How to write an application for the system tray in Linux

Question

How do I write my application so it'll live in the system tray on Linux? In fact, just like CheckGmail.

As with CheckGmail, I'd also like some sort of popup box to appear when I hover the tray icon.

Is there an API, class or something for doing this? All I'm able to find seems to be for Windows.

If I have to be language specific, then preferably in C/C++ but a solution in Python will most likely also do.

Thanks.

linux doesn't have a system tray - your window manager might - which one are you using? — anon
– anon, Commented Jul 29, 2009 at 22:38
Yeah sorry, I use Xmonad with xmobar. trayer as my system tray. But I'm not sure why it's relevant to my question? — user50685
– user50685, Commented Jul 29, 2009 at 22:46
(It's not relevant, not since the freedesktop spec. (which was the whole point of having it.)) — Anders Eurenius
– Anders Eurenius, Commented Jul 30, 2009 at 21:06

pevik · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-10 11:35:12Z

27

The Qt framework contains a QSystemTrayIcon class. This means that you can write an application in C++ or Python (or any other language with Qt bindings, including C#, Ada, Pascal, Perl, PHP and Ruby) and run your application on Windows, Linux, Mac or any other supported Qt operating system. I should add that Qt applications generally do a pretty good job of looking native on whatever operating system you are using without very much effort (even between Gnome/KDE on Linux). Qt also has excellent documentation, lots of sample code, a generous license and is well-maintained.

edited Feb 10, 2016 at 11:35

pevik

4,8513 gold badges40 silver badges51 bronze badges

answered Jul 29, 2009 at 22:42

Adam Batkin

53.3k9 gold badges128 silver badges115 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Anders Eurenius · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-29 22:38:30Z

8

python-eggtrayicon

here's the example that comes with the debian package python-eggtrayicon in debian/testing...

#!/usr/bin/python
import pygtk
pygtk.require("2.0")
import gtk
import egg.trayicon
t = egg.trayicon.TrayIcon("MyFirstTrayIcon")
t.add(gtk.Label("Hello"))
t.show_all()
gtk.main()

It just shows a label in the notification area . (Search on that, and you'll probably get much better hits...)

answered Jul 29, 2009 at 22:38

Anders Eurenius

4,2342 gold badges26 silver badges20 bronze badges

1 Comment

pevik Over a year ago

Note: currently not in debian (packages.debian.org/python-eggtrayicon, packages.qa.debian.org/gnome-python-extras).

Kaleb Pederson · Accepted Answer · 2024-01-12 22:48:37Z

5

Qt is cross platform and has support for the system tray. Its Python bindings are pretty good as well. See the example application for further details.

edited Jan 12, 2024 at 22:48

answered Jul 29, 2009 at 22:41

Kaleb Pederson

46.7k21 gold badges105 silver badges148 bronze badges

2 Comments

scrat.squirrel Over a year ago

the url provided has rotten :( please paste actual code/text from it.

Kaleb Pederson Over a year ago

I've updated the links for now. I'll try to put together a concise example later.

Neil · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-05 09:03:14Z

2

From a python prompt try this.

import gtk

icon = gtk.StatusIcon()
icon.set_from_stock(gtk.STOCK_ABOUT)

gtk.main()

You should see an icon in the system tray.

See this snippet for a bigger example.

answered May 5, 2015 at 9:03

Neil

9,54310 gold badges47 silver badges50 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to write an application for the system tray in Linux

4 Answers 4

Comments

python-eggtrayicon

1 Comment

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

Comments

python-eggtrayicon

1 Comment

2 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related