Author Topic: A plugin based information bar in Windows (Read 68514 times)

jake78 · « **on:** July 02, 2008, 12:24 AM »

I've been tinkering with a new program that gives me information without starting applications or switching windows. It's a simple toolbar that is attached to the top of the screen, and the information is made up of plugins.

I was wondering if there is anyone interested in an application like this. I made a screen recording of what is working today.
http://www.viddler.c.../?secreturl=96828585

It is in an alpha stage... There are a few bugs that I'm having trouble solving.

// Jacob

mouser · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2008, 12:30 AM »

VERY cool.

phitsc · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2008, 08:22 AM »

Yes, this looks very useful. If you want better feedback you might consider making an alpha release available for preview. I guess your idea is that you'd publish the plugin API once it's stable, so that others can implement plugins for this application as well?

jake78 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2008, 12:08 AM »

I will get an alpha out, it's just crazy at the moment with school.

lanux128 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2008, 04:58 AM »

very impressive and has good potential!

Mongoplus · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2008, 05:24 PM »

It sounds like a very good program

. I would definitely use a program like that!!!

Please Post when it is complete. If you need someone to beta test it, give me a shout!!!

fenixproductions · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2008, 07:47 PM »

2Jake78
If it will be released as free I can always try to convince Ultima Prime to have it in his project (if you've got nothing against it)

TC UP has similar tool called StatBar but this one is pretty outdated so UP is willing to "take" another one.

lanux128 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2008, 07:54 PM »

StatBar used to be very good but the author seems to have lost interest.

fenixproductions · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2008, 08:01 PM »

Last version: July 25, 2003.
Looks enough to "lost interest"...

lanux128 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2008, 08:09 PM »

2003! i know it's been a while..

jake78 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2008, 01:07 AM »

I'm glad to see that there is interest. When I started building it, I never intended to release it but then I was convinced by a family member.

Before I do that though, I have to fix 2 big bugs. But I will definitely let you know when it is ready!
My first intention was only to have different timezones and currency information in an easily accessible place... and hardcode it. But then I thought I might want more in the future, so I built it with plugins instead. There are limitations on what it's able to show... It can show images, labels and buttons. Then the plugin can show whatever menu or form it wants.

One thing I didn't demo in the video was the X at the far right. When left clicked it will call the regular Windows shutdown dialog, and if it's right-clicked it will give you a menu with different options, such as standby, logoff etc.

fenixproductions: I'll consider the Ultima Prime, my app will definitely be free.

jake78 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2008, 12:54 AM »

I have uploaded an early Alpha version of my app, it's currently called Topbar. If anyone can come up with a better name, I'm all ears.

I hope there aren't too many problems with it, I'm running it daily and haven't had an issues yet except the ones that are stated on my website.

http://www.nordicfx....;id=29&Itemid=23

jake78 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2008, 08:18 PM »

Just as an update... I have started developing 2 new plugins, one that shows a volume control and possibly a mixer and a second one that shows system information.

Besides memory, CPU, disks and Windows uptime, what do you think would be good to include in the system information plugin?

I haven't posted the latest installer yet, still considering on how to align the plugins.

mouser · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2008, 09:02 PM »

just wanted to say its working great here and its very cool. love how thin it is.

one thing that would be nice is on multimonitor systems i think it only shows on primary monitor and can't be moved.. it would be nice to be able to move it to other monitors.

jake78 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2008, 03:02 AM »

I'm glad you like it, I for one can't live without it anymore. But I guess I'm biast ;-)
I have now implemented multi-monitor support, I'll upload it tomorrow after a little more testing. I unfortunately had to change a little with the configuration files, so you will have to re-add the plugins. I'm getting closer to what i want in the config management, and therefore there will be fewer "re-addings" in the future. I hope it's not too big of an inconvenience.

jake78 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2008, 04:35 PM »

I have released 0.1.0.2 which has multi-monitor support, but unfortunately I have broken Vista support by doing this. I thought I would still release this version since most people are still running XP. I will try to fix this asap...
I have also made configuration files changes and plugin name changes and because of this, it's best to uninstall the older version first and remove the config files to avoid error messages.
The config files are located in 'Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Topbar'.
If you want to keep the plugin settings, you can rename topbarConfig.ini to topbarPlugins.ini.

http://www.nordicfx....;id=29&Itemid=23

jake78 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:42 PM »

I just finished fixing the Vista problem... it went quicker than I had anticipated.

Version 0.1.0.3 is available at:
http://www.nordicfx....;id=29&Itemid=23

jake78 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2008, 05:50 PM »

A question for anyone using Topbar, are you having any issues with it. I'll be releasing a new version soon, so I wanted to know if there are any problems.

// Jacob

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2008, 07:47 PM »

Just found this thread, sounds like a really good idea, but upon starting the latest version...

jake78 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2008, 10:23 PM »

Thank you for the feedback wreckedcarzz... That was a Vista issue I had earlier but it should be fixed in the new version that I have uploaded at http://www.nordicfx....;id=29&Itemid=23

Let me know if it helped.

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #20 on:** August 29, 2008, 01:39 AM »

There we go, now working great. One question: Why does clicking on the little information bubble on the left make the active window (or desktop icons, if no window is active) go up by several pixels?

Very nice, hope to see some more plugins, but still handy.

jake78 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 29, 2008, 02:00 AM »

The bubble is there for two reasons... one is to enter setup if there is no more empty space on the bar due to having alot of plugins loaded. And the second is for multi-monitor setup. If you click and hold the mouse button on the bubble it will release from the desktop and go in to a move mode. You then drag it to another monitor and release it there.

Any plugin suggestions are welcome, I will add them to my todo list.

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #22 on:** September 01, 2008, 12:09 AM »

How about some type of application starter (like QuickLaunch), but with a folder type system (like the Start Menu)?

mouser · « **Reply #23 on:** September 01, 2008, 06:36 AM »

Here's an idea i have been playing with for a standalone program but it would make a perfect addin for the information bar.
The idea is to let you create progress bars for tasks or events.
An event progress bar item basically just lets you set a start and end date and shows the progress torwards that event (you might even use it to show your remaining expected lifespan), or if you had option for repeating events the progress within the day, month, year. Does that make sense?
The task progress bar item would just be a bar you could adjust manually.

jake78 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 01, 2008, 05:15 PM »

Both ideas are great, I'll look into them both!

Thank you!