diff --git a/applets/CMakeLists.txt b/applets/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/applets/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/applets/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 plasma_install_package(panelspacer org.kde.plasma.panelspacer)
 plasma_install_package(lock_logout org.kde.plasma.lock_logout)
 
+add_subdirectory(appmenu)
 add_subdirectory(systemmonitor)
 add_subdirectory(batterymonitor)
 add_subdirectory(calendar)
diff --git a/applets/appmenu/CMakeLists.txt b/applets/appmenu/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applets/appmenu/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+set(appmenuapplet_SRCS
+    appmenuapplet.cpp
+)
+
+add_library(plasma_applet_appmenu MODULE ${appmenuapplet_SRCS})
+
+kcoreaddons_desktop_to_json(plasma_applet_appmenu package/metadata.desktop)
+
+target_link_libraries(plasma_applet_appmenu
+                      Qt5::Widgets
+                      Qt5::Quick
+                      KF5::Plasma
+                      KF5::WindowSystem
+                      dbusmenu-qt5)
+
+if(HAVE_X11)
+    target_link_libraries(plasma_applet_appmenu Qt5::X11Extras XCB::XCB)
+endif()
+
+install(TARGETS plasma_applet_appmenu DESTINATION ${PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR}/plasma/applets)
+
+plasma_install_package(package org.kde.plasma.appmenu)
diff --git a/applets/appmenu/Messages.sh b/applets/appmenu/Messages.sh
new file mode 100755
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applets/appmenu/Messages.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#! /usr/bin/env bash
+$EXTRACTRC `find . -name \*.rc -o -name \*.ui -o -name \*.kcfg` >> rc.cpp
+$XGETTEXT `find . -name \*.js -o -name \*.qml -o -name \*.cpp` -o $podir/plasma_applet_org.kde.plasma.appmenu.pot
+rm -f rc.cpp
diff --git a/applets/appmenu/appmenuapplet.h b/applets/appmenu/appmenuapplet.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applets/appmenu/appmenuapplet.h
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016 Kai Uwe Broulik <kde@privat.broulik.de>
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of
+ * the License or (at your option) version 3 or any later version
+ * accepted by the membership of KDE e.V. (or its successor approved
+ * by the membership of KDE e.V.), which shall act as a proxy
+ * defined in Section 14 of version 3 of the license.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Plasma/Applet>
+#include <QPointer>
+
+class KDBusMenuImporter;
+class QQuickItem;
+class QMenu;
+
+class AppMenuApplet : public Plasma::Applet
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+
+    // FIXME HACK just for testing
+    Q_PROPERTY(QStringList menu READ menu NOTIFY menuChanged)
+
+    Q_PROPERTY(int currentIndex READ currentIndex NOTIFY currentIndexChanged)
+
+    Q_PROPERTY(QQuickItem *buttonGrid READ buttonGrid WRITE setButtonGrid NOTIFY buttonGridChanged)
+
+public:
+    explicit AppMenuApplet(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &data);
+    ~AppMenuApplet() override;
+
+    void init() override;
+
+    QStringList menu() const;
+
+    int currentIndex() const;
+
+    QQuickItem *buttonGrid() const;
+    void setButtonGrid(QQuickItem *buttonGrid);
+
+    Q_INVOKABLE void trigger(QQuickItem *ctx, int index);
+
+signals:
+    void menuChanged();
+    void currentIndexChanged();
+    void buttonGridChanged();
+
+    void requestActivateIndex(int index);
+
+protected:
+    bool eventFilter(QObject *watched, QEvent *event);
+
+private:
+    void onActiveWindowChanged(WId id);
+
+    void setCurrentIndex(int currentIndex);
+
+    void updateMenu(const QString &serviceName, const QString &menuObjectPath);
+
+    void onMenuAboutToHide();
+
+    KDBusMenuImporter *m_importer = nullptr;
+
+    QString m_serviceName;
+    QString m_menuObjectPath;
+
+    QStringList m_menu;
+
+    QPointer<QMenu> m_currentMenu;
+    int m_currentIndex = -1;
+
+    QQuickItem *m_buttonGrid = nullptr; // QPointer?
+
+};
diff --git a/applets/appmenu/appmenuapplet.cpp b/applets/appmenu/appmenuapplet.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applets/appmenu/appmenuapplet.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,371 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016 Kai Uwe Broulik <kde@privat.broulik.de>
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of
+ * the License or (at your option) version 3 or any later version
+ * accepted by the membership of KDE e.V. (or its successor approved
+ * by the membership of KDE e.V.), which shall act as a proxy
+ * defined in Section 14 of version 3 of the license.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ */
+
+#include "appmenuapplet.h"
+
+#include <config-X11.h>
+
+#include <QAction>
+#include <QKeyEvent>
+#include <QMenu>
+#include <QMouseEvent>
+#include <QQuickItem>
+#include <QQuickWindow>
+#include <QScreen>
+
+#include <KWindowSystem>
+
+#if HAVE_X11
+#include <QX11Info>
+#include <xcb/xcb.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <QDebug>
+
+#include <dbusmenuimporter.h>
+
+static const QByteArray s_x11AppMenuServiceNamePropertyName = QByteArrayLiteral("_KDE_NET_WM_APPMENU_SERVICE_NAME");
+static const QByteArray s_x11AppMenuObjectPathPropertyName = QByteArrayLiteral("_KDE_NET_WM_APPMENU_OBJECT_PATH");
+
+class KDBusMenuImporter : public DBusMenuImporter
+{
+
+public:
+    KDBusMenuImporter(const QString &service, const QString &path, QObject *parent)
+        : DBusMenuImporter(service, path, ASYNCHRONOUS, parent)
+    {
+
+    }
+
+protected:
+    QIcon iconForName(const QString &name) override
+    {
+        return QIcon::fromTheme(name);
+    }
+
+};
+
+AppMenuApplet::AppMenuApplet(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &data)
+    : Plasma::Applet(parent, data)
+{
+
+}
+
+AppMenuApplet::~AppMenuApplet() = default;
+
+QStringList AppMenuApplet::menu() const
+{
+    return m_menu;
+}
+
+int AppMenuApplet::currentIndex() const
+{
+    return m_currentIndex;
+}
+
+void AppMenuApplet::setCurrentIndex(int currentIndex)
+{
+    if (m_currentIndex != currentIndex) {
+        m_currentIndex = currentIndex;
+        emit currentIndexChanged();
+    }
+}
+
+QQuickItem *AppMenuApplet::buttonGrid() const
+{
+    return m_buttonGrid;
+}
+
+void AppMenuApplet::setButtonGrid(QQuickItem *buttonGrid)
+{
+    if (m_buttonGrid != buttonGrid) {
+        m_buttonGrid = buttonGrid;
+        emit buttonGridChanged();
+    }
+}
+
+void AppMenuApplet::init()
+{
+    // TODO Wayland PlasmaShellSurface stuff
+    connect(KWindowSystem::self(), &KWindowSystem::activeWindowChanged, this, &AppMenuApplet::onActiveWindowChanged);
+
+    onActiveWindowChanged(KWindowSystem::activeWindow());
+}
+
+void AppMenuApplet::onActiveWindowChanged(WId id)
+{
+    qDebug() << "active window changed" << id;
+
+#if HAVE_X11
+    if (KWindowSystem::isPlatformX11()) {
+        auto *c = QX11Info::connection();
+
+        auto getWindowPropertyString = [c](WId id, const QByteArray &name) -> QByteArray {
+            QByteArray value;
+
+            const xcb_intern_atom_cookie_t atomCookie = xcb_intern_atom(c, false, name.length(), name.constData());
+            QScopedPointer<xcb_intern_atom_reply_t, QScopedPointerPodDeleter> atomReply(xcb_intern_atom_reply(c, atomCookie, Q_NULLPTR));
+            if (atomReply.isNull()) {
+                return value;
+            }
+
+            static const long MAX_PROP_SIZE = 10000;
+            auto propertyCookie = xcb_get_property(c, false, id, atomReply->atom, XCB_ATOM_STRING, 0, MAX_PROP_SIZE);
+            QScopedPointer<xcb_get_property_reply_t, QScopedPointerPodDeleter> propertyReply(xcb_get_property_reply(c, propertyCookie, NULL));
+            if (propertyReply.isNull()) {
+                return value;
+            }
+
+            if (propertyReply->type == XCB_ATOM_STRING && propertyReply->format == 8 && propertyReply->value_len > 0) {
+                const char *data = (const char *) xcb_get_property_value(propertyReply.data());
+                int len = propertyReply->value_len;
+                if (data) {
+                    value = QByteArray(data, data[len - 1] ? len : len - 1);
+                }
+            }
+
+            return value;
+        };
+
+        auto updateMenuFromWindowIfHasMenu = [this, &getWindowPropertyString](WId id) {
+            const QString serviceName = QString::fromUtf8(getWindowPropertyString(id, s_x11AppMenuServiceNamePropertyName));
+            const QString menuObjectPath = QString::fromUtf8(getWindowPropertyString(id, s_x11AppMenuObjectPathPropertyName));
+
+            if (!serviceName.isEmpty() && !menuObjectPath.isEmpty()) {
+                updateMenu(serviceName, menuObjectPath);
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        };
+
+        KWindowInfo info(id, NET::WMState, NET::WM2TransientFor);
+        if (info.hasState(NET::SkipTaskbar) || info.windowType(NET::UtilityMask) == NET::Utility) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        WId transientId = info.transientFor();
+        // lok at transient windows first
+        while (transientId) {
+            if (updateMenuFromWindowIfHasMenu(transientId)) {
+                return;
+            }
+            transientId = KWindowInfo(transientId, 0, NET::WM2TransientFor).transientFor();
+        }
+
+        if (updateMenuFromWindowIfHasMenu(id)) {
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+#endif
+
+    // in doubt just clear the menu :/
+    m_menu.clear();
+    emit menuChanged();
+
+}
+
+void AppMenuApplet::updateMenu(const QString &serviceName, const QString &menuObjectPath)
+{
+    if (m_serviceName == serviceName && m_menuObjectPath == menuObjectPath) {
+        if (m_importer) {
+            QMetaObject::invokeMethod(m_importer, "updateMenu", Qt::QueuedConnection);
+        }
+        return;
+    }
+
+    setCurrentIndex(-1);
+
+    m_serviceName = serviceName;
+    m_menuObjectPath = menuObjectPath;
+
+    if (m_importer) {
+        m_importer->deleteLater();
+        m_importer = nullptr;
+    }
+
+    m_importer = new KDBusMenuImporter(serviceName, menuObjectPath, this);
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(m_importer, "updateMenu", Qt::QueuedConnection);
+
+    /*connect(m_menuImporter, &DBusMenuImporter::actionActivationRequested, this, [=](QAction *action) {
+        // else send request to kwin or others dbus interface registrars
+        m_waitingAction = action;
+        emit showRequest(serviceName, menuObjectPath);
+    });*/
+
+    connect(m_importer, &DBusMenuImporter::menuUpdated, this, [=] {
+        QMenu *menu = m_importer->menu();
+        if (!menu) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const auto &actions = menu->actions();
+        if (actions.isEmpty()) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const auto oldMenu = m_menu;
+
+        m_menu.clear();
+
+        for (QAction *action : actions) {
+            m_menu.append(action->text());
+        }
+
+        if (m_menu != oldMenu) {
+            emit menuChanged();
+        }
+    });
+
+    /*connect(m_importer, &DBusMenuImporter::actionActivationRequested, this, [this](QAction *action) {
+        qDebug() << "AKTION ACTI" << action->text();
+    });*/
+}
+
+void AppMenuApplet::trigger(QQuickItem *ctx, int index)
+{
+    if (!m_importer) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    QMenu *menu = m_importer->menu();
+    if (!menu) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    QAction *action = menu->actions().at(index);
+    if (!action) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (QMenu *actionMenu = action->menu()) {
+        if (m_currentIndex == index) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (ctx && ctx->window() && ctx->window()->mouseGrabberItem()) {
+            // FIXME event forge thing enters press and hold move mode :/
+            ctx->window()->mouseGrabberItem()->ungrabMouse();
+        }
+
+        const auto &geo = ctx->window()->screen()->availableVirtualGeometry();
+
+        QPoint pos = ctx->mapToGlobal(QPointF(0, 0)).toPoint();
+        if (location() == Plasma::Types::TopEdge) {
+            pos.setY(pos.y() + ctx->height());
+        }
+
+        actionMenu->adjustSize();
+
+        pos = QPoint(qBound(geo.x(), pos.x(), geo.x() + geo.width() - actionMenu->width()),
+                     qBound(geo.y(), pos.y(), geo.y() + geo.height() - actionMenu->height()));
+
+        actionMenu->installEventFilter(this);
+
+        QMenu *oldMenu = m_currentMenu;
+        m_currentMenu = actionMenu;
+
+        actionMenu->popup(pos);
+
+        // hide the old menu only after showing the new one to avoid brief flickering
+        // in other windows as they briefly re-gain focus
+        if (oldMenu) {
+            oldMenu->hide();
+        }
+
+        setCurrentIndex(index);
+
+        // FIXME TODO connect only once
+        connect(actionMenu, &QMenu::aboutToHide, this, &AppMenuApplet::onMenuAboutToHide, Qt::UniqueConnection);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    action->trigger();
+}
+
+void AppMenuApplet::onMenuAboutToHide()
+{
+    setCurrentIndex(-1);
+}
+
+// FIXME TODO doesn't work on submenu
+bool AppMenuApplet::eventFilter(QObject *watched, QEvent *event)
+{
+    auto *menu = qobject_cast<QMenu *>(watched);
+    if (!menu) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (event->type() == QEvent::KeyPress) {
+        auto *e = static_cast<QKeyEvent *>(event);
+
+        // TODO right to left languages
+        if (e->key() == Qt::Key_Left) {
+            int desiredIndex = m_currentIndex - 1;
+            if (desiredIndex < 0) {
+                desiredIndex = m_menu.count() - 1;
+            }
+            menu->hide();
+            emit requestActivateIndex(desiredIndex);
+            return true;
+        } else if (e->key() == Qt::Key_Right) {
+            // if it has a submenu let QMenu handle it
+            if (menu->activeAction() && menu->activeAction()->menu()) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            int desiredIndex = m_currentIndex + 1;
+            if (desiredIndex >= m_menu.count()) {
+                desiredIndex = 0;
+            }
+            emit requestActivateIndex(desiredIndex);
+            return true;
+        }
+
+    } else if (event->type() == QEvent::MouseMove) {
+        auto *e = static_cast<QMouseEvent *>(event);
+
+        if (!m_buttonGrid) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // FIXME the panel margin breaks Fitt's law :(
+        const QPointF &localPos = m_buttonGrid->mapFromGlobal(e->globalPos());
+        auto *item = m_buttonGrid->childAt(localPos.x(), localPos.y());
+        if (!item) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        bool ok;
+        const int buttonIndex = item->property("buttonIndex").toInt(&ok);
+        if (!ok) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        emit requestActivateIndex(buttonIndex);
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
+K_EXPORT_PLASMA_APPLET_WITH_JSON(appmenu, AppMenuApplet, "metadata.json")
+
+#include "appmenuapplet.moc"
diff --git a/applets/appmenu/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/applets/appmenu/package/contents/ui/main.qml
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applets/appmenu/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2013  Heena Mahour <heena393@gmail.com>
+ * Copyright 2013 Sebastian Kügler <sebas@kde.org>
+ * Copyright 2016 Kai Uwe Broulik <kde@privat.broulik.de>
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of
+ * the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+import QtQuick 2.0
+import QtQuick.Layouts 1.1
+
+import org.kde.plasma.plasmoid 2.0
+import org.kde.plasma.core 2.0 as PlasmaCore
+import org.kde.plasma.components 2.0 as PlasmaComponents
+
+Item {
+    id: root
+
+    readonly property bool vertical: plasmoid.formFactor === PlasmaCore.Types.Vertical
+
+    Layout.fillWidth: !root.vertical
+    Layout.fillHeight: root.vertical
+    //Plasmoid.switchWidth: units.gridUnit * 12
+    //Plasmoid.switchHeight: units.gridUnit * 12
+
+    Layout.minimumWidth: units.iconSizes.large
+    Layout.minimumHeight: units.iconSizes.large
+
+    //Plasmoid.compactRepresentation: // TODO single "Menu" button?
+
+    Plasmoid.preferredRepresentation: Plasmoid.fullRepresentation
+
+    Plasmoid.fullRepresentation: GridLayout {
+        id: buttonGrid
+
+        Layout.fillWidth: !root.vertical
+        Layout.fillHeight: root.vertical
+        flow: root.vertical ? GridLayout.TopToBottom : GridLayout.LeftToRight
+        rowSpacing: units.smallSpacing
+        columnSpacing: units.smallSpacing
+
+        Component.onCompleted: {
+            plasmoid.nativeInterface.buttonGrid = buttonGrid
+        }
+
+        Connections {
+            target: plasmoid.nativeInterface
+            onRequestActivateIndex: {
+                var button = buttonRepeater.itemAt(index)
+                if (button) {
+                    plasmoid.nativeInterface.trigger(button, index)
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Repeater {
+            id: buttonRepeater
+            model: plasmoid.nativeInterface.menu
+
+            PlasmaComponents.ToolButton {
+                readonly property int buttonIndex: index
+
+                Layout.preferredWidth: minimumWidth
+                Layout.fillWidth: root.vertical
+                Layout.fillHeight: !root.vertical
+                text: modelData
+                // fake highlighted
+                checkable: plasmoid.nativeInterface.currentIndex === index
+                checked: checkable
+                onClicked: {
+                    plasmoid.nativeInterface.trigger(this, index)
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Item { // compact layout
+            Layout.fillWidth: true
+            Layout.fillHeight: true
+        }
+
+    }
+}
diff --git a/applets/appmenu/package/metadata.desktop b/applets/appmenu/package/metadata.desktop
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applets/appmenu/package/metadata.desktop
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Encoding=UTF-8
+Name=Application Menu
+Icon=show-menu
+Type=Service
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-Author=Kai Uwe Broulik
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-Email=kde@privat.broulik.de
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-License=GPL
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-Name=org.kde.plasma.appmenu
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-Version=2.0
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-Website=plasma.kde.org
+X-KDE-ServiceTypes=Plasma/Applet
+X-Plasma-API=declarativeappletscript
+X-KDE-Library=plasma_applet_appmenu
+
+X-Plasma-MainScript=ui/main.qml
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-Category=Windows and Tasks