[all variants] Conky Rhythmbox Python Script

[kaivalagi]

I have switched OS and now use ArchLinux rather than any debian based distro. It looks like the continuing support of my scripts will be without ppa updates, and instead my time will support AUR based installs once I get to understand them. I will provide the usual tarball downloads of the source for non Arch users from within these forum.

Intro

This is a simple script to display what is current playing in Rhythmbox. The script talks to Rhythmbox using dbus, and allows the outputting of track info and the use of templates...

There is a README with the install and attached here, I suggest you give it atleast a quick once over!

Basic Install

Method 1: Using apt

1) Create the necessary list file for access to the conky repository by running one of these.

Karmic Koala:

sudo wget -q http://www.kaivalagi.com/ubuntu/ppa/m-buck-conky-karmic.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/m-buck-conky-karmic.list

Jaunty Jackalope:

sudo wget -q http://www.kaivalagi.com/ubuntu/ppa/m-buck-conky-jaunty.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/m-buck-conky-jaunty.list

Intrepid Ibex:

sudo wget -q http://www.kaivalagi.com/ubuntu/ppa/m-buck-conky-intrepid.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/m-buck-conky-intrepid.list

Hardy Heron:

sudo wget -q http://www.kaivalagi.com/ubuntu/ppa/m-buck-conky-hardy.list -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/m-buck-conky-hardy.list

2) Add the repository public key to your apt setup by running this:

wget -q http://www.kaivalagi.com/ubuntu/ppa/m-buck-conky-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -

3) Now that is done simply run the following to install

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install conkyrhythmbox

Method 2: Using deb file

Download and run the attached .deb file

Warning, this will not ensure you are kept up-to-date. Only method 1 will do that

Method 3: Using tar.gz file

Extract all the contents of the attached tar.gz file to an appropriate folder, and edit the conkyRhythmbox script to point to the correct location where conkyRhythmbox.py is.

Unless you are using a non-Debian based OS I don't suggest this. Users of Debian/Ubuntu flavour OS's should ideally use method 1.

Again will will not receive updates using this method. ONLY method 1 can do this for you

All further details on setup are orientated around the deb package based install, so may differ from what you choose your setup to be, if done using the tarball.


Usage Help

You can get the current help options at any time by running (change the path as necessary):

conkyRhythmbox -h

or

conkyRhythmbox --help

Usage: conkyRhythmbox [options]
Options:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -t FILE, --template=FILE
                        define a template file to generate output in one call.
                        A displayable item in the file is in the form
                        [--datatype=TI]. The following are possible options
                        within each item: --datatype,--ratingchar. Note that
                        the short forms of the options are not currently
                        supported! None of these options are applicable at
                        command line when using templates.
  -d DATATYPE, --datatype=DATATYPE
                        [default: TI] The data type options are: ST (status),
                        CA (coverart), TI (title), AL (album), AR (artist), GE
                        (genre), YR (year), TN (track number), FN (file name),
                        LE (length), PP (current position in percent), PT
                        (current position in time), VO (volume), RT (rating).
                        Not applicable at command line when using templates.
  -r CHAR, --ratingchar=CHAR
                        [default: *] The output character for the ratings
                        scale. Command line option overridden if used in
                        templates.
  -s TEXT, --statustext=TEXT
                        If defined the status text for the player will be
                        overridden. The text must be comma delimited in the
                        form 'Playing,Paused,Stopped'. Command line option
                        overridden if used in templates.
  -n, --nounknownoutput
                        Turn off unknown output such as "Unknown" for title
                        and "0:00" for length. Command line option overridden
                        if used in templates.
  -v, --verbose         Request verbose output, not a good idea when running
                        through conky!
  -V, --version         Displays the version of the script.
  --errorlogfile=FILE   If a filepath is set, the script appends errors to the
                        filepath.
  --infologfile=FILE    If a filepath is set, the script appends info to the
                        filepath.

Development History

Development history going forwards can be seen here https://code.launchpad.net/~m-buck/+junk/conkyrhythmbox
All packages available from me can be found here:

1. Conky Packages - https://launchpad.net/~m-buck/+archive/conky
2. gtk-desktop-info - https://launchpad.net/~m-buck/+archive/gtk-desktop-info
3. Rhythmbox Packages - https://launchpad.net/~m-buck/+archive/rhythmbox

I have also created a new website, for now it is relatively sparse, but it does details my conky scripts to a certain degree. You can find it here: http://www.kaivalagi.com

[HippyRandall]

W00T!!!
I can now get rid of exaile! at least until they come out with 0.3 or w/e it is. Thanks man. Now to figure out a new layout...

Hippy

[kaivalagi]

I couldn't help myself, I found out how to get the dbus info for Rhythmbox so had to do it!

I am switching to Rhythmbox now too...

[kaivalagi]

UPDATE

I've updated the script as follows:

• Updated to handle when no music is playing, no unnecessary dbus calls will be made
• Updated rating output generation to use ljust string function

The first post attachments have been updated, and the apt package is available

[mp3_freak_721]

Noob here: how do you put it into you config file?

[kaivalagi]

Originally Posted by mp3_freak_721 Noob here: how do you put it into you config file?

Okay, if you install this using method 1 all the hard work is done for you without any possible problems...

Once you have installed the script can be run from the command line and through an exec call in conky as "conkyRhythmbox"

There is an example provided with the install, which if you open in an editor you'll see how things work. The file is: /usr/share/conkyrhythmbox/example/conkyrc

To run this example conky for this script, the following should be entered into the terminal:

conky -c /usr/share/conkyrhythmbox/example/conkyrc

All of this is in the README.txt file attached in the first post of this thread, I suggest you have a quick read

Any issues just ask...