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.

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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...)

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

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.