Difference between revisions of "Basic Tips for conky"

__TOC__

__TOC__

<translate>

<translate>

Conky can be installed using the package manager

Conky can be installed using the package manager

{{UserCmd|command=pamac install conky}}

{{UserCmd|command=pamac install conky}}

All file names starting with a dot <code>.</code> are hidden files. If you want to see hidden files in your file manager, you need to make them visible. In most file managers this will be available in the options.

All file names starting with a dot <code>.</code> are hidden files. If you want to see hidden files in your file manager, you need to make them visible. In most file managers this will be available in the options.

====Configuration file====

====Configuration file====

The configuation file is a simple text file and the content written using [[https://www.lua.org/|LUA syntax]] and is split into two parts

The configuation file is a simple text file and the content written using [[https://www.lua.org/|LUA syntax]] and is split into two parts

* Configuration

* Configuration

* Text

* Text

The first/upper part contains all the configuration settings for the entire conky. Things like the position of the conky on your screen, transparency settings, border settings, the default font and it's size, and how often your conky gets updated. The whole configuration belong between brackets like this

The first/upper part contains all the configuration settings for the entire conky. Things like the position of the conky on your screen, transparency settings, border settings, the default font and it's size, and how often your conky gets updated. The whole configuration belong between brackets like this

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

* Comment start with <code>--</code>

* Comment start with <code>--</code>

}}

}}

'''1.''' This will set the default font color of your conky to white. Additionally, a <code>color1</code> gets set using a [http://html-color-codes.info/ Html Color Code]to a light blue:

'''1.''' This will set the default font color of your conky to white. Additionally, a <code>color1</code> gets set using a [http://html-color-codes.info/ Html Color Code]to a light blue:

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

Use the command: <code>man conky</code>, and look into the '''CONFIGURATION SETTINGS''' section to see every settings available.

Use the command: <code>man conky</code>, and look into the '''CONFIGURATION SETTINGS''' section to see every settings available.

The second part contains the displayed conky code. Every code line corresponds to one displayed line on your desktop. There are a lot of available for displaying and modifying all kinds of information. Use the command: <code>man conky</code>, and look into the '''OBJECTS/VARIABLES''' section to see every objects/variables available.

The second part contains the displayed conky code. Every code line corresponds to one displayed line on your desktop. There are a lot of available for displaying and modifying all kinds of information. Use the command: <code>man conky</code>, and look into the '''OBJECTS/VARIABLES''' section to see every objects/variables available.

{{Info|The lines in the '''conky.text''' section is printed exactly as is. E.g. if you create an empty line between sections - conky will display an empty line.}}

{{Info|The lines in the '''conky.text''' section is printed exactly as is. E.g. if you create an empty line between sections - conky will display an empty line.}}

]];</pre>

]];</pre>

}}

}}

'''1.''' You can choose the color of your font using one of the following variables:

'''1.''' You can choose the color of your font using one of the following variables:

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

}}

}}

Every variable is marked with a <code>$</code> sign and by <code>{ }</code> brackets (only needed, if the variable contains more than one word).

Every variable is marked with a <code>$</code> sign and by <code>{ }</code> brackets (only needed, if the variable contains more than one word).

'''2.''' You can call the default font (and it's size) with this command:

'''2.''' You can call the default font (and it's size) with this command:

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

{{File|file=~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc|

}}

}}

The variable <code>${execi 3600 XXXX}</code> runs the <code>XXXX</code> bash code in your terminal every 3600 seconds and displays the result in your conky. The result of the <code>uname -r</code> bash command is your currently used kernel name.  

The variable <code>${execi 3600 XXXX}</code> runs the <code>XXXX</code> bash code in your terminal every 3600 seconds and displays the result in your conky. The result of the <code>uname -r</code> bash command is your currently used kernel name.  

Use any bash command instead of <code>XXXX</code> you can think of. The bash commands can be as long and complicated as you want.  

Use any bash command instead of <code>XXXX</code> you can think of. The bash commands can be as long and complicated as you want.  

Warning: Using complicated bash commands (e.g. which call other programs or use large files) with low intervals (e.g. <code>${execi 2 XXXX}</code> runs the <code>XXXX</code> code once every 2 seconds and displays it's result in your conky) can use a lot of hardware resources and/or make your computer unresponsive.

Warning: Using complicated bash commands (e.g. which call other programs or use large files) with low intervals (e.g. <code>${execi 2 XXXX}</code> runs the <code>XXXX</code> code once every 2 seconds and displays it's result in your conky) can use a lot of hardware resources and/or make your computer unresponsive.

If you want to display a conky on your desktop a {{ic|~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc}} file with code in it is required. Next, open a terminal and run conky pointing to the file

If you want to display a conky on your desktop a {{ic|~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc}} file with code in it is required. Next, open a terminal and run conky pointing to the file

{{UserCmd|command=conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc}}

{{UserCmd|command=conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc}}

{{UserCmd|command=conky -d -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc}}

{{UserCmd|command=conky -d -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc}}

If you want to run conky automatically after each boot of your computer, you need to find out how to autostart a program. This depends on the Desktop Manager you are using. The next is examples of how to run conky from your system autostart folder/file/script/command.

If you want to run conky automatically after each boot of your computer, you need to find out how to autostart a program. This depends on the Desktop Manager you are using. The next is examples of how to run conky from your system autostart folder/file/script/command.

<code>sleep 20</code> and <code>-p 20</code> delay the start of conky by 20 seconds after your Desktop Environment has started. Adjust this value to your liking.

<code>sleep 20</code> and <code>-p 20</code> delay the start of conky by 20 seconds after your Desktop Environment has started. Adjust this value to your liking.

{{UserCmd|command=conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc &}}

{{UserCmd|command=conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc &}}

{{UserCmd|command=sleep 20 && conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc &}}

{{UserCmd|command=sleep 20 && conky -c ~/.config/conky/conky.conkyrc &}}

When you change the running conky configuration file - conky will reload. But if you changed one of your dependency scripts (e.g. because you changed a variable and want to see the consequences) you will have to reload conky

When you change the running conky configuration file - conky will reload. But if you changed one of your dependency scripts (e.g. because you changed a variable and want to see the consequences) you will have to reload conky

{{UserCmd|command=killall conky && conky -c ~/.config/config/conky.conkyrc}}

{{UserCmd|command=killall conky && conky -c ~/.config/config/conky.conkyrc}}

To be able to use LUA scripts to execute drawing functions like clock rings - you will a conky package compiled with LUA support. Either build the package the package {{ic|conky-lua}} from [[Arch_User_Repository|AUR]] or install the {{ic|conky-lua-nv}} from the official repo.

To be able to use LUA scripts to execute drawing functions like clock rings - you will a conky package compiled with LUA support. Either build the package the package {{ic|conky-lua}} from [[Arch_User_Repository|AUR]] or install the {{ic|conky-lua-nv}} from the official repo.

If network information is missing like download speed or network name (SSID), you need to replace the network interfaces in the configuration file with your network interface name. To get the names of your interfaces - open a terminal and execute

If network information is missing like download speed or network name (SSID), you need to replace the network interfaces in the configuration file with your network interface name. To get the names of your interfaces - open a terminal and execute

{{UserCmd|command=ip a | grep ' state UP' | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d':' -f1}}

{{UserCmd|command=ip a | grep ' state UP' | cut -d' ' -f2 | cut -d':' -f1}}

Use the output from the command. Interface names starting with <code>en</code> is ethernet interface and names starting with <code>wl</code> is wireless interfaces. Replace all network interfaces names with (e.g. <code>wlan0</code>, <code>eth0</code>) in your <code>.conkyrc</code> text section with the interface name(s) you retrieved from the above command.

Use the output from the command. Interface names starting with <code>en</code> is ethernet interface and names starting with <code>wl</code> is wireless interfaces. Replace all network interfaces names with (e.g. <code>wlan0</code>, <code>eth0</code>) in your <code>.conkyrc</code> text section with the interface name(s) you retrieved from the above command.

An application named Conky manager exist but has not been updated for years and the configurations found in the package may work or they may not. You may install it - it can be a used as an inspiration but you should not rely on it. If you still think you it is a must have - you can build the package {{ic|conky-manager}} using [[Arch_User_Repository|AUR]]

An application named Conky manager exist but has not been updated for years and the configurations found in the package may work or they may not. You may install it - it can be a used as an inspiration but you should not rely on it. If you still think you it is a must have - you can build the package {{ic|conky-manager}} using [[Arch_User_Repository|AUR]]

{{UserCmd|command=pamac build conky-manager}}

{{UserCmd|command=pamac build conky-manager}}

* The [https://github.com/brndnmtthws/conky/wiki Conky website]

* The [https://github.com/brndnmtthws/conky/wiki Conky website]

* The [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/conky Arch Wiki] page for Conky

* The [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/conky Arch Wiki] page for Conky