There are many GUI apps which started with a shell script, like MongoChef, or SmartGit.
The most convenient way to run them in Ubuntu Unity is from "Run Application" dialog (shortcut: Alt-F2).
Add them into the list with
sudo ln -s /home/leo/apps/smartgit/bin/smartgit.sh smartgit.
Start them with [Alt-F2, smartgit].
Note the link name shouldn't have extension, like ".sh".