need help for another project...

[seb3773]

This is not an issue, but I didn't know how to contact you, so sorry by advance for the inconvenience.
Don't want to bother you, but maybe the little project I'm working on can interest you, and/or maybe you can help me ...
I saw you're a Trinity contributor, so maybe you've got the knowledge to help me a bit :)
I'm a Trinity DE user (on Q4OS but doesn't matter) and I started some months ago a "theming project" to have a look similar to Windows10. I think it's "relevant" as Trinity can be themed to look like windows 2000,XP etc.. And I think it's good to help win users to switch to linux.
Most of the parts are ready now (icons, cursors, styling etc...) , but I need two new kicker applets to complete the project. So I tried to code them, but as I had never work with any graphic toolkit, it's a bit difficult for me.
The two applets are here:

https://github.com/seb3773/showdeskten-kicker-applet
this one is a simple "showdesktop" button, to be placed at the extreme right of the kicker, to mimic the similar functionnality found in win10.

https://github.com/seb3773/actioncenter-kicker-applet
This other one is designed to mimic the notification center panel of windows 10, with configurables actions, to be placed at the extreme right of the kicker, just before showdeskten applet.

It's nearly ok, (well, it works), but I need some help for some details:
-I don't know how to create buttons without frames, so it doesn't look very pretty with different kicker colors and/or transparency.
-Some other graphics details, for example having a panel who follow the titlebar color, updating of the buttons whithout closing/re opening panel etc...

I really don't know if it could interest you, or if you have the time for it, but if you can help me I will be very happy ;)

[blu256]

Hello,

This sounds like a nice little project. I haven't worked with Kicker much and never created a Kicker applet as such (although I studied Kicker applets a bit in order to implement something similar in Skout). I do have some experience with custom widget painting, so that might help.

I can try to help, but I can't guarantee absolute success. (I'm only a self-taught hobbyist programmer like you, after all.) I am indeed interested in helping out if I can, and I am also interested to see your project as a whole.

I'll check out the applets and the issues you mentioned to see if I can provide advice/code, maybe open a PR or two ;)

You can reach me via e-mail (my username at proton.me) or via GitHub issues, if you prefer. Keep in mind that I might not respond immediately.

Side question: Will this be a Q4OS-specific project?

(Have you per chance heard of the XPQ4 project? It had a similar goal of bringing a Windows style to Q4OS.)

[blu256]

By the way, how did you find out about me? (just curious)

[seb3773]

Thank you very much for your interest ! I totally understand about the delay to respond, the same for me as it is an hobby project :)

I can code in C, but I have never work on a project with a graphic interface, so any help will be appreciated :)
The whole project (work in progress, theming part is almost finished, some other parts are "in construction"... but you can see the idea.) is here: https://github.com/seb3773/Q4OSseb
the screenshots are clearly outdated, this looks much better now :)

About the XPQ4 project, yes, I heard about it :) In fact I started this project initially because I wanted a more "modern" look for trinity (I was a Q4OS user for some months at this time) and I like very much the windows 10 look. I found sometimes after the XPQ4 project when I was making research for my own project . And yes, it is similar, except my target is the windows 10 look :)

For now, the whole project is for Q4OS, but I think it can be easily modified to work with any trinity install :) (and I'm totally open to help doing it). But the applets for I need help are not Q4OS specific. (just needs trinity DE)

And for your last question, I was making some research about Trinity DE apps, and found your metatheme app (on pling maybe, I'm not so sure about it) :)

[blu256]

Hello, @seb3773. Just letting you know that I haven't forgotten. I've been having little time to do any development at all lately, but I'll try to find some time in days coming. :)

[seb3773]

Hello Blue256, and thank you very much :) I totally understand, I didn't had so much time neither. I just polished some things in the 'main' project (icons and some other little details...) and I'm waiting for you to progress on the 'action center' applet (as the graphical aspect programming & the improvements we talk about are a bit beyond my competences :p)
Well, I have a question too, what distribution are you using that is shipped with trinity ? (as I want to work on making the whole project compatible with any trinity installation). I know I can install trinity on plain debian, but wanted to see how the integration is made with other distribution than Q4OS. As far as I know there's EXE GNU/LINUX (devuan base),TTOS Linux and PCLinuxOS, maybe some others ?

[blu256]

what distribution are you using that is shipped with trinity ?

My main distribution is Arch but thanks to you I am now dual booting Q4OS, and it just works so well that I find myself using it more than Arch ;). I can test on both.

In general there shouldn't be many problems with integration as long as you take some precautions (e.g. never hardcode paths).