When designing a Conky theme, it's always important to test how everything appears on the desktop — whether variables are displaying correctly, if any errors occur due to incorrect syntax, or if the layout needs tweaking. While doing this through the terminal is possible, it can quickly become tedious, especially during multiple iterations.
That’s why I find Conky-Manager2 to be an essential tool. It gives you the ability to enable, disable, and position your themes visually, saving time and effort in the development process.
What is Conky-Manager2?
Conky Manager is a graphical front-end for managing Conky configuration files. Using this tool, you can easily enable or disable Conky themes, as well as toggle modules for each configuration. You can also set the position, size, and transparency of each widget (and more) directly from the GUI.
While not all configurations can be handled via this manager — such as update intervals or custom theme borders — it covers most of the common settings used in everyday theming.
How to Install Conky-Manager2
As far as I know, the developer of Conky-Manager2 is different from the main Conky developer. However, the project is still active and available through several sources depending on your Linux distribution.
1. From GitHub (zcot's version)
The most reliable and maintained version of Conky-Manager2 can be found on GitHub: https://github.com/zcot/conky-manager2
git clone https://github.com/zcot/conky-manager2
cd conky-manager2
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh
Once installed, launch it using the application menu or by typing conky-manager in a terminal.
2. Debian/Ubuntu (using .deb packages)
You can find prebuilt .deb packages online, or build it from source. If you download a .deb file:
sudo dpkg -i conky-manager2_*.deb
sudo apt -f install
3. Arch Linux / Manjaro
Use the AUR repository to install with yay or another helper:
yay -S conky-manager2-git
4. Flatpak or Snap?
Currently, Conky-Manager2 is not available via Flatpak or Snap. Manual installation or source builds are recommended.
Key Features
- Live Preview: Instantly enable/disable themes with one click.
- Widget Control: Adjust position, alignment, size, and transparency via GUI.
- Multiple Theme Management: Useful for testing or showcasing multiple designs.
- User-Friendly: Ideal for beginners or users who don't want to edit config files manually.
Limitations
While powerful, the tool cannot fully manage every feature of Conky. Lua-based widgets, real-time scripting, or very specific drawing parameters often require manual editing. Always test your theme outside the manager before publishing.
Example Screenshots
Final Thoughts
Conky-Manager2 is a useful utility for both beginners and seasoned theme creators. It allows for quick testing, visual tweaks, and switching between complex setups without needing terminal commands or restarting Conky repeatedly.
It won’t replace manual configuration for advanced designs, but it certainly saves time and helps prevent frustration during theme development. For anyone serious about desktop customization, it's a valuable tool to have in your workflow.
Happy theming!
– Closebox73
0 Comments