====== Conky - A system monitor for X ======

Conky is an advanced, highly configurable system monitor for X - a widget that draws text information dynamically on the desktop.

The configuration file for Conky is located in ~/.conkyrc and can be accessed from the menu under Preferences --> conky config --> edit .conkyrc 

===== Configuration Settings =====

{{ /screenshots/conky-muppy.png?150}}
The configuration file can be split up in to two parts, the first half is general settings, the second part (after ''TEXT''), is what is actually displayed.
There is a full list of configuration settings [[http://conky.sourceforge.net/config_settings.html|here]] and a full list of Conky variables, (what is actually displayed) [[http://conky.sourceforge.net/variables.html|here]], Conky also has a detailed man page listing all the variables, and can be accessed by entering
<code>man conky </code>
in the terminal.
In general text displayed in Conky, will follow in the order entered in the config file and newlines in the config file mean newlines in the screen. There are ways to specify a different position
<code> ${goto 20} </code>
will move the following text horizontally to 20 pixels from the far left hand side of the Conky window.
<code>
${offset 20}
${voffset 20}
</code>
These do a similar job, offset is horizontal, voffset is vertical, except unlike goto both measure from the current position, not the edge of the window.

External scripts can be called using the exec family of commands so:
<code>
${exec date}
</code>
would display the date, and:
<code>
${execi 10 ~/bin/conkyscript}
</code>
would run ''~/bin/conkyscript'' every 10 seconds and display the output

===== Multiple Conky Windows =====

You can display multiple different Conky windows, simply create a new .conkyrc file and save it, for example as .conkyrc2, then run:
<code>conky -c .conkyrc2 &</code>
The '-c' flag tells conky to use a different configuration file, for further details enter the following in a terminal.
<code>man conky</code>
Note: you dont need to specify thats its in your home folder.
To have it run on start up, add the same command to your [[howto/autostart_programs|autostart]] file.


Also Please see this [[howto:howto_setup_multiple_conky_sessions|HOWTO]].

===== Access the Right click menu on Conky =====

One //possible// way to be able to access the main menu by right clicking on conky is in the configuration file is to change:
<code>own_window yes</code>
to
<code>own_window no</code>
Although please be aware that depending on your setup, this could cause other problems, such as screen flickering.

===== Conky Setups and Help =====

There are a few threads on the CrunchBang Forums with different examples of conky setups and questions and answers for conky help. The threads are:

  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/16909/the-new-monster-conky-thread/|The Monster Conky Thread]] Help & Show and Tell (Jan 2012 | Present) 
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/16380/december-2011-conky-thread/|December 2011 Conky Thread]] (Closed Info Only)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/15850/november-2011-conky-thread/|November 2011 Conky Thread]] (Closed Info Only)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/15318/october-2011-conky-thread/|October 2011 Conky Thread]] (Closed Info Only)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/14877/september-2011-conky-thread/|September 2011 Conky Thread]] (Closed Info Only)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/14541/august-2011-conky-thread/|August 2011 Conky Thread]] (Closed Info Only)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/59/my-conky-config/|My Conky Config]] (Closed - Info Only - Nov 2008 | Aug 2011)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/2047/conky-help/|Conky Help]] (Closed - Info Only - Apr 2009 | Aug 2011 )

===== Specific Conky HowTo's =====
  * VastOnes's [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/150358/#p150358/|How To - Conky, Music and Cover Art - 2 Methods for 18 Apps]] - Oct 2011
  * mrpeachy's [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/16100/weather-in-conky/|weather in conky (LUA)]] Nov 2011
  * mrpeachy's [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/17246/how-to-using-lua-scripts-in-conky/|HowTo: Using LUA in Conky]] Jan 2012
  * VastOnes's [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/14936/howto-deadbeef-music-conky-with-cover-art/|How-To Deadbeef Music & Conky with Cover Art]] - Sep 2011
  * TeoBigussGeekus's [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1156383|Conky weather scripts using Accuweather/WUnderground/NWS/Weather.com]] - bash scrips on Ubu Forums

===== Conky Scripts =====

Small scripts to add extra functionality to Conky.

  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/3728/images-in-conky-specifically-rhythmbox-album-art/|Album Art in Conky]] Works with MOC, Rythmbox, XMMS2 & MPD (Jul 2009)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/4201/qlocktwo-in-conky/|A clock that's a bit different]]
  * [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=680265|Check your gmail account for new emails]] (Ubuntu 2008 - still work?)
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/4093/conky-as-a-screensaver/|Conky as a screensaver]]
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/323/conky-power-usage-script/|Display battery usage in Conky]].
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/7271/#p7271|Get CrunchBangs Distrowatch ranking]].
  * [[http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/15539/solved-conky-weather-disaster/|{SOLVED} Conky Weather Disaster]] - other weather scripts

See [[Installing Scripts]] for help on installing them.

===== Outside Links =====

  * [[http://wiki.conky.be/index.php/ExampleConfigurations|Examples from official Wiki]]
  * [[http://conky.sourceforge.net/|Official Conky project page]] (with lists of [[http://conky.sourceforge.net/variables.html|variables]] and [[http://conky.sourceforge.net/config_settings.html|config settings]] to use)
  * [[http://conky.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html|More config ideas]] on the Conky screenshots page
  * IRC: irc.freenode.net #conky
  * [[http://conky.pitstop.free.fr/|Conky PitStop]], plenty of links to scripts and tutorials.