diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 585cd97..ff8c5ca 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,4 +20,6 @@ postage = "0.4.1"
 futures = "0.3.18"
 glib = "0.14.8" 
 # examples/gtklauncher
-once_cell = "1.8.0"
\ No newline at end of file
+once_cell = "1.8.0"
+xdg = "2.4.0"
+serde = "1.0.130"
diff --git a/examples/app_library/app_group/imp.rs b/examples/app_library/app_group/imp.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73b1ca3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/app_library/app_group/imp.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+use glib::{FromVariant, ParamFlags, ParamSpec, ToVariant, Value, Variant, VariantTy};
+use gtk4::glib;
+use gtk4::prelude::*;
+use gtk4::subclass::prelude::*;
+use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
+
+use std::cell::RefCell;
+use std::rc::Rc;
+
+use super::AppGroupData;
+
+// Object holding the state
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct AppGroup {
+    data: Rc<RefCell<AppGroupData>>,
+}
+
+// The central trait for subclassing a GObject
+#[glib::object_subclass]
+impl ObjectSubclass for AppGroup {
+    const NAME: &'static str = "AppGroup";
+    type Type = super::AppGroup;
+    type ParentType = glib::Object;
+}
+
+// Trait shared by all GObjects
+impl ObjectImpl for AppGroup {
+    fn properties() -> &'static [ParamSpec] {
+        static PROPERTIES: Lazy<Vec<ParamSpec>> = Lazy::new(|| {
+            vec![
+                ParamSpec::new_uint(
+                    // Name
+                    "id",
+                    // Nickname
+                    "id",
+                    // Short description
+                    "Name of the application group",
+                    0,
+                    u32::MAX,
+                    // Default value
+                    0,
+                    // The property can be read and written to
+                    ParamFlags::READWRITE,
+                ),
+                ParamSpec::new_string(
+                    // Name
+                    "name",
+                    // Nickname
+                    "name",
+                    // Short description
+                    "Name of the application group",
+                    // Default value
+                    Some(""),
+                    // The property can be read and written to
+                    ParamFlags::READWRITE,
+                ),
+                ParamSpec::new_boolean(
+                    // Name
+                    "mutable",
+                    // Nickname
+                    "mutable",
+                    // Short description
+                    "Mutability of the application group",
+                    // Default value
+                    false,
+                    // The property can be read and written to
+                    ParamFlags::READWRITE,
+                ),
+                ParamSpec::new_string(
+                    // Name
+                    "icon",
+                    // Nickname
+                    "icon",
+                    // Short description
+                    "Icon of application Group",
+                    // Default value
+                    Some("folder"),
+                    // The property can be read and written to
+                    ParamFlags::READWRITE,
+                ),
+                ParamSpec::new_string(
+                    // Name
+                    "category",
+                    // Nickname
+                    "category",
+                    // Short description
+                    "Category of application Group",
+                    // Default value
+                    None,
+                    // The property can be read and written to
+                    ParamFlags::READWRITE,
+                ),
+                ParamSpec::new_variant(
+                    // Name
+                    "appnames",
+                    // Nickname
+                    "appnames",
+                    // Short description
+                    "Names of applications in the App Group",
+                    VariantTy::new("as").expect("Oops invalid string for VariantTy tuple."),
+                    // Default value
+                    None,
+                    // The property can be read and written to
+                    ParamFlags::READWRITE,
+                ),
+            ]
+        });
+        PROPERTIES.as_ref()
+    }
+
+    fn set_property(&self, _obj: &Self::Type, _id: usize, value: &Value, pspec: &ParamSpec) {
+        match pspec.name() {
+            "id" => {
+                let id = value.get().expect("The value needs to be of type `u32`.");
+                self.data.borrow_mut().id = id;
+            }
+            "name" => {
+                let name = value
+                    .get()
+                    .expect("The value needs to be of type `String`.");
+                self.data.borrow_mut().name = name;
+            }
+            "icon" => {
+                let icon = value.get().expect("The icon needs to be of type `String`");
+                self.data.borrow_mut().icon = icon;
+            }
+            "category" => {
+                let category = value
+                    .get()
+                    .expect("The category needs to be of type `String`");
+                self.data.borrow_mut().category = category;
+            }
+            "mutable" => {
+                let mutable = value
+                    .get()
+                    .expect("The mutable property needs to be of type `bool`");
+                self.data.borrow_mut().mutable = mutable;
+            }
+            "appnames" => {
+                let appnames = <Vec<String>>::from_variant(
+                    &value
+                        .get::<Variant>()
+                        .expect("The icon needs to be a Variant"),
+                )
+                .expect("The icon variant needs to be a Vec<String>");
+                self.data.borrow_mut().app_names = appnames;
+            }
+            _ => unimplemented!(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn property(&self, _obj: &Self::Type, _id: usize, pspec: &ParamSpec) -> Value {
+        match pspec.name() {
+            "id" => self.data.borrow().id.to_value(),
+            "name" => self.data.borrow().name.to_value(),
+            "icon" => self.data.borrow().icon.to_value(),
+            "mutable" => self.data.borrow().mutable.to_value(),
+            "category" => self.data.borrow().category.to_value(),
+            "appnames" => self.data.borrow().app_names.to_variant().to_value(),
+            _ => unimplemented!(),
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/examples/app_library/app_group/mod.rs b/examples/app_library/app_group/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8f2cc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/app_library/app_group/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+mod imp;
+
+use gdk4::glib::Object;
+use glib::ObjectExt;
+use glib::ToVariant;
+use gtk4::glib;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+glib::wrapper! {
+    pub struct AppGroup(ObjectSubclass<imp::AppGroup>);
+}
+
+impl AppGroup {
+    pub fn new(data: AppGroupData) -> Self {
+        let self_: Self = Object::new(&[
+            ("id", &data.id),
+            ("name", &data.name),
+            ("mutable", &data.mutable),
+            ("icon", &data.icon),
+            ("category", &data.category),
+        ])
+        .expect("Failed to create `ApplicationObject`.");
+        if let Err(e) = self_.set_property("appnames", data.app_names.to_variant()) {
+            println!("failed to set category icon property");
+            dbg!(e);
+        };
+        self_
+    }
+}
+
+// Object holding the state
+#[derive(Default, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
+pub struct AppGroupData {
+    pub id: u32,
+    pub name: String,
+    pub icon: String,
+    pub mutable: bool,
+    pub app_names: Vec<String>,
+    pub category: String,
+}
diff --git a/examples/app_library/app_item/mod.rs b/examples/app_library/app_item/mod.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 2a16d53..0000000
--- a/examples/app_library/app_item/mod.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-use gtk4 as gtk;
-mod imp;
-
-use gtk::prelude::*;
-use gtk::subclass::prelude::*;
-use gtk::{gio, glib};
-
-glib::wrapper! {
-    pub struct AppItem(ObjectSubclass<imp::AppItem>)
-        @extends gtk::Widget, gtk::Box;
-}
-
-impl Default for AppItem {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        Self::new()
-    }
-}
-
-impl AppItem {
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
-        glib::Object::new(&[]).expect("Failed to create AppItem")
-    }
-
-    pub fn set_app_info(&self, app_info: &gio::AppInfo) {
-        let self_ = imp::AppItem::from_instance(self);
-        self_.name.set_text(&app_info.name());
-        if let Some(icon) = app_info.icon() {
-            self_.image.set_from_gicon(&icon);
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/examples/app_library/app_item/app_item.ui b/examples/app_library/grid_item/grid_item.ui
similarity index 94%
rename from examples/app_library/app_item/app_item.ui
rename to examples/app_library/grid_item/grid_item.ui
index c418e0a..6c9d582 100644
--- a/examples/app_library/app_item/app_item.ui
+++ b/examples/app_library/grid_item/grid_item.ui
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <interface>
-  <template class="AppItem" parent="GtkBox">
+  <template class="GridItem" parent="GtkBox">
     <property name="orientation">vertical</property>
     <property name="halign">center</property>
     <property name="hexpand">true</property>
diff --git a/examples/app_library/app_item/imp.rs b/examples/app_library/grid_item/imp.rs
similarity index 67%
rename from examples/app_library/app_item/imp.rs
rename to examples/app_library/grid_item/imp.rs
index 01812af..2e7b3b6 100644
--- a/examples/app_library/app_item/imp.rs
+++ b/examples/app_library/grid_item/imp.rs
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ use gtk4 as gtk;
 use gtk::CompositeTemplate;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Default, CompositeTemplate)]
-#[template(file = "app_item.ui")]
-pub struct AppItem {
+#[template(file = "grid_item.ui")]
+pub struct GridItem {
     #[template_child]
     pub name: TemplateChild<gtk::Label>,
     #[template_child]
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ pub struct AppItem {
 }
 
 #[glib::object_subclass]
-impl ObjectSubclass for AppItem {
-    const NAME: &'static str = "AppItem";
-    type Type = super::AppItem;
+impl ObjectSubclass for GridItem {
+    const NAME: &'static str = "GridItem";
+    type Type = super::GridItem;
     type ParentType = gtk::Box;
 
     fn class_init(klass: &mut Self::Class) {
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ impl ObjectSubclass for AppItem {
     }
 }
 
-impl ObjectImpl for AppItem {}
-impl WidgetImpl for AppItem {}
-impl BoxImpl for AppItem {}
+impl ObjectImpl for GridItem {}
+impl WidgetImpl for GridItem {}
+impl BoxImpl for GridItem {}
diff --git a/examples/app_library/grid_item/mod.rs b/examples/app_library/grid_item/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6db1ec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/app_library/grid_item/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+use crate::app_group::AppGroup;
+use gtk4 as gtk;
+mod imp;
+
+use gtk::prelude::*;
+use gtk::subclass::prelude::*;
+use gtk::{gio, glib};
+
+glib::wrapper! {
+    pub struct GridItem(ObjectSubclass<imp::GridItem>)
+        @extends gtk::Widget, gtk::Box;
+}
+
+impl Default for GridItem {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
+impl GridItem {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        glib::Object::new(&[]).expect("Failed to create GridItem")
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_app_info(&self, app_info: &gio::DesktopAppInfo) {
+        let self_ = imp::GridItem::from_instance(self);
+        self_.name.set_text(&app_info.name());
+        if let Some(icon) = app_info.icon() {
+            self_.image.set_from_gicon(&icon);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_group_info(&self, app_group: AppGroup) {
+        let self_ = imp::GridItem::from_instance(self);
+        if let Ok(name) = app_group.property("name") {
+            self_.name.set_text(
+                &name
+                    .get::<String>()
+                    .expect("property name needs to be a string."),
+            );
+        }
+        if let Ok(icon) = app_group.property("icon") {
+            &self_.image.set_from_icon_name(Some(
+                &icon
+                    .get::<String>()
+                    .expect("Property name needs to be a String."),
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/examples/app_library/main.rs b/examples/app_library/main.rs
index e2f536f..88a17f8 100644
--- a/examples/app_library/main.rs
+++ b/examples/app_library/main.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-mod app_item;
+mod app_group;
+mod grid_item;
 mod window;
 
 use gtk::gdk::Display;
diff --git a/examples/app_library/window/imp.rs b/examples/app_library/window/imp.rs
index 1e44932..889249d 100644
--- a/examples/app_library/window/imp.rs
+++ b/examples/app_library/window/imp.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 use gtk4 as gtk;
+use std::cell::RefCell;
+use std::rc::Rc;
 
 use glib::subclass::InitializingObject;
 use gtk::prelude::*;
@@ -16,6 +18,9 @@ pub struct Window {
     #[template_child]
     pub app_grid_view: TemplateChild<GridView>,
     pub app_model: OnceCell<gio::ListStore>,
+    #[template_child]
+    pub group_grid_view: TemplateChild<GridView>,
+    pub group_model: OnceCell<gio::ListStore>,
 }
 
 // The central trait for subclassing a GObject
diff --git a/examples/app_library/window/mod.rs b/examples/app_library/window/mod.rs
index e173a35..141567b 100644
--- a/examples/app_library/window/mod.rs
+++ b/examples/app_library/window/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 mod imp;
+use crate::app_group::AppGroup;
+use crate::app_group::AppGroupData;
 use gtk4 as gtk;
+use std::path::Path;
 
-use crate::app_item::AppItem;
+use crate::grid_item::GridItem;
 use glib::Object;
 use gtk::prelude::*;
 use gtk::subclass::prelude::*;
@@ -36,21 +39,40 @@ impl Window {
 
     fn setup_model(&self) {
         // Create new model
-        let model = gio::ListStore::new(gio::AppInfo::static_type());
-        gio::AppInfo::all().iter().for_each(|app_info| {
-            model.append(app_info);
-        });
-
+        let app_model = gio::ListStore::new(gio::DesktopAppInfo::static_type());
         // Get state and set model
         let imp = imp::Window::from_instance(self);
         imp.app_model
-            .set(model.clone())
+            .set(app_model.clone())
             .expect("Could not set model");
 
         // A sorter used to sort AppInfo in the model by their name
+        xdg::BaseDirectories::new()
+            .expect("could not access XDG Base directory")
+            .get_data_dirs()
+            .iter_mut()
+            .for_each(|xdg_data_path| {
+                xdg_data_path.push("applications");
+                if let Ok(dir_iter) = std::fs::read_dir(xdg_data_path) {
+                    dir_iter.for_each(|dir_entry| {
+                        if let Ok(dir_entry) = dir_entry {
+                            if let Some(path) = dir_entry.path().file_name() {
+                                if let Some(path) = path.to_str() {
+                                    if let Some(app_info) = gio::DesktopAppInfo::new(path) {
+                                        if !app_info.should_show() {
+                                            app_model.append(&app_info)
+                                        };
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    })
+                }
+            });
+
         let sorter = gtk::CustomSorter::new(move |obj1, obj2| {
-            let app_info1 = obj1.downcast_ref::<gio::AppInfo>().unwrap();
-            let app_info2 = obj2.downcast_ref::<gio::AppInfo>().unwrap();
+            let app_info1 = obj1.downcast_ref::<gio::DesktopAppInfo>().unwrap();
+            let app_info2 = obj2.downcast_ref::<gio::DesktopAppInfo>().unwrap();
 
             app_info1
                 .name()
@@ -59,12 +81,49 @@ impl Window {
                 .into()
         });
         let filter = gtk::CustomFilter::new(|_obj| true);
-        let filter_model = gtk::FilterListModel::new(Some(&model), Some(filter).as_ref());
+        let filter_model = gtk::FilterListModel::new(Some(&app_model), Some(filter).as_ref());
         let sorted_model = gtk::SortListModel::new(Some(&filter_model), Some(&sorter));
         let selection_model = gtk::SingleSelection::new(Some(&sorted_model));
 
         // Wrap model with selection and pass it to the list view
         imp.app_grid_view.set_model(Some(&selection_model));
+
+        let group_model = gio::ListStore::new(AppGroup::static_type());
+        imp.group_model
+            .set(group_model.clone())
+            .expect("Could not set group model");
+        vec![
+            AppGroup::new(AppGroupData {
+                id: 0,
+                name: "Library Home".to_string(),
+                icon: "user-home".to_string(),
+                mutable: false,
+                app_names: Vec::new(),
+                category: "".to_string(),
+            }),
+            AppGroup::new(AppGroupData {
+                id: 0,
+                name: "System".to_string(),
+                icon: "folder".to_string(),
+                mutable: false,
+                app_names: Vec::new(),
+                category: "System".to_string(),
+            }),
+            AppGroup::new(AppGroupData {
+                id: 0,
+                name: "Utilities".to_string(),
+                icon: "folder".to_string(),
+                mutable: false,
+                app_names: Vec::new(),
+                category: "Utility".to_string(),
+            }),
+        ]
+        .iter()
+        .for_each(|group| {
+            group_model.append(group);
+        });
+        imp.group_grid_view
+            .set_model(Some(&gtk4::SingleSelection::new(Some(&group_model))));
     }
 
     fn setup_callbacks(&self) {
@@ -94,7 +153,7 @@ impl Window {
             let app_info = model
                 .item(position)
                 .unwrap()
-                .downcast::<gio::AppInfo>()
+                .downcast::<gio::DesktopAppInfo>()
                 .unwrap();
 
             let context = grid_view.display().app_launch_context();
@@ -116,14 +175,14 @@ impl Window {
             glib::clone!(@weak filter_model, @weak sorted_model => move |search: &gtk::SearchEntry| {
                 let search_text = search.text().to_string().to_lowercase();
                 let new_filter: gtk::CustomFilter = gtk::CustomFilter::new(move |obj| {
-                    let search_res = obj.downcast_ref::<gio::AppInfo>()
+                    let search_res = obj.downcast_ref::<gio::DesktopAppInfo>()
                         .expect("The Object needs to be of type AppInfo");
                     search_res.name().to_string().to_lowercase().contains(&search_text)
                 });
                 let search_text = search.text().to_string().to_lowercase();
                 let new_sorter: gtk::CustomSorter = gtk::CustomSorter::new(move |obj1, obj2| {
-                    let app_info1 = obj1.downcast_ref::<gio::AppInfo>().unwrap();
-                    let app_info2 = obj2.downcast_ref::<gio::AppInfo>().unwrap();
+                    let app_info1 = obj1.downcast_ref::<gio::DesktopAppInfo>().unwrap();
+                    let app_info2 = obj2.downcast_ref::<gio::DesktopAppInfo>().unwrap();
                     if search_text == "" {
                         return app_info1
                             .name()
@@ -181,25 +240,41 @@ impl Window {
     }
 
     fn setup_factory(&self) {
-        let factory = SignalListItemFactory::new();
-        factory.connect_setup(move |_factory, item| {
-            let row = AppItem::new();
+        let app_factory = SignalListItemFactory::new();
+        app_factory.connect_setup(move |_factory, item| {
+            let row = GridItem::new();
             item.set_child(Some(&row));
         });
 
         // the bind stage is used for "binding" the data to the created widgets on the "setup" stage
-        factory.connect_bind(move |_factory, grid_item| {
+        app_factory.connect_bind(move |_factory, grid_item| {
             let app_info = grid_item
                 .item()
                 .unwrap()
-                .downcast::<gio::AppInfo>()
+                .downcast::<gio::DesktopAppInfo>()
                 .unwrap();
 
-            let child = grid_item.child().unwrap().downcast::<AppItem>().unwrap();
+            let child = grid_item.child().unwrap().downcast::<GridItem>().unwrap();
             child.set_app_info(&app_info);
         });
         // Set the factory of the list view
         let imp = imp::Window::from_instance(self);
-        imp.app_grid_view.set_factory(Some(&factory));
+        imp.app_grid_view.set_factory(Some(&app_factory));
+
+        let group_factory = SignalListItemFactory::new();
+        group_factory.connect_setup(move |_factory, item| {
+            let row = GridItem::new();
+            item.set_child(Some(&row));
+        });
+
+        // the bind stage is used for "binding" the data to the created widgets on the "setup" stage
+        group_factory.connect_bind(move |_factory, grid_item| {
+            let group_info = grid_item.item().unwrap().downcast::<AppGroup>().unwrap();
+
+            let child = grid_item.child().unwrap().downcast::<GridItem>().unwrap();
+            child.set_group_info(group_info);
+        });
+        // Set the factory of the list view
+        imp.group_grid_view.set_factory(Some(&group_factory));
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/app_library/window/window.ui b/examples/app_library/window/window.ui
index f37b2f7..b055eb3 100644
--- a/examples/app_library/window/window.ui
+++ b/examples/app_library/window/window.ui
@@ -44,19 +44,11 @@
           </object>
         </child>
         <child>
-          <object class="GtkScrolledWindow">
-            <property name="hscrollbar-policy">never</property>
-            <property name="min-content-height">100</property>
-            <property name="max-content-height">200</property>
-            <property name="vexpand">true</property>
-            <child>
-              <object class="GtkGridView" id="group_grid_view">
-                <property name="min-columns">8</property>
-                <property name="max-columns">8</property>
-                <property name="single-click-activate">true</property>
-                <property name="enable-rubberband">true</property>
-              </object>
-            </child>
+          <object class="GtkGridView" id="group_grid_view">
+            <property name="min-columns">8</property>
+            <property name="max-columns">8</property>
+            <property name="single-click-activate">true</property>
+            <property name="enable-rubberband">true</property>
           </object>
         </child>
       </object>