Blank 'skeleton' .desktop file

blank.desktop

# ref: https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/desktop-entry-spec-latest.html#recognized-keys
[Desktop Entry]

# The type as listed above
Type=Application

# The version of the desktop entry specification to which this file complies
Version=1.0

# The name of the application
Name=Sample Application Name

# A comment which can/will be used as a tooltip
Comment=A sample application

# The path to the folder in which the executable is run
Path=/opt/path/to/app

# The executable of the application.
Exec=application

# The name of the icon that will be used to display this entry
Icon=application.png

# Describes whether this application needs to be run in a terminal or not
Terminal=false

# Describes the categories in which this entry should be shown
# https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Specifications/menu-spec/
Categories=Education;Languages;Java;

# Deprecated: https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/desktop-entry-spec-1.0.html#legacy-mixed
# Encoding 
#Encoding=UTF-8

The encoding key is deprecated.

good catch.. ty