Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

rarsa

After reading that people are really using the traybar volume mini-app, and hearing sugestions to have a full featured volume mixer that looks good, I decide to take up the challenge and in the process learn more about tcl and gnocl.

This application is eerily similar to the zmixer sound mixer included in puppy as of 2.14.
Both applications control volume, both are native GTK and both applications have sliders.

Here show with a GTK XAqua theme (click to see full size image)

The similarities end there, here are some of the pvolume-mixer highlights:
Some functional:
- It includes controls for all the different devices available to /dev/mixer, that means that the more capabilities your sound card has, the more controls will show. (up to the 13 devices supported by /dev/mixer)
- It includes balance controls for each device that has a left and a right level
- It reflects changes to the volume levels from external applications (e.g. if you move the volume slider in gxine it will also move on pvolume-mixer)
- It can be launched from the tray mini-volume.
- Option to selectivelly hide level controls.
- Fine control spinner to set the volume preciselly

Some technical
- It's 1/4 the size of zmixer (6.5Kb vs. 23.9Kb) and I'd expect that it'll compress even better to the sfs file.
- It is only 225 lines of code including generous spacing and a few comments. This means, only 154 lines of usable code.

It depends on:
- setvol: Already included on the Puppy LiveCD
- gnocl: Download it from here. It's just 125 Kb and I will be using it for many other projects.

To-do:
- Internationalize it and make it fully localizable.
- If requested, ability so save volume settings for later use.

zigbert · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 5482 Location: Valåmoen, Norway

you are good !!!

WhoDo

klhrevolutionist · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 1124

Great work rarsa ! Will be replacing zmixer with this mixer.

Hopefully it is included in the next standard release.

Pizzasgood · Posted: Wed 21 Feb 2007, 19:14 Post_subject:

Goodie. When I free up some time I'll add this to my local Pizzapup, at least until I make my retro-themed version.

vovchik · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 1263 Location: Ukraine

Dear rarsa,

I just downloaded the pvolume dotpup and installed it. When I try to run, Tcl starts sputtering as follows:

invalid command name "dict"
while executing
"dict set devDict $deviceId name $deviceName"
(procedure "addDevice" line 3)
invoked from within
"addDevice 0 "master" "master""
(procedure "loadDevicesDictionary" line 3)
invoked from within
"loadDevicesDictionary"
(file "/usr/sbin/pvolume-mixer.tcl" line 223)

I installd gnocl (overwriting an older version) and tried to run pvolume in Tcl 8.5 and 8.4xxxTLS with no luck. Am I missing the "dict" program? My system is Puppy 2.10

With kind regards,
vovchik

rarsa · Posted: Wed 21 Feb 2007, 20:16 Post_subject:

What version of Puppy are you using? that's odd.

vovchik · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 1263 Location: Ukraine

Dear rarsa,

It may be that my souped-up Puppy 2.10 is to blame, or rather, my mods to the standard Puppy 2.10. I have several versions of Tcl and chose the latest two for testing pvolume. I don't know the Tcl language (and would, if at all possible, want to steer clear of it, since I have my hands full with C, bash and Gambas). I am beginning to think that the problem is with my version of GTK (perhaps a library incompatibility with 2.8...), but, then, everything else seems to work.

With kind regards,
vovchik

PS. I think that using tcl with GTK widgets and theming is a splendid idea for Puppy, since Tcl progs are relatively small and don't require compilation. Without the GTK libs they can be somewhat off-putting in terms of desktop integration, and we all want pretty puppies, I gather. Zenity, gxmessage, perl and bash could also be exploited nicely, in addition to MU's wxbasic scripting, in order to keep Puppy's weight down and still provide a uniform and pleasant user experience.

Kal · Posted: Wed 21 Feb 2007, 22:29 Post_subject: Balance Control

Hi rarsa,

Looks really nice, NO problems installing on Puppy 2.14. The balance control seems to be jerky and will only return to the center with the volume muted. This will be a good addition to Puppy over Zmix. I have faith in you, that the balance can be fixed.

Good Luck, Kal

rarsa

Flash · Posted: Thu 22 Feb 2007, 00:37 Post_subject:

Rarsa, I downloaded both dotpups. Gnocl seemed to install ok. Pvolume-mixer seemed to install, but when I said ok to the last window asking to refresh the window manager, nothing happened. Nothing has been added to the Menu and the volume control looks the same.

rarsa · Posted: Thu 22 Feb 2007, 01:04 Post_subject:

Kal · Posted: Thu 22 Feb 2007, 01:31 Post_subject:

Flash.
For 2.14's menu, I did a "fixmenus" in terminal and then restarted JWM. Puppy sound mixer was then in the Multimedia menu.
Kal

rarsa · Posted: Thu 22 Feb 2007, 02:02 Post_subject:

Nathan F · Posted: Thu 22 Feb 2007, 15:11 Post_subject:

Quite handy, grabbed all the available devices on my soundcard just as advertised. It is slightly jerky in some situations, but I chalk that up to the slowness of this particular box and the fact that both Audacious and Opera were running also at the same time. You've got me sold on Gnocl. Also, this mixer will be in the next Grafpup snapshot.

Thanks,
Nathan