How to make destop panel (e.g. like Plank, Docky,Screenlets)

ProkopHapala

Hi,

I would like to make something like Deskop Environment Extension ( new silde-panel on the border of screen with icons, independnet of original destop environement ) ... something like Cairo Dock, Docky, Plank, Screenlets, Desklets

In perticular what I think I need:

run at startup
Overide standard windows focus management. The panel should be possible to stay on the top and stay in background
capture global keyboard and mouse
- activate when mouse hit lower bottom of screen
- activate when I hit ~ or F1 key irrespective what application has currentlyu the focus

I found following wiggets which may be relevant to that. But I still miss something:

My Background:
I have some experience with Qt (mostly PyQt but also C++) to make GUI for standard application. I have quite lot of experience developing physics simulations and 3D graphics in C++ and python, but not much developing user interface.

mrjj

Hi
For global hotkeys, you have to use platform API
Like
http://amin-ahmadi.com/2015/11/14/how-to-use-system-wide-hotkeys-in-your-qt-application/
for windows.
For linux, i would inspect something like
http://www.nongnu.org/xbindkeys/xbindkeys.html
to see how it does.

Regarding the stay on the top and stay in background feature.
This will depend heavily on the Windows manger if supported/allowed.