• Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Topic: Conky as a screensaver

I <3 conky.

couldn't get a screenshot of my screensaver, but just imagine the coolest conky setup you can, but as a screensaver.

"conky-ss.desktop" in /usr/share/applications/screensavers/

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Conky
Comment=Displays Information as a Screensaver with Conky
TryExec=conky-ss
Exec=conky-ss
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=true
Type=Application
Categories=GNOME;Screensaver
OnlyShowIn=GNOME;
X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=gnome-screensaver

that will run this next file.

"conky-ss" in /usr/lib/xscreensaver

#!/bin/bash
killall conky
conky -q -c /home/[user]/.conkyrc-ss

for some reason mine only works when i kill other conky's. trying to work around that. i'll share when i figure something out.
it might have to do with them both drawing to the desktop instead of one (reg conky) being in a window..

then finally ".conkyrc-ss" in your ~/

background no
use_xft yes
xftfont AvantGardeLTMedium:size=10
xftalpha .1
update_interval 1.0
total_run_times 0
own_window no
double_buffer yes
minimum_size 0 0
draw_shades no
draw_outline no
draw_borders no
imlib_cache_size 0
short_units 1

display :0.0

mpd_port 6600
mpd_host localhost

default_color D7D3C5
color1 9f907d

default_color ffffff
color1 555555

draw_shades no

alignment top_middle
gap_x 0
gap_y 200
no_buffers yes
uppercase yes
cpu_avg_samples 2
override_utf8_locale no


TEXT
${font AvantGardeLTMedium:size=36}${alignc}${time %l:%M}
$font${alignc}$color${execi 30 python ~/bin/gmail.py}$color1 new messages
${alignc}$color${execi 30 python ~/bin/conkyGoogleReader.py}$color1 unread items

$alignc$color${execi 60 conkyForecast -l USIN0211 -d HT -i -u -x -e 3}F $color1${execi 60 conkyForecast -l USIN0211 -d CC}

${alignc}$color$mpd_title
${alignc}$color1$mpd_artist

once you stick all the files in the places (don't forget to sudo it, and "chmod +x" the conky-ss file) then you should see it under your "Screensaver and Power management"

just thought i'd get this idea out there and let people play with it =]

Last edited by aslamp (2009-08-15 01:02:38)

  • From: Texas
  • Registered: 2009-07-27
  • Posts: 87

Re: Conky as a screensaver

WOW!  Great Idea,  I'll have to try this later.

<'(((><  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the  ><)))'>
<'(((><  power of God, the salvation of everyone who believes.  ><)))'>

EeePC 900a : #! 9.04 : Atom 1.60 GHz : 1 GB RAM : 4 GB SSD
  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,308

Re: Conky as a screensaver

I did what you said but no entry in the Screensaver dialog sad

EDIT: Whatever you mean by "sudo it", I chmodded +x the script and now it shows up in the dialog wink

Last edited by Awebb (2009-08-14 23:26:48)

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

heh, i forgot that part, thanks smile

by "sudo it" i just meant the files need to be placed in the system files, not normally accessable by non-sudoed users =]

  • From: Montréal, France
  • Registered: 2009-01-15
  • Posts: 679

Re: Conky as a screensaver

aslamp wrote:

heh, i forgot that part, thanks smile

by "sudo it" i just meant the files need to be placed in the system files, not normally accessable by non-sudoed users =]

same issue here, i made all that you tell, my files have 777 rights as you can see on shot, so...
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/525/conkyss.jpg

arpinux's Website

  • From: Montréal, France
  • Registered: 2009-01-15
  • Posts: 679

Re: Conky as a screensaver

so, half-solved it: conky-ss.desktop had to be placed in /usr/share/applications/screensavers instead of /usr/share/applications
now, Conky is in my gnome-screensaver-preferences but nothing happend when screensaver starts hmm

Last edited by arpinux (2009-08-15 00:43:26)

arpinux's Website

  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

arpinux wrote:

so, half-solved it: conky-ss.desktop had to be placed in /usr/share/applications/screensavers instead of /usr/share/applications
now, Conky is in my gnome-screensaver-preferences but nothing happend when screensaver starts hmm

ah, thanks. I need to spend more time writing posts..

with my experience it was only working when the screensaver actually got activated, not when i wanted to preview it. =/

  • From: Montréal, France
  • Registered: 2009-01-15
  • Posts: 679

Re: Conky as a screensaver

^ do you use the same conky as screeensaver  and as regular conky ?

arpinux's Website

  • fhsm
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2009-01-05
  • Posts: 441

Re: Conky as a screensaver

Great idea, thanks!

FHSM: avoid vowels and exotic consonants and you'll get your handle every time.  identi.ca
  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

arpinux wrote:

^ do you use the same conky as screeensaver  and as regular conky ?

i use two different configs, but i think it's possible to use the same one, assuming you have it write to the root window.

  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,308

Re: Conky as a screensaver

Is there a CLI way for setting the screensaver?

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • From: Montréal, France
  • Registered: 2009-01-15
  • Posts: 679

Re: Conky as a screensaver

@aslamp:  hi, still doesn't work for me hmm
too bad for a such nice idea....

arpinux's Website

  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

@arpinux what's the conky config that you are using? would you happen to have more than one screen?

  • From: Montréal, France
  • Registered: 2009-01-15
  • Posts: 679

Re: Conky as a screensaver

^ as i didn't know what was wrong, i replace my config by the default-#! to see what happen... nothing more...
and i have just one screen (laptop)
i had to use the same conky config for conkyrc & conky-ss because, if not, conky-ss kill conkyrc and at the "wakeup", no more conkyrc... just conky-ss.
i think i have to search harder/longer/better about xscreensaver/applications/conky-config.
if it works for you... i'll find the way to make it run with me wink
thanks for help smile

arpinux's Website

  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

@arpinux i think the screensaver app runs it every 10 minutes (or something maybe) which caused mine to do a flickering thing.
the "killall conky" got rid of that. there would be some solution with pid's.. maybe i'll look into that. or just figuring out how to restart the reg conky after normal activity resumes.

glad i could help!

  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

here's my new conky-ss

#!/bin/bash
if pidof conky | grep " "; then
conkysspid=`pidof conky | sed -e 's/$conkypid//'`
kill $conkysspid
else
export conkypid=`pidof conky`
fi
conky -q -c /home/jack/.conkyrc-ss
  • Bruce
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-05-29
  • Posts: 242

Re: Conky as a screensaver

aslamp wrote:

I couldn't get a screenshot of my screensaver, but just imagine the coolest conky setup you can, but as a screensaver.

I'm hoping that this gets perfected - I really want to put this one up at Conky Hardcore!

It was your own #!'er arpinux that brought this to my attention

Great stuff aslamp!

Have a nice day.
Bruce

  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

alright, this should work better, but only if your other conky is in its own window:
conky-ss:

#!/bin/bash
if pidof conky | grep " "; then
conkypid=`cat /home/jack/.pidofconky`
kill `pidof conky | sed -e 's/$conkypid//'`
else
pidof conky > /home/jack/.pidofconky
fi
conky -q -c /home/jack/.conkyrc-ss

Last edited by aslamp (2009-08-18 14:01:18)

  • Registered: 2008-12-13
  • Posts: 1,480

Re: Conky as a screensaver

just noticed a typo here, should be:
conkypid=`cat /home/jack/.pidofconky`

not
conkypid=`cat /home/jack/.pidofconkf`

aslamp wrote:

alright, this should work better, but only if your other conky is in its own window:
conky-ss:

#!/bin/bash
if pidof conky | grep " "; then
conkypid=`cat /home/jack/.pidofconkf`
kill `pidof conky | sed -e 's/$conkypid//'`
else
pidof conky > /home/jack/.pidofconky
fi
conky -q -c /home/jack/.conkyrc-ss
I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect, I say lets evolve, let the chips fall where they may.
  • Registered: 2009-07-20
  • Posts: 25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

>.< heh, thanks. that mighta been why mine wasn't wroking..

thanks again

  • Digit
  • #! Die-hard
  • Offline
  • From: the internet
  • Registered: 2009-05-26
  • Posts: 649

Re: Conky as a screensaver

this would be really cool to get working onscreen at the same time as boinc or electricsheep or similar.   big_smile   let ya see what its doing to yer processors n such.   smile

educate yourself so you may educate others.DeNoob&UnBloat PCs!
the only free webhosting i use.
say "NO!" to a chemical lobotomy in your food
flattr me, thnx

Digit's Website