Howto: Get a beautiful Conky 1.4.2 setup

[Camino]

Hi,
thanks for this nice tutorial...never thought that such a cool monitor exists

Just got one small problem. The memory usage is not correctly shown (have a look at the attached screenshot)

Anybody else noticed this too or is just me ?

Bye

[0okami]

i must be doing something wrong... Its still flickering and double buffer fails to load.

xorg.conf:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
	# path to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load	"i2c"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"ddc"
	Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	Load	"type1"
	Load	"vbe"
	Load 	"dbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ExplorerPS/2"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "stylus"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "stylus"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "eraser"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "eraser"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "cursor"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "cursor"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200 Ultra]"
	Driver		"nvidia"
	BusID		"PCI:2:0:0"
	# these lines were added by ookami to implement a second monitor
	Option          "TwinView" "on"
	#Option         "MetaModes" "1280x1024,1280x1024"
	#Option "MetaModes" "1024x768 +0+0, 1024x768 +1024+0;"
	Option 		"MetaModes" "1280x1024,1280x1024,1280x1024"
	Option          "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-81"
	Option          "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "56-75"
	Option          "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"   
	Option		"NoLogo" "true"
	#end dual monitor
EndSection


########adding 2nd vid card
Section "Device"
	Identifier	"NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5500]"
	Driver		"nvidia"
	BusID		"PCI:1:10:0"   
EndSection
############ end 2nd vid card


Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"SyncMaster"
	Option		"DPMS"
EndSection

################ added monitor
Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"3rd_monitor"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	30-81
	VertRefresh	56-75
EndSection
###############end added



Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"screen1"
	Device		"NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200 Ultra]"
	Monitor		"SyncMaster"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection



######### added  screen specs
Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"screen2"
	Device		"NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5500]"
	Monitor		"3rd_monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection
######## end added



Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Layout0"
	Screen		"screen1"
	Screen		"screen2" RightOf "screen1"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
	Option "Xinerama""true"
EndSection


Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

.conky_raidmax
(on Conky 1.4.2 compiled Jun 12 2006)

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
# Conky Script
# Edited by 0okami 2006-08-31
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

# set to yes if you want Conky to be forked in the background
background no

cpu_avg_samples 2
net_avg_samples 2

out_to_console no

# X font when Xft is disabled, you can pick one with program xfontsel
#font 7x12
#font 6x10
#font 7x13
font 8x13
#font 7x12
#font *mintsmild.se*
#font -*-*-*-*-*-*-34-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
#font -artwiz-snap-normal-r-normal-*-*-100-*-*-p-*-iso8859-1

# Use Xft?
use_xft no

# Xft font when Xft is enabled
xftfont Bitstream Vera Sans Mono:size=6


# Create own window instead of using desktop (required in nautilus)
own_window yes

own_window_hints undecorated,below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_colour black



# Text alpha when using Xft
xftalpha 0.8

# mail spool
mail_spool $MAIL

# Update interval in seconds
update_interval 1

# Use double buffering (reduces flicker, may not work for everyone)
double_buffer yes

# Minimum size of text area
#minimum_size 280 5
#maximum_width 150

# Draw shades?
draw_shades no

# Draw outlines?
draw_outline no

# Draw borders around text
draw_borders no

# Stippled borders?
stippled_borders 10

# border margins
border_margin 4

# border width
border_width 1

# Default colors and also border colors
default_color white
default_shade_color white
default_outline_color white

# Text alignment, other possible values are commented
#minimum_size 10 10
gap_x 13
gap_y 13
#alignment top_left
alignment top_right
#alignment bottom_left
#alignment bottom_right

# Gap between borders of screen and text

# Add spaces to keep things from moving about?  This only affects certain objects.
use_spacer no

# Subtract file system buffers from used memory?
no_buffers yes

# set to yes if you want all text to be in uppercase
uppercase no

# boinc (seti) dir
# seti_dir /opt/seti

# Possible variables to be used:
#
#      Variable         Arguments                  Description                
#  acpiacadapter                     ACPI ac adapter state.                   
#  acpifan                           ACPI fan state                           
#  acpitemp                          ACPI temperature.                        
#  adt746xcpu                        CPU temperature from therm_adt746x       
#  adt746xfan                        Fan speed from therm_adt746x             
#  battery           (num)           Remaining capasity in ACPI or APM        
#                                    battery. ACPI battery number can be      
#                                    given as argument (default is BAT0).     
#  buffers                           Amount of memory buffered                
#  cached                            Amount of memory cached                  
#  color             (color)         Change drawing color to color            
#  cpu                               CPU usage in percents                    
#  cpubar            (height)        Bar that shows CPU usage, height is      
#                                    bar's height in pixels                   
#  downspeed         net             Download speed in kilobytes              
#  downspeedf        net             Download speed in kilobytes with one     
#                                    decimal                                  
#  exec              shell command   Executes a shell command and displays    
#                                    the output in torsmo. warning: this      
#                                    takes a lot more resources than other    
#                                    variables. I'd recommend coding wanted   
#                                    behaviour in C and posting a patch :-).  
#  execi             interval, shell Same as exec but with specific interval. 
#                    command         Interval can't be less than              
#                                    update_interval in configuration.        
#  fs_bar            (height), (fs)  Bar that shows how much space is used on 
#                                    a file system. height is the height in   
#                                    pixels. fs is any file on that file      
#                                    system.                                  
#  fs_free           (fs)            Free space on a file system available    
#                                    for users.                               
#  fs_free_perc      (fs)            Free percentage of space on a file       
#                                    system available for users.              
#  fs_size           (fs)            File system size                         
#  fs_used           (fs)            File system used space                   
#  hr                (height)        Horizontal line, height is the height in 
#                                    pixels                                   
#  i2c               (dev), type, n  I2C sensor from sysfs (Linux 2.6). dev   
#                                    may be omitted if you have only one I2C  
#                                    device. type is either in (or vol)       
#                                    meaning voltage, fan meaning fan or temp 
#                                    meaning temperature. n is number of the  
#                                    sensor. See /sys/bus/i2c/devices/ on     
#                                    your local computer.                     
#  kernel                            Kernel version                           
#  loadavg           (1), (2), (3)   System load average, 1 is for past 1     
#                                    minute, 2 for past 5 minutes and 3 for   
#                                    past 15 minutes.                         
#  machine                           Machine, i686 for example                
#  mails                             Mail count in mail spool. You can use    
#                                    program like fetchmail to get mails from 
#                                    some server using your favourite         
#                                    protocol. See also new_mails.            
#  mem                               Amount of memory in use                  
#  membar            (height)        Bar that shows amount of memory in use   
#  memmax                            Total amount of memory                   
#  memperc                           Percentage of memory in use              
#  new_mails                         Unread mail count in mail spool.         
#  nodename                          Hostname                                 
#  outlinecolor      (color)         Change outline color                     
#  pre_exec          shell command   Executes a shell command one time before 
#                                    torsmo displays anything and puts output 
#                                    as text.                                 
#  processes                         Total processes (sleeping and running)   
#  running_processes                 Running processes (not sleeping),        
#                                    requires Linux 2.6                       
#  shadecolor        (color)         Change shading color                     
#  stippled_hr       (space),        Stippled (dashed) horizontal line        
#                    (height)        
#  swapbar           (height)        Bar that shows amount of swap in use     
#  swap                              Amount of swap in use                    
#  swapmax                           Total amount of swap                     
#  swapperc                          Percentage of swap in use                
#  sysname                           System name, Linux for example           
#  time              (format)        Local time, see man strftime to get more 
#                                    information about format                 
#  totaldown         net             Total download, overflows at 4 GB on     
#                                    Linux with 32-bit arch and there doesn't 
#                                    seem to be a way to know how many times  
#                                    it has already done that before torsmo   
#                                    has started.                             
#  totalup           net             Total upload, this one too, may overflow 
#  updates                           Number of updates (for debugging)        
#  upspeed           net             Upload speed in kilobytes                
#  upspeedf          net             Upload speed in kilobytes with one       
#                                    decimal                                  
#  uptime                            Uptime                                   
#  uptime_short                      Uptime in a shorter format               
#
#  seti_prog                         Seti@home current progress
#  seti_progbar      (height)        Seti@home current progress bar
#  seti_credit                       Seti@hoome total user credit


# variable is given either in format $variable or in ${variable}. Latter
# allows characters right after the variable and must be used in network
# stuff because of an argument
#${font Dungeon:style=Bold:pixelsize=10}I can change the font as well
#${font Verdana:size=10}as many times as I choose
#${font Perry:size=10}Including UTF-8,
#${font Luxi Mono:size=10}justo como este texto que o google traduz fêz o português
# stuff after 'TEXT' will be formatted on screen
#${font Grunge:size=12}${time %a  %b  %d}${alignr -25}${time %k:%M}
#
# # # # # beyond this point (TEXT) will be on screen # # # # #


TEXT
$nodename: $sysname $kernel
System Uptime:$color $uptime 

System/CPU: $machine (1.8Ghz)
${cpugraph 70,290 000000 aa0000} 
${voffset -67}   Current CPU Freq. ${freq_dyn_g}Ghz. (${color ffaaaa}${cpu}%$color) 
   Temp:  ${acpitemp}c /  ${acpitempf}F
   Load:$color $loadavg
   Processes: $processes  Running: $running_processes


${color orange}Name              PID     CPU%   MEM%
${color #ffffff} ${top name 1} ${top pid 1} ${top cpu 1} ${top mem 1}
${color #bbbbbb} ${top name 2} ${top pid 2} ${top cpu 2} ${top mem 2}
${color #aaaaaa} ${top name 3} ${top pid 3} ${top cpu 3} ${top mem 3}
${color #888888} ${top name 4} ${top pid 4} ${top cpu 4} ${top mem 4}$color

RAM Usage: $color $mem of $memmax ${color orange}$memperc%$color ${membar 8,22}

${color orange}Name              PID     CPU%   MEM%
${color #ffffff} ${top_mem name 1} ${top_mem pid 1} ${top_mem cpu 1} ${top_mem mem 1}
${color #bbbbbb} ${top_mem name 2} ${top_mem pid 2} ${top_mem cpu 2} ${top_mem mem 2}
${color #aaaaaa} ${top_mem name 3} ${top_mem pid 3} ${top_mem cpu 3} ${top_mem mem 3}
${color #888888} ${top_mem name 4} ${top_mem pid 4} ${top_mem cpu 4} ${top_mem mem 4}
${color #666666} ${top_mem name 5} ${top_mem pid 5} ${top_mem cpu 5} ${top_mem mem 5}$color


Disk Drive: hda (ext3 Linux)
${color 222222}${fs_bar 16,300 /}$color$color
 ${voffset -20}${color white}${fs_size /} $color| ${color #ff0000}${fs_used /} $color| ${color #00ff00}${fs_free /} ${color}| I/O: ${diskio /}  

Disk Drive: hda5 (fat32 os-share)
${color 222222}${fs_bar 16,300 /home/ookami/os-share}$color
 ${voffset -20}${color white}${fs_size /home/ookami/os-share} $color| ${color #ff0000}${fs_used /home/ookami/os-share} $color| ${color #00ff00}${fs_free /home/ookami/os-share} ${color}| I/O: ${diskio /home/ookami/os-share}  

Disk Drive: sda (Cruzer Micro)
${color 222222}${fs_bar 16,300 /media/usbdisk}$color
 ${voffset -20}${color white}${fs_size /media/usbdisk} $color| ${color #ff0000}${fs_used /media/usbdisk} $color| ${color #00ff00}${fs_free /media/usbdisk} ${color}| I/O: ${diskio /media/usbdisk}  

Disk Drive: sda (XSDRIVE)
${color 222222}${fs_bar 16,300 /media/XSDRIVE}$color
 ${voffset -20}${color white}${fs_size /media/XSDRIVE} $color| ${color #ff0000}${fs_used /media/XSDRIVE} $color| ${color #00ff00}${fs_free /media/XSDRIVE} ${color}| I/O: ${diskio /media/XSDRIVE}  


Swap: $swap | $swapmax | - $swapperc% ${swapbar 8,100}


${color #BBBBBB} Wired (IP ${addr eth1})  
${downspeedgraph eth1 45,140 ff0000 0000ff}	  ${upspeedgraph eth1 45,140 0000ff ff0000}
${voffset -40}  Down: ${downspeedf eth1} k/s	Up: ${upspeedf eth1} k/s
  Total: ${totaldown eth1}		Total: ${totalup eth1}

${color #BBBBBB} WiFi (IP ${addr wlan0})  
${downspeedgraph ath0 45,140 ff0000 0000ff}	  ${upspeedgraph ath0 45,140 0000ff ff0000}
${voffset -40}  Down: ${downspeedf ath0} k/s	Up: ${upspeedf ath0} k/s
  Total: ${totaldown ath0}		Total: ${totalup ath0}

terminal output:

ookami@navi-001:~$ conky -c .conky_raidmax
Conky: desktop window (e00054) is subwindow of root window (20e)
Conky: window type - normal
Conky: hint - undecorated
Conky: hint - below
Conky: hint - sticky
Conky: hint - skip_taskbar
Conky: hint - skip_pager
Conky: drawing to created window (2600002)
Conky: failed to set up double buffer
Conky: drawing to single buffer

This returns nothing:

ookami@navi-001:~$ xdpyinfo|grep DOUBLE
ookami@navi-001:~$
ookami@navi-001:~$

Looking at my Xorg.0.log (pertaining to double buffer...:

(II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
	compiled for 7.0.0, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: X.Org Server Extension
	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 0.2
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER

^ looks ok... there are no errors

Not sure what im missing. Ive set this up on other machines easly... but for some reason, today its not going to well... Im probably over looking something simple as i've been up for 18 hours so far... so, if you see it, point it out please.

zzzzZZZ

[Anonii]

Some questions:

I usually reach the Desktop by using the "Hide All Windows" button, and that probably hides the Conky window too => I cant see it
How can I stop it from minimizing or something?

Also, does it support other players too? Like Banshee?

[seldon77]

yes you are right

a few weeks ago i included some code in the last line of .conkyrc that will make sure conky is on the root window every 30 seconds or so (wmctl). Just wait a few seconds and conky should reappear.

.... yep ... just tried it - it works.

Some questions:

I usually reach the Desktop by using the "Hide All Windows" button, and that probably hides the Conky window too => I cant see it
How can I stop it from minimizing or something?

Also, does it support other players too? Like Banshee?

[Bigga]

Hi evryone! Great tute there pal.

I've got one question though. I'm running xubuntu on a server install and I was wondering if there was anyway to get conky running as a screensaver? or sending it's output to one?

I ask because I don't sit in front of the server but it would be nice to be able to see all the info from across the room. Any ideas?

[one_stinky_bum]

can anyone tell me how I can set it into the right hand corner as in the instructions?

I use "alignment top_right" and it works on aiglx+compiz. Maybe this would help.

I have some questions of my own: can I enable alpha blending for the graphs + can I make them such that they don't fill the area under the curve? How do I make it appear on all workspaces? It would be nice to exclude compiz shadows from the conky window.
Thanks.

[k9brand]

Mine still flickers as well

Also, everytime conky updates itself, my screen loses focus...

[hikaricore]

I use "alignment top_right" and it works on aiglx+compiz. Maybe this would help.

I have some questions of my own: can I enable alpha blending for the graphs + can I make them such that they don't fill the area under the curve? How do I make it appear on all workspaces? It would be nice to exclude compiz shadows from the conky window.
Thanks.

if you have devilspie make a file in the .devilspie directory inside your home dir called conky.ds and copy paste:

(if
    (matches (application_name) "conky")
    (begin
        (pin)
    )
)

then save.

if you're already using devilspie you'll have it set to autostart so just enjoy the on all desktops feature

if not you'll need to do:

sudo apt-get install devilspie

and proceed with the above mentioned instructions after placing devilspie in your startup settings then starting it manually


sorry if there are any typos in this message i'm currently fighting with a text color problem whic stops me from being able to see when posting in odd colored forms

--aaron

[jpyanowski]

I really want to thank you for this bit of informative software. I thought I had everything done but had left the upstream and downstream expressions referring to eth0 and not wlan0. Now it's looking gooooood!!!!!

[one_stinky_bum]

Thanks for the tip hikaricore. Turns out I was using an older version of conky! I got the latest deb from the first page and now I can do "own_window_type override" and I'm all set. The last thing that baffles me is the poor correlation between the network upspeed value and the graph generated by "upspeedgraph". It seems to me that the upspeedgraph mimics the downspeed graph.