These icons are used extensively in EcoPup, a puplet I developed for use in a cybercafe I ran, and later customized for home use. They have proved very useful in giving a good first impression of Puppy Linux (v. important). They also provide a "tooltip" function when hovered over, and launch a simple splash screen. User feedback is very important, especially on slow computers. When they click on something they like to know something is actually happening as a result...this is especially true of slower machines like those Puppy is designed for where opening an application can take several seconds or more.
They are based on a script by guesttoo, the origional post about them I have lost. Technically I have very little knowlege of what they actually are...they seem to be some kind of subfolder hybrid launcher with a script "inside" that runs when they are clicked to launch an application and detect a double click. Inside they also have a file for the tooltip text when hovered over, and an xpm file for the icon graphic. You get "inside" by right clicking them and selecting "look inside", and a rox folder comes up with the files. I have also successfully put programs "inside" the icons...making them very portable, i.e. the executables are inside the folder. They can then be dragged and dropped between different pup_saves to transfer entire programs in one go....very powerful. None of those are in this pack however.
The script inside that runs when clicked is typically something like this
Code: Select all
#!/bin/sh
# roxapp wrapper 0.0.1 - GuestToo - Feb 10, 2007
[ -r /tmp/firefox2.lck ] && exit
> /tmp/firefox2.lck;(sleep 3;rm -f /tmp/firefox2.lck)&
DISPLAY_TIME=6
if which gxmessage > /dev/null
then
gxmessage -timeout $DISPLAY_TIME -buttons "" -bg "#d0ffd0" -borderless -center -title "Firefox" "
Firefox is starting" &
else
xmessage -timeout $DISPLAY_TIME -buttons "" -bg "#d0ffd0" -center -fn "10x20" -title "Firefox" " Firefox is starting " &
fi
export MOZ_DISABLE_PANGO=1
export G_FILENAME_ENCODING=UTF-8
exec defaultbrowser "$@"
Like I say, there are arguments in the for and against camp for double clicking vs single clicking. Although I prefer single clicking (now I am used to it) double clicking is so intuitive for new users. This gives the best of both worlds...both single clicking and double clicking them produces just one instance of an application - what new and seasoned puppiers expect to happen.
I realise a lot of the code is copied in each of the icons (BAD programming practice), and many things are guessed at. I would also like to include a connection check for the launchers for apps that require a working internet connection (i.e. the browser). This will inform the user their internet connection is not currently setup, and offer to either work offline or launch the Internet Connection Wizard. Any tips on how to do this appreciated.
Im also nervous about disclosing some of my "nasty hacks" to the wider puppy community...but they work and they serve an important purpose! I have personally introduced linux to hundreds of people over the last few years, and I know from that experience that these make one huge difference to "linux newbs" first impression and initial acceptence of a new operating system....so many people are quick to dismiss what is unfamiliar and scurry back to their "comfort zones" in proprietary software.
Im hoping that by releasing them, they can be (vastly) improved by someone with more technical coding skill than I (i.e practically anyone on this forum). From what Ive seen of the difference they make to the impression that all important first boot, and puppy linux's rare and honorable intentions of being accessible to "linux newbs", that a vastly improved and "technically correct" version, or derivative with similar/better functions, will one day be included in mainstream puppy linux. I sincerely hope this is achievable.
The icons in this pack Im going to have to supply as a zip attachment to this post (my webserver is temporarily down with all of the software downloads and fixes for 4.2). I will edit it with some screenshots soon. It currently contains only the desktop icons used in EcoPup.