/runtime/autoload/netrw.vim
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 "   2024 Oct 27 by Vim Project: clean up gx mapping (#15721)
 "   2024 Oct 30 by Vim Project: fix filetype detection for remote files (#15961)
 "   2024 Oct 30 by Vim Project: fix x mapping on cygwin (#13687)
+"   2024 Oct 31 by Vim Project: add netrw#Launch() and netrw#Open() (#15962)
 "   }}}
 " Former Maintainer:	Charles E Campbell
 " GetLatestVimScripts: 1075 1 :AutoInstall: netrw.vim
@@ -1195,47 +1196,35 @@ fun! netrw#Lexplore(count,rightside,...)
    " if a netrw window is already on the left-side of the tab
    " and a directory has been specified, explore with that
    " directory.
-"   call Decho("case has input argument(s) (a:1<".a:1.">)")
    let a1 = expand(a:1)
-"   call Decho("a:1<".a:1.">  curwin#".curwin,'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
    exe "1wincmd w"
    if &ft == "netrw"
-"    call Decho("exe Explore ".fnameescape(a:1),'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
     exe "Explore ".fnameescape(a1)
     exe curwin."wincmd w"
     let s:lexplore_win= curwin
     let w:lexplore_buf= bufnr("%")
     if exists("t:netrw_lexposn")
-"     call Decho("forgetting t:netrw_lexposn",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
      unlet t:netrw_lexposn
     endif
-"    call Dret("netrw#Lexplore")
     return
    endif
    exe curwin."wincmd w"
   else
    let a1= ""
-"   call Decho("no input arguments")
   endif
 
   if exists("t:netrw_lexbufnr")
    " check if t:netrw_lexbufnr refers to a netrw window
    let lexwinnr = bufwinnr(t:netrw_lexbufnr)
-"   call Decho("lexwinnr= bufwinnr(t:netrw_lexbufnr#".t:netrw_lexbufnr.")=".lexwinnr)
   else
    let lexwinnr= 0
-"   call Decho("t:netrw_lexbufnr doesn't exist")
-  endif
-"  call Decho("lexwinnr=".lexwinnr,'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
+  endif
 
   if lexwinnr > 0
    " close down netrw explorer window
-"   call Decho("t:netrw_lexbufnr#".t:netrw_lexbufnr.": close down netrw window",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
    exe lexwinnr."wincmd w"
    let g:netrw_winsize = -winwidth(0)
    let t:netrw_lexposn = winsaveview()
-"   call Decho("saving posn to t:netrw_lexposn<".string(t:netrw_lexposn).">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-"   call Decho("saving t:netrw_lexposn",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
    close
    if lexwinnr < curwin
     let curwin= curwin - 1
@@ -1244,11 +1233,9 @@ fun! netrw#Lexplore(count,rightside,...)
     exe curwin."wincmd w"
    endif
    unlet t:netrw_lexbufnr
-"   call Decho("unlet t:netrw_lexbufnr")
 
   else
    " open netrw explorer window
-"   call Decho("t:netrw_lexbufnr<n/a>: open netrw explorer window",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
    exe "1wincmd w"
    let keep_altv    = g:netrw_altv
    let g:netrw_altv = 0
@@ -1257,18 +1244,13 @@ fun! netrw#Lexplore(count,rightside,...)
     let g:netrw_winsize = a:count
    endif
    let curfile= expand("%")
-"   call Decho("curfile<".curfile.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
    exe (a:rightside? "botright" : "topleft")." vertical ".((g:netrw_winsize > 0)? (g:netrw_winsize*winwidth(0))/100 : -g:netrw_winsize) . " new"
-"   call Decho("new buf#".bufnr("%")." win#".winnr())
    if a:0 > 0 && a1 != ""
-"    call Decho("case 1: Explore ".a1,'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
     call netrw#Explore(0,0,0,a1)
     exe "Explore ".fnameescape(a1)
    elseif curfile =~ '^\a\{3,}://'
-"    call Decho("case 2: Explore ".substitute(curfile,'[^/\\]*$','',''),'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
     call netrw#Explore(0,0,0,substitute(curfile,'[^/\\]*$','',''))
    else
-"    call Decho("case 3: Explore .",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
     call netrw#Explore(0,0,0,".")
    endif
    if a:count != 0
@@ -1281,11 +1263,7 @@ fun! netrw#Lexplore(count,rightside,...)
    " Since the intended use of :Lexplore is to have an always-present explorer window, the extra
    " effort to prevent mis-use of :Lex is warranted.
    set bh=wipe
-"   call Decho("let t:netrw_lexbufnr=".t:netrw_lexbufnr) 
-"   call Decho("t:netrw_lexposn".(exists("t:netrw_lexposn")? string(t:netrw_lexposn) : " n/a"))
    if exists("t:netrw_lexposn")
-"    call Decho("restoring to t:netrw_lexposn",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-"    call Decho("restoring posn to t:netrw_lexposn<".string(t:netrw_lexposn).">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
     call winrestview(t:netrw_lexposn)
     unlet t:netrw_lexposn
    endif
@@ -1298,10 +1276,8 @@ fun! netrw#Lexplore(count,rightside,...)
    else
     let g:netrw_chgwin= 2
    endif
-"   call Decho("let g:netrw_chgwin=".g:netrw_chgwin)
-  endif
-
-"  call Dret("netrw#Lexplore")
+  endif
+
 endfun
 
 " ---------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -5266,6 +5242,120 @@ fun! s:NetrwBrowseUpDir(islocal)
 "  call Dret("s:NetrwBrowseUpDir")
 endfun
 
+func s:redir()
+  " set up redirection (avoids browser messages)
+  " by default if not set, g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg is true
+  if get(g:, 'netrw_suppress_gx_mesg', 1)
+    if &srr =~# "%s"
+      return printf(&srr, has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
+    else
+      return &srr .. (has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
+    endif
+  endif
+  return ''
+endfunc
+
+if has('unix')
+ if has('win32unix')
+  " Cygwin provides cygstart
+  if executable('cygstart')
+   fun! netrw#Launch(args)
+     exe 'silent ! cygstart --hide' a:args s:redir() | redraw!
+   endfun
+  elseif !empty($MSYSTEM) && executable('start')
+   " MSYS2/Git Bash comes by default without cygstart; see
+   " https://www.msys2.org/wiki/How-does-MSYS2-differ-from-Cygwin
+   " Instead it provides /usr/bin/start script running `cmd.exe //c start`
+   " Adding "" //b` sets void title, hides cmd window and blocks path conversion
+   " of /b to \b\ " by MSYS2; see https://www.msys2.org/docs/filesystem-paths/
+   fun! netrw#Launch(args)
+     exe 'silent !start "" //b' a:args s:redir() | redraw!
+   endfun
+  else
+   " imitate /usr/bin/start script for other environments and hope for the best
+   fun! netrw#Launch(args)
+     exe 'silent !cmd //c start "" //b' a:args s:redir() | redraw!
+   endfun
+  endif
+ elseif exists('$WSL_DISTRO_NAME') " use cmd.exe to start GUI apps in WSL
+  fun! netrw#Launch(args)
+    let args = a:args
+    exe 'silent !' ..
+      \ ((args =~? '\v<\f+\.(exe|com|bat|cmd)>') ?
+      \ 'cmd.exe /c start "" /b ' .. args :
+      \ 'nohup ' .. args .. ' ' .. s:redir() .. ' &')
+      \ | redraw!
+  endfun
+ else
+  fun! netrw#Launch(args)
+    exe ':silent ! nohup' a:args s:redir() '&' | redraw!
+  endfun
+ endif
+elseif has('win32')
+ fun! netrw#Launch(args)
+   exe 'silent !' .. (&shell =~? '\<cmd\.exe\>' ? '' : 'cmd.exe /c')
+     \ 'start "" /b' a:args s:redir() | redraw!
+ endfun
+else
+ fun! netrw#Launch(dummy)
+   echom 'No common launcher found'
+ endfun
+endif
+
+" Git Bash
+if has('win32unix')
+   " (cyg)start suffices
+   let s:os_viewer = ''
+" Windows / WSL
+elseif executable('explorer.exe')
+   let s:os_viewer = 'explorer.exe'
+" Linux / BSD
+elseif executable('xdg-open')
+   let s:os_viewer = 'xdg-open'
+" MacOS
+elseif executable('open')
+   let s:os_viewer = 'open'
+endif
+
+fun! s:viewer()
+  if exists('g:netrw_browsex_viewer') && executable(g:netrw_browsex_viewer)
+    " extract any viewing options.  Assumes that they're set apart by spaces.
+    "   call Decho("extract any viewing options from g:netrw_browsex_viewer<".g:netrw_browsex_viewer.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
+    if g:netrw_browsex_viewer =~ '\s'
+      let viewer  = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'\s.*$','','')
+      let viewopt = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'^\S\+\s*','','')." "
+      let oviewer = ''
+      let cnt     = 1
+      while !executable(viewer) && viewer != oviewer
+        let viewer  = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'^\(\(^\S\+\s\+\)\{'.cnt.'}\S\+\)\(.*\)$','\1','')
+        let viewopt = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'^\(\(^\S\+\s\+\)\{'.cnt.'}\S\+\)\(.*\)$','\3','')." "
+        let cnt     = cnt + 1
+        let oviewer = viewer
+        "     call Decho("!exe: viewer<".viewer.">  viewopt<".viewopt.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
+      endwhile
+    else
+      let viewer  = g:netrw_browsex_viewer
+      let viewopt = ""
+    endif
+    "   call Decho("viewer<".viewer.">  viewopt<".viewopt.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
+    return viewer .. ' ' .. viewopt
+  else
+    if !exists('s:os_viewer')
+      call netrw#ErrorMsg(s:ERROR,"No program to open this path found. See :help Open for more information.",106)
+    else
+      return s:os_viewer
+    endif
+  endif
+endfun
+
+fun! netrw#Open(file) abort
+  call netrw#Launch(s:viewer() .. ' ' .. shellescape(a:file, 1))
+endf
+
+if !exists('g:netrw_regex_url')
+  let g:netrw_regex_url = '\%(\%(http\|ftp\|irc\)s\?\|file\)://\S\{-}'
+endif
+
 " ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 " netrw#BrowseX:  (implements "x" and "gx") executes a special "viewer" script or program for the {{{2
 "              given filename; typically this means given their extension.
@@ -5349,31 +5439,8 @@ fun! netrw#BrowseX(fname,remote)
    endif
   endif
 
-  " extract any viewing options.  Assumes that they're set apart by spaces.
-  if exists("g:netrw_browsex_viewer")
-   if g:netrw_browsex_viewer =~ '\s'
-    let viewer  = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'\s.*$','','')
-    let viewopt = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'^\S\+\s*','','')." "
-    let oviewer = ''
-    let cnt     = 1
-    while !executable(viewer) && viewer != oviewer
-     let viewer  = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'^\(\(^\S\+\s\+\)\{'.cnt.'}\S\+\)\(.*\)$','\1','')
-     let viewopt = substitute(g:netrw_browsex_viewer,'^\(\(^\S\+\s\+\)\{'.cnt.'}\S\+\)\(.*\)$','\3','')." "
-     let cnt     = cnt + 1
-     let oviewer = viewer
-    endwhile
-   else
-    let viewer  = g:netrw_browsex_viewer
-    let viewopt = ""
-   endif
-  endif
-
-  if exists("g:netrw_browsex_viewer") && executable(viewer)
-    exe 'Launch' viewer viewopt shellescape(fname, 1)
-  else
-     " though shellescape(..., 1) is used in Open, it's insufficient
-     exe 'Open' escape(fname, '#%')
-  endif
+  " although shellescape(..., 1) is used in netrw#Open(), it's insufficient
+  call netrw#Open(escape(fname, '#%'))
 
   " cleanup: remove temporary file,
   "          delete current buffer if success with handler,
@@ -5665,7 +5732,7 @@ fun! s:NetrwGlob(direntry,expr,pare)
    endif
    let w:netrw_liststyle= keep_liststyle
   else
-   let path= s:ComposePath(fnameescape(a:direntry),a:expr) 
+   let path= s:ComposePath(fnameescape(a:direntry), a:expr)
     if has("win32")
      " escape [ so it is not detected as wildcard character, see :h wildcard
      let path= substitute(path, '[', '[[]', 'g')
@@ -5679,7 +5746,6 @@ fun! s:NetrwGlob(direntry,expr,pare)
      let filelist= map(filelist,'substitute(v:val, "^.*/", "", "")')
     endif
   endif
-"  call Dret("s:NetrwGlob ".string(filelist))
   return filelist
 endfun
 
@@ -8212,7 +8278,7 @@ fun! netrw#Shrink()
    elseif winwidth(bufwinnr(t:netrw_lexbufnr)) >= 0
     exe "vert resize ".t:netrw_winwidth
 "    call Decho("vert resize ".t:netrw_winwidth,'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
-   else 
+   else
     call netrw#Lexplore(0,0)
    endif
 
@@ -8529,7 +8595,7 @@ fun! s:NetrwPrevWinOpen(islocal)
 "  call Decho("COMBAK#11: mod=".&mod)
 "   call Decho("wincmd p  (now in win#".winnr().") curdir<".curdir.">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
 "  call Decho("COMBAK#12: mod=".&mod)
-   
+
    if exists("s:lexplore_win") && s:lexplore_win == winnr()
     " whoops -- user trying to open file in the Lexplore window.
     " Use Lexplore's opening-file window instead.
@@ -11944,7 +12010,7 @@ fun! s:NetrwEnew(...)
 "  call Dfunc("s:NetrwEnew() a:0=".a:0." win#".winnr()." winnr($)=".winnr("$")." bufnr($)=".bufnr("$")." expand(%)<".expand("%").">")
 "  call Decho("curdir<".((a:0>0)? a:1 : "")."> buf#".bufnr("%")."<".bufname("%").">",'~'.expand("<slnum>"))
 
-  " Clean out the last buffer: 
+  " Clean out the last buffer:
   " Check if the last buffer has # > 1, is unlisted, is unnamed, and does not appear in a window
   " If so, delete it.
   call s:NetrwBufRemover(bufnr("$"))
@@ -12136,7 +12202,7 @@ fun! s:NetrwHumanReadable(sz)
 "  call Dfunc("s:NetrwHumanReadable(sz=".a:sz.") type=".type(a:sz)." style=".g:netrw_sizestyle )
 
   if g:netrw_sizestyle == 'h'
-   if a:sz >= 1000000000 
+   if a:sz >= 1000000000
     let sz = printf("%.1f",a:sz/1000000000.0)."g"
    elseif a:sz >= 10000000
     let sz = printf("%d",a:sz/1000000)."m"
@@ -12564,7 +12630,7 @@ endfun
 fun! s:ShellEscape(s, ...)
   if has('win32') && $SHELL == '' && &shellslash
     return printf('"%s"', substitute(a:s, '"', '""', 'g'))
-  endif 
+  endif
   let f = a:0 > 0 ? a:1 : 0
   return shellescape(a:s, f)
 endfun

--- a/runtime/doc/pi_netrw.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/pi_netrw.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*pi_netrw.txt*  For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2024 Oct 27
+*pi_netrw.txt*  For Vim version 9.1.  Last change: 2024 Oct 31
 
 	    ------------------------------------------------
 	    NETRW REFERENCE MANUAL    by Charles E. Campbell
@@ -1469,7 +1469,6 @@ With either form of the command, netrw w
 that the removal is in fact what you want to do.  If netrw doesn't have
 permission to remove a file, it will issue an error message.
 
-                                                *netrw-gx* *Open* *Launch*
 CUSTOMIZING BROWSING WITH A SPECIAL HANDLER	*netrw-x* *netrw-handler* {{{2
 
 Certain files, such as html, gif, jpeg, (word/office) doc, etc, files, are
@@ -1479,7 +1478,7 @@ operating system).  Netrw allows one to 
         * hitting gx with the cursor atop the file path or alternatively x
           in a netrw buffer; the former can be disabled by defining the
           |g:netrw_nogx| variable
-        * when in command line, typing :Open <path>
+        * when in command line, typing :Open <path>, see |:Open| below.
 
 One may also use visual mode (see |visual-start|) to select the text that the
 special handler will use.  Normally gx checks for a close-by URL or file name
@@ -1490,47 +1489,54 @@ select the text to be used by gx by maki
 |visual-block|) and then pressing gx.
 
 The selection function can be adapted for each filetype by adding a function
-Netrw_get_URL_<filetype>, where <filetype> is given by &filetype.
+`Netrw_get_URL_<filetype>`, where <filetype> is given by the 'filetype'.
 The function should return the URL or file name to be used by gx, and will
 fall back to the default behavior if it returns an empty string.
 For example, special handlers for links Markdown and HTML are
->
-" make gx work on concealed links regardless of exact cursor position
-function Netrw_get_URL_markdown()
-  " markdown URL such as [link text](http://ya.ru 'yandex search')
-  try
-    let save_view = winsaveview()
-    if searchpair('\[.\{-}\](', '', ')\zs', 'cbW', '', line('.')) > 0
-      return matchstr(getline('.')[col('.')-1:], '\[.\{-}\](\zs' .. g:netrw_regex_url .. '\ze\(\s\+.\{-}\)\?)')
-    endif
-  finally
-    call winrestview(save_view)
-    return ''
-  endtry
-endfunction
-
-function Netrw_get_URL_html()
-  " HTML URL such as <a href='http://www.python.org'>Python is here</a>
-  "                  <a href="http://www.python.org"/>
-  try
-    let save_view = winsaveview()
-    if searchpair('<a\s\+href=', '', '\%(</a>\|/>\)\zs', 'cbW', '', line('.')) > 0
-      return matchstr(getline('.')[col('.') - 1 : ],
-            \ 'href=["'.."'"..']\?\zs\S\{-}\ze["'.."'"..']\?/\?>')
-    endif
-  finally
-    call winrestview(save_view)
-    return ''
-  endtry
-endfunction
+
+" make gx work on concealed links regardless of exact cursor position: >
+
+  function Netrw_get_URL_markdown()
+    " markdown URL such as [link text](http://ya.ru 'yandex search')
+    try
+      let save_view = winsaveview()
+      if searchpair('\[.\{-}\](', '', ')\zs', 'cbW', '', line('.')) > 0
+        return matchstr(getline('.')[col('.')-1:],
+          \ '\[.\{-}\](\zs' .. g:netrw_regex_url .. '\ze\(\s\+.\{-}\)\?)')
+      endif
+    finally
+      call winrestview(save_view)
+      return ''
+    endtry
+  endfunction
+
+  function Netrw_get_URL_html()
+    " HTML URL such as <a href='http://www.python.org'>Python is here</a>
+    "                  <a href="http://www.python.org"/>
+    try
+      let save_view = winsaveview()
+      if searchpair('<a\s\+href=', '', '\%(</a>\|/>\)\zs', 'cbW', '', line('.')) > 0
+        return matchstr(getline('.')[col('.') - 1 : ],
+          \ 'href=["'.."'"..']\?\zs\S\{-}\ze["'.."'"..']\?/\?>')
+      endif
+    finally
+      call winrestview(save_view)
+      return ''
+    endtry
+  endfunction
 <
-
 Other than a file path, the text under the cursor may be a URL.  Netrw uses
 by default the following regular expression to determine if the text under the
 cursor is a URL:
 >
-	g:netrw_regex_url = '\%(\%(http\|ftp\|irc\)s\?\|file\)://\S\{-}'
+  :let g:netrw_regex_url = '\%(\%(http\|ftp\|irc\)s\?\|file\)://\S\{-}'
 <
+Associated setting variables:
+	|g:netrw_gx|	control how gx picks up the text under the cursor
+	|g:netrw_nogx|	prevent gx map while editing
+	|g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg| controls gx's suppression of browser messages
+
+OPENING FILES AND LAUNCHING APPS                 *netrw-gx* *:Open* *:Launch* {{{2
 
 Netrw determines which special handler by the following method:
 
@@ -1544,24 +1550,25 @@ Netrw determines which special handler b
     * for Mac OS X			: open is used.
     * for Linux				: xdg-open is used.
 
-To open a file <filepath> by the appropriate handler, type
-
-	:Open <filepath>
-
-No escaping, neither for the shell, nor for Vim's command-line is needed.
-
-To launch a specific application <app> <args>, often <args> being <filepath>,
-
-	:Launch <app> <args>.
+To open a path (or URL) <path> by the appropriate handler, type >
+
+    :Open <path>
+<
+No escaping, neither for the shell nor for Vim's command-line, is needed.
+
+To launch a specific application <app> <args>, often <args> being <path> >
+
+    :Launch <app> <args>.
 
 Since <args> can be arbitrarily complex, in particular contain many file
 paths, the escaping is left to the user.
 
-Associated setting variables:
-	|g:netrw_gx|	control how gx picks up the text under the cursor
-	|g:netrw_nogx|	prevent gx map while editing
-	|g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg| controls gx's suppression of browser messages
-
+If you disabled the netrw plugin by setting g:loaded_netrwPlugin (see
+|netrw-noload|), then you can use >
+
+    :call netrw#Launch('<app> <args>')
+    :call netrw#Open('<path>')
+<
 							*netrw-curdir*
 DELETING BOOKMARKS					*netrw-mB* {{{2
 

--- a/runtime/doc/tags
+++ b/runtime/doc/tags
@@ -2129,6 +2129,7 @@ 90.5	usr_90.txt	/*90.5*
 :LP	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LP*
 :LPE	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LPE*
 :LPF	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LPF*
+:Launch	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Launch*
 :Lexplore	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Lexplore*
 :Lfilter	quickfix.txt	/*:Lfilter*
 :LogiPat	pi_logipat.txt	/*:LogiPat*
@@ -2146,6 +2147,7 @@ 90.5	usr_90.txt	/*90.5*
 :Ntree	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Ntree*
 :Nw	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Nw*
 :Nwrite	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Nwrite*
+:Open	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Open*
 :Over	terminal.txt	/*:Over*
 :P	various.txt	/*:P*
 :Pexplore	pi_netrw.txt	/*:Pexplore*
@@ -5566,7 +5568,6 @@ KeyInputPre	autocmd.txt	/*KeyInputPre*
 Kibaale	uganda.txt	/*Kibaale*
 Korean	mbyte.txt	/*Korean*
 L	motion.txt	/*L*
-Launch	pi_netrw.txt	/*Launch*
 Linux-backspace	options.txt	/*Linux-backspace*
 List	eval.txt	/*List*
 Lists	eval.txt	/*Lists*
@@ -5622,7 +5623,6 @@ OS390-open-source	os_390.txt	/*OS390-ope
 Object	vim9class.txt	/*Object*
 OffTheSpot	mbyte.txt	/*OffTheSpot*
 OnTheSpot	mbyte.txt	/*OnTheSpot*
-Open	pi_netrw.txt	/*Open*
 Operator-pending	intro.txt	/*Operator-pending*
 Operator-pending-mode	intro.txt	/*Operator-pending-mode*
 OptionSet	autocmd.txt	/*OptionSet*

--- a/runtime/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
+++ b/runtime/plugin/netrwPlugin.vim
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 "   2024 May 08 by Vim Project: cleanup legacy Win9X checks
 "   2024 Oct 27 by Vim Project: cleanup gx mapping
 "   2024 Oct 28 by Vim Project: further improvements
+"   2024 Oct 31 by Vim Project: use autoloaded functions
 " Former Maintainer:   Charles E Campbell
 " GetLatestVimScripts: 1075 1 :AutoInstall: netrw.vim
 " Copyright:    Copyright (C) 1999-2021 Charles E. Campbell {{{1
@@ -34,84 +35,8 @@ set cpo&vim
 " Public Interface: {{{1
 
 " Commands Launch/URL {{{2
-" surpress output of command; use bang for GUI applications
-
-func s:redir()
-  " set up redirection (avoids browser messages)
-  " by default if not set, g:netrw_suppress_gx_mesg is true
-  if get(g:, 'netrw_suppress_gx_mesg', 1)
-    if &srr =~# "%s"
-      return printf(&srr, has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
-    else
-      return &srr .. (has("win32") ? "nul" : "/dev/null")
-    endif
-  endif
-  return ''
-endfunc
-
-if has('unix')
-  if has('win32unix')
-    " If cygstart provided, then assume Cygwin and use cygstart --hide; see man cygstart.
-    if executable('cygstart')
-      command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
-          \ exe 'silent ! cygstart --hide' trim(<q-args>)  s:redir() | redraw!
-    elseif !empty($MSYSTEM) && executable('start')
-      " MSYS2/Git Bash comes by default without cygstart; see
-      " https://www.msys2.org/wiki/How-does-MSYS2-differ-from-Cygwin
-      " Instead it provides /usr/bin/start script running `cmd.exe //c start`
-      " Adding "" //b` sets void title, hides cmd window and blocks path conversion
-      " of /b to \b\ " by MSYS2; see https://www.msys2.org/docs/filesystem-paths/
-      command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
-            \ exe 'silent !start "" //b' trim(<q-args>)  s:redir() | redraw!
-    else
-      " imitate /usr/bin/start script for other environments and hope for the best
-      command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
-            \ exe 'silent !cmd //c start "" //b' trim(<q-args>)  s:redir() | redraw!
-    endif
-  elseif exists('$WSL_DISTRO_NAME') " use cmd.exe to start GUI apps in WSL
-    command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch execute ':silent !'..
-          \ ((<q-args> =~? '\v<\f+\.(exe|com|bat|cmd)>') ?
-            \ 'cmd.exe /c start "" /b' trim(<q-args>) :
-            \ 'nohup ' trim(<q-args>) s:redir() '&')
-          \ | redraw!
-  else
-    command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
-        \ exe ':silent ! nohup' trim(<q-args>) s:redir() '&' | redraw!
-  endif
-elseif has('win32')
-  command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1 -bang Launch
-        \ exe 'silent !'.. (&shell =~? '\<cmd\.exe\>' ? '' : 'cmd.exe /c')
-        \ 'start /b ' trim(<q-args>) s:redir() | redraw!
-endif
-if exists(':Launch') == 2
-  " Git Bash
-  if has('win32unix')
-      " start suffices
-      let s:cmd = ''
-  " Windows / WSL
-  elseif executable('explorer.exe')
-      let s:cmd = 'explorer.exe'
-  " Linux / BSD
-  elseif executable('xdg-open')
-      let s:cmd = 'xdg-open'
-  " MacOS
-  elseif executable('open')
-      let s:cmd = 'open'
-  endif
-  function s:Open(file)
-    if !exists('s:cmd') && !exists('g:netrw_browsex_viewer')
-      echoerr "No program to open this path found. See :help Open for more information."
-    else
-      exe 'Launch' s:cmd shellescape(a:file, 1)
-    endif
-  endfunction
-  command -complete=file -nargs=1 Open call s:Open(<q-args>)
-endif
-
-if !exists('g:netrw_regex_url')
-  let g:netrw_regex_url = '\%(\%(http\|ftp\|irc\)s\?\|file\)://\S\{-}'
-endif
-
+command -complete=shellcmd -nargs=1   Launch  call netrw#Launch(trim(<q-args>))
+command -complete=file     -nargs=1   Open    call netrw#Open(trim(<q-args>))
 " " }}}
 " Local Browsing Autocmds: {{{2
 augroup FileExplorer