Screenlets

Screenlets are small owner-drawn applications (written in Python) that can be described as "the virtual representation of things lying/standing around on your desk". From sticknotes, rulers, clocks ... the possibilities are endless.

Screenlets (short form of "Screen-Applets") are small owner-drawn applications that can be described as "the virtual representation of things lying/standing around on your desk": Sticknotes, clocks, rulers, ... the possibilities are endless.

The goal of the Screenlets-framework is to simplify the creation of fully themeable mini-apps that each solve basic desktop-work-related needs and generally improve the usability and eye-candy of the modern Linux-desktop.

Screenlets strongly follow the UNIX-idea of modularization and having one tool for one purpose. They are in some way the modern evolution of that idea (ported from commandline-tools to desktop-apps). One intention of the screenlets is to encourage creation of visually appealing graphical frontends to common unix-tools to attract the "modern" user while still "keeping it real".

Screenlets are in fact shaped Gtk-Windows that take care of drawing themselves. They contain a window a menu and (optionally) a theme (of type ScreenletTheme). Screenlets also offer a simple way of handling/changing settings/options (for both - user and developer). Since version 0.0.8 all screenlets can also be controlled over DBus and can easily offer customized services.

Installation:

Extract the archive into some directory. Navigate to that directory. As root-user run "make install" (Ubuntu users just add a leading "sudo").

By entering "make menu" (again as root) you can install .desktop-files for the screenlets (not all, only the more stable ones). That allows easily adding your screenlets through the Applications-menu or the Alt+F2 dialog.

To generate the default (and ugly) pydoc-documentation within the docs- directory, run "make pydoc".

To generate the doxygen-documentation run "make doxydoc" (you need to install doxygen first).

To generate the epydoc-documentation (in docs/epydoc) run "make epydoc" (you need to install python-epydoc first). NOTE: this is the best one.

Usage:

Since v0.0.8 the recommended way of starting the screenlets is by launching them directly. You can launch a screenlet as many times as you like, new instances will automatically get added to the running instance. Screenlets of the same type always run in the same process! You can run each Screenlet individually with (e.g): "/usr/local/share/screenlets/Clock/ClockScreenlet.py".

Please, DO NOT USE "screenletsd" for starting screenlets anymore. Preferably you should use the Applications-menu or the ControlScreenlet for launching new screenlets.

GNOME:

If you want individual screenlets to be launched on startup, you should add them to your session's startup programs. That way they will be started when you log into your gnome-session.

What is new in this release:

• Screenlets framework:
• Fix windows moving around after restart in Unity.
• Add switching EWMH params for Unity/GNOME, fix focus/drag problems.
• Fix not showing options if value 'None' exists.
• By default start screenlet at the center of the screen.
• Fix web application installing (use Webframe).
• Present screenlet install dialog with radio buttons.
• Individual screenlets:
• Fix:
• ClearRSS link problem.
• GoogleCalendar events containing '&' problem.
• Pidgin signal names and prevent crash
• Output screenlet handling large content
• InfoPanel crash on start (last three thanks to Nicolas S. Krzywinski)
• Update:
• Webframe reworked (Akira Ohgaki)
• Update translations:
• Italian, Bulgarian, Hindi, Occitan, Hebrew, Russian,
• French, Dutch, German, Polish, Spanish, Estonian,
• Japanese, ...
• Added Webframe to Basic Pack (also used to generate web widgets)
• New screenlets:
• FlipClock (Doni Haryanto)
• DiskIOSpace (Erdem U. Altinyurt)

What is new in version 0.1.4:

• Lots of new translations
• Add Application Indicators support
• Options rework to make code more intelligible
• Lyrics screenlet to Basic Pack
• Make possible to use logging module from Universal Applets
• Fix flicker and resize grips problems in Natty

What is new in version 0.1.3:

• MAJOR CHANGES:
• You can install any individual Screenlet as a Debian package from central PPA.
• You can translate individual Screenlets on Launchpad.
• LIST OF CHANGES FROM CHANGELOG:
• Individual Screenlets now translatable on Launchpad.
• Incorporated most of the patches from bug tracker.
• Fixed a problem with the theme directories.
• Fixed icon logic to work with Ubuntu new icon policy.
• Monochrome icons available by default.
• Added Compiz setting to make screenlets stick to Desktop.
• Updated notification area menu and fixed refresh.
• Updated context menu.
• Updated some strings, links, translations.
• Updated the link to get fresh Screenlets.
• Implemented Debian package requirements check for Screenlets.
• Created Screenlets debianizer.
• Created additional packaging system for Debian Screenlets packs.
• Merged individual Screenlets with Universal Applets Extras.

What is new in version 0.1.2:

• 99% of bugs fixed,removed all those startup bugs
• all screenlets have costum color backgound with default theme
• alot of new skins
• nowplaying now works with all top players
• new output ,feed reader and wallpaperclock
• screenlets now uses a plugin system
• proxy and keyring added