Conky as a screensaver

aslamp · 2009-08-14 22:10:25

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)

hailukahh · 2009-08-14 22:55:45

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

Awebb · 2009-08-14 23:23:06

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)

aslamp · 2009-08-14 23:46:06

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 =]

arpinux · 2009-08-15 00:17:00

aslamp wrote:

heh, i forgot that part, thanks
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...

arpinux · 2009-08-15 00:38:59

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)

aslamp · 2009-08-15 01:04:24

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

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. =/

arpinux · 2009-08-15 01:08:25

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

fhsm · 2009-08-15 03:24:30

Great idea, thanks!

aslamp · 2009-08-15 05:09:00

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 · 2009-08-15 08:07:13

Is there a CLI way for setting the screensaver?

arpinux · 2009-08-15 11:01:22

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

aslamp · 2009-08-15 15:34:55

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

arpinux · 2009-08-15 15:47:34

^ 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

aslamp · 2009-08-15 16:12:27

@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!

aslamp · 2009-08-15 17:14:27

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 · 2009-08-16 14:03:09

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

aslamp · 2009-08-17 22:25:51

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)

iggykoopa · 2009-08-18 08:35:21

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

aslamp · 2009-08-18 14:27:25

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

thanks again

Digit · 2009-08-20 00:59:19

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

darren404 · 2013-03-31 03:21:43

I know this is an old thread ,but I have been having fun making a few screensavers. i found this stuff from a few places online. playing movies, videos, or security cam through xscreensaver. and running conky as well.

		    "LOSwave" 	mplayer -really-quiet -nosound -nolirc	      \
				  -nostop-xscreensaver -wid		                      \
				  $XSCREENSAVER_WINDOW -fs -loop 0	              \
				  $HOME/Videos/.ssvideos/LOSwave.mov	           \n\
		    "LOSlight" 	mplayer -really-quiet -nosound -nolirc	      \
				  -nostop-xscreensaver -wid		                      \
				  $XSCREENSAVER_WINDOW -fs -loop 0	              \
				  $HOME/Videos/.ssvideos/LOSlight.mov	           \n\
		    "LOSvideo" 	mplayer -really-quiet -nosound -nolirc	      \
				  -nostop-xscreensaver -wid		                      \
				  $XSCREENSAVER_WINDOW -zoom -loop 0 -ss        \
				  60 -shuffle				      \
				  $HOME/Videos/.ssvideos/*.avi		    \n\
		    "LOSconky" 	conky -q --window-id=$XSCREENSAVER_WINDOW     \
				  -c /home/user/.LOS/.conkyrc-ss	    \n\

Here is 4 screensavers, just put under programs: in your .xscreensaver file in your home dir. sorry the spacing might be a bit off.
Just make sure you close and save the file before xscreensaver does. your screensavers will show up in the list using xscreensaver-demo
Cheers smile

Last edited by darren404 (2013-03-31 03:27:38)

mishle · 2013-03-31 03:34:41

Welcome Darren404 to the crunch bang community.

Last edited by mishle (2013-03-31 03:35:22)

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#1 2009-08-14 22:10:25

Conky as a screensaver

#2 2009-08-14 22:55:45

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#3 2009-08-14 23:23:06

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#4 2009-08-14 23:46:06

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#5 2009-08-15 00:17:00

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#6 2009-08-15 00:38:59

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#7 2009-08-15 01:04:24

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#8 2009-08-15 01:08:25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#9 2009-08-15 03:24:30

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#10 2009-08-15 05:09:00

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#11 2009-08-15 08:07:13

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#12 2009-08-15 11:01:22

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#13 2009-08-15 15:34:55

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#14 2009-08-15 15:47:34

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#15 2009-08-15 16:12:27

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#16 2009-08-15 17:14:27

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#17 2009-08-16 14:03:09

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#18 2009-08-17 22:25:51

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#19 2009-08-18 08:35:21

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#20 2009-08-18 14:27:25

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#21 2009-08-20 00:59:19

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#22 2013-03-31 03:21:43

Re: Conky as a screensaver

#23 2013-03-31 03:34:41

Re: Conky as a screensaver

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