swisswatch

[mouldy]

Ok, ran across an instructable about making an old laptop into a clock. Winddows of course.

There is an old linux app called "Swisswatch". I installed it via Puppy Package Manager. Only couple mentions of it, the most useful: http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/pre ... ml#options

I will say the command "swisswatch -name fancy" opens a black face dial clock with white hands and markings. Manually maximized, it expands to fit screen, though doesnt cover the desktop except for where clockface is.

Can anybody help a bit with command options necessary to open it maximized with black covering the desktop? In other words I just want to see the clock on black background. The man pages are kinda confusing how to use the options.

[mouldy]

Just ran across "clockywock" post from long ago by muggins. It sill works and kinda cool. Guessing it uses very litle resources....

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=25053

[williams2]

Xclock, maximized.

Code: Select all

xclock -bg black -fg grey -hd grey -norender

My window manager is dwm
https://dwm.suckless.org/
which maximizes all windows automatically if you set it that way.

https://i.postimg.cc/XJ5GBhjs/xclock.jpg

[williams2]

pclock maximized.

I think it is the window manager that displays a window maximized or not.
Doesn't JWM have a fullscreen key, maybe F11?
Maybe using xdotool in a start script to "press" the fullscreen key shortcut would work.

https://i.postimg.cc/nLR1pMTq/pclock.jpg

[mouldy]

Xclock, maximized.

Code: Select all

xclock -bg black -fg grey -hd grey -norender

My window manager is dwm
https://dwm.suckless.org/
which maximizes all windows automatically if you set it that way.

Worked on second try despite complaining no compatible fontset. Anyway thanks, that does exactly what I wanted. Black clock face with white numbers/hands less annoying in dark room. If using it as clock would have to make tray disappear, but thats trivial.

Sad thing is that I have some antique super slow laptops that would be great for this sort thing, but noisy fan. Really need something like one of modern netbook/cloudbook that are fanless. Just displaying a clock shouldnt be too stressful.....

Odd world where you can substitute a laptop for an alarm clock. Can get older used laptop for same price as a new alarm clock.....

[williams2]

swisswatch maximized.

I couldn't change the bg color.

Code: Select all

swisswatch -noshape -bg black -fg white

https://i.postimg.cc/kXnSTKxw/swiss2.jpg

[mouldy]

I will mention I do have wine portable. It cant handle the flip clock screensaver apps mentioned in the instructible (I found two), but clocX with RoedeKugler.png clock face option works and covers both tray and title bar automatically.

[mouldy]

There is a linux flipclock screensaver.....

https://github.com/alexanderk23/gluqlo

[mouldy]

swisswatch -name fancy -noshape -bg black -fg white

Did it, this give the fancy clock with black behind it whole screen. Well except title bar, still havent figured how to remove titlebar.

[Flash]

Mouldy, those images are too wide. They require scrolling sideways, which is silly in this case. Would you please edit them so they are about half as wide? You can do it easily with mtPaint.

[mouldy]

Mouldy, those images are too wide. They require scrolling sideways, which is silly in this case. Would you please edit them so they are about half as wide? You can do it easily with mtPaint.

I shank my first pic, my other was already correct. The others are by another person.

[Flash]

Thanks.

[MochiMoppel]

swisswatch maximized.

I couldn't change the bg color.

Code: Select all

swisswatch -noshape -bg black -fg white

Same here, but this worked:

Code: Select all

swisswatch -name swissclock -noshape -bg black -fg white

Did it, this give the fancy clock with black behind it whole screen. Well except title bar, still havent figured how to remove titlebar

There are many ways, most depend on your window manager. You could also use wmctrl to toggle fullscreen. But here is a very simple way to achieve your goal:
1) start swissclock
2) in the window menu set to "layer:above" (that's what it is called in JWM, other window managers should have similar settings)
3) move window to upper left corner until titlebar and left border are hidden behind the screen edges
4) drag bottom right window corner to bottom right screen edge. Your screen should now be filled completely by the clock with a hidden titlebar, covering also the bottom task bar.

You can move this oversized window around by dragging it with the mouse while keeping Alt key pressed.

BTW: As your screenshot shows, "fancy" turns into a Swiss egg when you stretch it but "swissclock" would retain its round shape.

[mouldy]

swisswatch maximized.

I couldn't change the bg color.

Code: Select all

swisswatch -noshape -bg black -fg white

Same here, but this worked:

Code: Select all

swisswatch -name swissclock -noshape -bg black -fg white

But here is a very simple way to achieve your goal:
1) start swissclock
2) in the window menu set to "layer:above" (that's what it is called in JWM, other window managers should have similar settings)
3) move window to upper left corner until titlebar and left border are hidden behind the screen edges
4) drag bottom right window corner to bottom right screen edge. Your screen should now be filled completely by the clock with a hidden titlebar, covering also the bottom task bar.

You can move this oversized window around by dragging it with the mouse while keeping Alt key pressed.

BTW: As your screenshot shows, "fancy" turns into a Swiss egg when you stretch it but "swissclock" would retain its round shape.

You way does work and maybe most practical. I found that if I maximize window, then in that menu click Undecorate, that title bar also goes away. It does require auto hide for tray. Where your way covers it.

So two ways. I like the Swiss egg look. But honestly all really want is something that is easy to see at night without being super annoying.

Thanks to both Williams2 and MochiMoppel. I learned something new even if I dont use computer for a clock.

I dont suppose anybody knows a way to open clock maximized from shortcut? That could be useful trick for other things too.

Oh and there is flipclock (digital clock with numbers that flip down like the original digital clocks) for linux: https://github.com/AlynxZhou/flipclock Oh two: https://github.com/alexanderk23/gluqlo Mention that cause that original Instructable turning computer to clock used couple windows flip clock screen savers. I tried both in win10 and they are ok.

[OscarTalks]

I just compiled latest version 2.3.5 of the AlynxZhou flipclock in my Wheezy Pup remaster. It looks like it might serve the purpose unless you are insisting on an analogue clock face.

It opens immediately to fullscreen by default when you launch it. (Not a maximised window so no borders and the JWM tray is hidden).

Launch it from a script in /root/Startup so you get the clock on boot or restart of X.
Press Esc or q if you want to close it and reveal the normal desktop.
Menu entry is there (or set a pinboard icon or other button) if you want to go back to the clock.

It just needs those 2 SDL2 libs so you need to check if they are present in whatever Puppy you are running. They can be added via PPM or easily compiled from source. Don't confuse them with the earlier SDL-1.2 versions of the libs.

https://github.com/AlynxZhou/flipclock
https://www.libsdl.org

[mouldy]

It takes all the challenge out of it, but ....

https://www.nayuki.io/page/full-screen-clock-javascript

Go to the links depending on clock you want and save html or svg file using browser, save wherever you want and bingo you have a clock. Need browser to open it of course.

[Flash]

Thanks, I like it!

[MochiMoppel]

"It's Alive !!!"

I find http://www.3quarks.com very interesting. Allows to configure different types of clocks and they all even work with my vintage browser (Opera 11.64)

[mouldy]

"It's Alive !!!"

I find http://www.3quarks.com very interesting. Allows to configure different types of clocks and they all even work with my vintage browser (Opera 11.64)

Wish they had a full screen version of the Berlin clock, once I figured it out, kinda grew on me.

This however is my favorite: https://analog.onlineclock.net/

Choose black background in dark mode with clock XL, then hit the "eye" button to make all the printing and links go away. This is nice night clock, just distinct enough to read but not going to annoy. And it has alarm feature built in that you can set. Course you can leave it undarkened or even choose orange background if thats what you want. They have digital version too, but the darkened version with black background hard to read.