Home Forums Wiki Doc Install Extras Screenshots Source Code Projects Blog Users Groups Register
Glx-Dock / Cairo-Dock List of forums Ideas | Propositions Central Dashboard
The latest stable release is the *3.4.0* : How to install it here.
Note: We just switched from BZR to Git on Github! (only to host the code and your future pull requests)
Ideas | Propositions

Subjects Author Language Messages Last message
[Locked] Central Dashboard
jesuisbenjamin English 10 fabounet [Read]
15 April 2011 à 12:42

jesuisbenjamin, Tuesday 12 April 2011 à 18:17


Subscription date : 28 October 2009
Messages : 415
Here again with another idea.

I'm looking at the various applets providing information, usually in a dialogue. Each applet provides bits of information, some are even redundant. I have a calendar popping up from the clock applet and another calendar from the calendar applet.

Most of these applets provide already with some form of minimalised information: the clock applet gives the time, the calendar applet--the date, the weather applet--the weather etc.

So i am thinking: why not have a central dashboard where all the detailed information would be displayed. I am talking about calendar, weather details, running tasks, various gauges and sensors, a kind of Conky. This would centralise efforts to one element, which other applets can solicitate. I imagine this dashboard to appear in a style which is already added to the tasklist i believe (subdock to replace main dock).

This would give a nice feel to Cairo: it would more look like a place from which you want to control your computer and retrieve info.

Thoughts?

taiebot65, Tuesday 12 April 2011 à 19:22


Subscription date : 26 October 2008
Messages : 1904
+10000 we talked about this a while ago i wanted all those information in an applet called log-info. And wanted it to look like gwibber

http://jimmac.musichall.cz/images/blog/gwibber-darkilouche-thumb.png

but instead of faces it would have been icons of the applications..

But if you have any skill for doing a mockup that might challenge fabounet

nochka85, Tuesday 12 April 2011 à 21:34


Subscription date : 29 November 2007
Messages : 7408
And what about Doncky

jesuisbenjamin, Tuesday 12 April 2011 à 21:39


Subscription date : 28 October 2009
Messages : 415
Sure Doncky is here, or rather the information is available. What i'm suggesting is rather how you present this information and how simple the interface remains. By creating a single dashboard for all information on machine, system and world you create a safe and sound environment for the user and you make it easy for the developer too. It also really integrates the dock in a desktop environment, especially when the dock, like Cairo, is more than a launcher.

jesuisbenjamin, Tuesday 12 April 2011 à 22:11


Subscription date : 28 October 2009
Messages : 415
Here is a quick mockup of the idea of a central dashboard.
This is somehow related to the older thread on how a subdock could replace the main dock.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_7mkhSDYn8TQ/TaSxbVzB63I/AAAAAAAACPo/TqYvClejxlM/s720/dashboard_mockup.png

nochka85, Wednesday 13 April 2011 à 13:00


Subscription date : 29 November 2007
Messages : 7408
I really like the fourth picture

lylambda, Wednesday 13 April 2011 à 13:40


Subscription date : 06 September 2009
Messages : 1635
I really like this "dashboard" idea ! That can used for a lot of things, general and social informations as you say, but why not an integrate menu or the CD config too ?

PS : jesuisbenjamin, it's the better comics I never read

jesuisbenjamin, Wednesday 13 April 2011 à 13:46


Subscription date : 28 October 2009
Messages : 415
I think there should be different kinds of dashboard gathering different kind of information:

  • computer / world info (which eventually could be separate dashboards too, if they are full of very detailed information, which could be nice too).
  • RSS / Microblogging / Chat (although chat could be kept separate)
  • Cairo-Configuration, which would be the current configuration panel but in the form of dashboard
  • OS menu, which should display categories etc. like the current GMenu applet.


One dashboard for all the above would be confusing.

fabounet, Wednesday 13 April 2011 à 16:47


Subscription date : 30 November 2007
Messages : 17118

So i am thinking: why not have a central dashboard where all the detailed information would be displayed. I am talking about calendar, weather details, running tasks, various gauges and sensors, a kind of Conky. This would centralise efforts to one element, which other applets can solicitate. I imagine this dashboard to appear in a style which is already added to the tasklist i believe (subdock to replace main dock).


what about grouping the applets in sub-docks, according to their function ?

or even, placing them as desklets on the Compiz Widget Layer ?

jesuisbenjamin, Wednesday 13 April 2011 à 17:04


Subscription date : 28 October 2009
Messages : 415
Placing them on the Compiz Widget Layer would definitely be an option, but the main point is still not addressed.
This main point is to have a unique source of information, with detailed information, while the icons on the dock provide bits of that information. I am talking about grouping and centralising information of a same kind instead of running various concurring applets who may at times provide redundant information.
Also placing the info the Widget Layer does not allow for several dashboards to co-exist, because there is only one widget layer.
By soliciting one of several dashboards you can group similar type of information in each, as with a Communication (RSS/Microbloging/Email/Chat) Dashboard.

Subdocks are clumsy imo and only add another level of clicks. Why go around when you can go straight?

I understand it's a big step to see a dashboard coming into Cairo, but i also see how desktop environment is evolving and how much information is abunding. I believe it's the task of an interface like Cairo to give that info fast and clear. By integrating this information, organising it and making it accessible, the Dock becomes a more valuable interface for the user.

fabounet, Friday 15 April 2011 à 12:42


Subscription date : 30 November 2007
Messages : 17118
well +1 on that one, but I'm still not sure that we want to see the weather when we ask for the calendar, or vice-versa.

Ideas | Propositions

Subjects Author Language Messages Last message
[Locked] Central Dashboard
jesuisbenjamin English 10 fabounet [Read]
15 April 2011 à 12:42


Glx-Dock / Cairo-Dock List of forums Ideas | Propositions Central Dashboard Top

Online users :

Powered by ElementSpeak © 2007 Adrien Pilleboue, 2009-2013 Matthieu Baerts.
Dock based on CSS Dock Menu (Ndesign) with jQuery. Icons by zgegball
Cairo-Dock is a free software under GNU-GPL3 licence. First stable version created by Fabounet.
Many thanks to TuxFamily for the web Hosting and Mav for the domain name.