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Updated Jan 20, 2009 by james.su
Labels: Featured, Phase-Deploy
QuickStart  
A quick start guide to Google Gadgets for Linux.

Project Description

Google Gadgets for Linux provides a platform for running desktop gadgets under Linux, catering to the unique needs of Linux users. We are compatible with the gadgets written for Google Desktop for Windows as well as the Universal Gadgets on iGoogle. Following Linux norms, this project is open-sourced under the Apache License.

The Windows and Mac versions of Google Desktop has provided gadget hosting functionality on Windows and Mac for a while now and the Linux version of Google Gadgets will extend this platform to Linux users. By enabling cross-platform gadgets, a large library of existing gadgets are immediately available to Linux users. In addition, gadget developers will benefit from a much larger potential user base without having to learn a new API.

There's two main components to the application: one is a common gadget library responsible for running and presenting a gadget, and the other is a host program that allows the user to choose gadgets and run them on the desktop. Currently we have hosts written for GTK+ and QT, with the GTK+ host offering a sidebar similar to that of Google Desktop for Windows.

Quick Start Guide

Thank you for your interest in Google Gadgets for Linux. Here's some pointers to get started:

Building and Running the Code

All of the code are stored in our Subversion repository. You can get instructions on downloading the code here:

http://code.google.com/p/google-gadgets-for-linux/source/checkout

Once checked out, you'll want to build the code in order to run it. Read the building instructions Wiki page for details.

ggl-gtk is the output binary name for the GTK+ host. To run the code with default settings, type:

/usr/local/bin/ggl-gtk

(Assuming it's installed in the default prefix: /usr/local)

This brings up a simple window with a button allowing you to add gadgets to be run. All added gadgets are displayed right on the desktop. Try it and see how things go!

We also have a sidebar host that should be familiar to anyone who has used the Google Gadgets for Windows. The sidebar is a vertical bar where gadgets can attach on the side of the screen. To run the sidebar:

/usr/local/bin/ggl-gtk -s

In order to run it in background mode, just use -bg option, such as:

/usr/local/bin/ggl-gtk -s -bg

For best results, we recommend a recent system with software and hardware support for alpha-blended windows. Specifically, X Windows with the XComposite extension installed and a version of GTK+ greater or equal to 2.10 are preferred. Otherwise, the gadgets will show up on an opaque background that doesn't convey the same glitz that a newer system would.

Install from binary package

If you don't want to install from the source package, you can choose to download and install a pre-built binary package, though it might be a little older than the latest source package.

The binary packages are provided by opensource community, please check BinaryPackages page to see if there is a binary package for your system.

Contributing to the Project

Finally, if you're interested in actively contributing the project, you might be interesting in setting up a SVK infrastructure on your machine. This makes it easier to do some things like code reviews. We have a Wiki page to help you with that.

(And this page might be useful if you would like to send us code to review.)

Note: We'll allow external developers as soon as the developer related documentations are ready.

Feedback

Even if you don't wish become a contributor, we would still like to hear your feedback. The project is still evolving, so all comments are important. Go here to file them:

http://code.google.com/p/google-gadgets-for-linux/issues/list

Our public discussion group for users is also a good place to ask questions and share experiences with other users.

And that's it, enjoy playing with the gadgets!


Comment by davethewebb, Jun 04, 2008

or .rpm with openSuSE build service

Comment by martin.espinoza, Jun 05, 2008

While google sometimes provides a deb this is really the job of your distribution. I'd be surprised not to see it show up in Ubuntu Intrepid and then in Hardy backports. This is beta code known to be missing functionality, though, and it's not really ready for prime time (at least, so they say.)

Comment by alwiap, Jun 05, 2008

THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST

Comment by stincodisanto, Jun 05, 2008

I Know that is only a Beta,but i think the .deb and the .rpm is essential for invite the people to partecipate on this beta... I hope in you...

Comment by losdlosd, Jun 05, 2008

"I Know that is only a Beta,but i think the .deb and the .rpm is essential for invite the people to partecipate on this beta... I hope in you..."

I'm sure someone will pop up on the respective forums with a package for you, when you are too lazy to build it yourself.

Comment by nonconformist, Jun 05, 2008

simple step by step instructions to install in ubuntu (hardy) so do you dont have to read through all the detail

  1. wget http://google-gadgets-for-linux.googlecode.com/files/google-gadgets-for-linux-0.9.1.tar.gz
  2. tar zxvf google-gadgets-for-linux-0.9.1.tar.gz
  3. cd google-gadgets-for-linux-0.9.1/
  4. sudo apt-get install zlib1g-dev libmozjs-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libxml2-dev libdbus-1-dev libmozjs-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-dev libcurl3-openssl-dev libdbus-1-dev libxul-dev libcurl3 libcurl3-dbg libcurl3-gnutls libcurl4-openssl-dev libcurl-ocaml libmozjs0d libmozjs0d-dbg libmozjs-dev g++-4.2-multilib g++ libqt4-dev
  5. sudo ldconfig
  6. ../../configure --enable-debug
  7. sudo make install
  8. export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib
  9. ggl-gtk

An icon should show in the top right status bar, right click and add gadget!

cheers Jubal

Comment by usn.mustanger, Jun 05, 2008

Configured, compiled, installed on Hardy, but running ggl-gtk gives me no "simple window with a button". There's a bunch of stuff in the terminal indicating that it's running, but no window. So I tried the -s option, and the sidebar worked. I added a couple of gadgets, quit ggl, tried ggl-gtk (no -s) again, and even though the gadgets I'd just added showed up in their own little windows, there was still no little "simple window with a button." So it half works, and I can't really complain--it is beta, and at least I have working gadgets on my desktop--adding more is just a bit of a pain. But here's what I'm happiest about: Seeing one of the biggest names on the interwebs supporting Linux. This, ladies and gentlemen, is huge. I love it.

Comment by usn.mustanger, Jun 05, 2008

Okay, after reading Jubal's comment, I realize something--it's not a "simple window with a button" that I should be looking for--it's an item in the system tray. However, since I'm using Openbox, and not Gnome or KDE, I have no system tray. Thus no little ggl icon. Not a biggie.

Comment by AArhipov, Jun 06, 2008

> sudo apt-get install zlib1g-dev libmozjs-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libxml2-dev libdbus-1-dev libmozjs-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-dev libcurl3-openssl-dev libdbus-1-dev libxul-dev libcurl3 libcurl3-dbg libcurl3-gnutls libcurl4-openssl-dev libcurl-ocaml libmozjs0d libmozjs0d-dbg libmozjs-dev g++-4.2-multilib g++ libqt4-dev

It's for Ubuntu. What needed packages for Fedora 8 or 9 ?

Comment by Roger.Si...@gmail.com, Jun 07, 2008

It is much simpler to install with ppa!!

Add this to your sources: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ubuntu hardy main

And then: sudo apt-get install google-gadgets

Now you can run it by typing alt+F2 and entering: ggl-gtk

See all the detailed explanation in: http://www.ubuntu-unleashed.com/2008/06/introducing-official-google-gadgets-for.html

But that is pretty much it!!

Comment by soundz, Jun 10, 2008

Why don't Google make packages for the popular distros? This is a real pain to install.. still not working here on Fedora 8.

Comment by notanatheist, Jun 10, 2008

:( Pukes on make. "configure" doesn't complain though. Lots of errors similar to the following:

/usr/include/js/jscntxt.h:252: error: expected ‘;’ before ‘’ token /usr/include/js/jscntxt.h:300: error: ISO C++ forbids declaration of ‘PRLock’ wi th no type

Any ideas? Running a source based distro (Arch). kthxbai!

Comment by phnixwxz, Jun 10, 2008

@notanatheist Did you also see errors like "pratom.h: No such file or directory"? It yes, the error might be caused by incorrect js library pkgconfig file on your system lacking nspr dependency.

Comment by hemanth...@gmail.com, Jun 13, 2008

Super :) , it works fine ...do install all the dependencies required first in case of UBUNTU ...then add a new session with the command ggl-gtk -s -bg and enjoy

Comment by vperetokin, Jun 15, 2008

Since 0.9.3 the sidebar is enabled by default - if you don't like it, you can use "ggl-gtk -ns" to start.

Comment by notanatheist, Jun 18, 2008

It built! I updated everything to the latest versions available via the package manager and while all requirements were supposedly above the minimum it was still failing. Updating glibc, gcc, gtk2, xulrunner, and possibly a few other critical packages finally got make to finish!

Comment by joe.breu, Jun 18, 2008

On linux - adding the facebook gadget

ERROR: Script error in gadget /home/breu/.google/gadgets/downloaded_gadgets/34775F35-19CB-4174-92A4-DB9ABEFF9636.gg: plugin.js:335: ReferenceError?: ActiveXObject is not defined

The function is: function openLink(url) {

var wS = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell"); wS.run(url); wS = null;
}

Any way around this?

Comment by eplaylity, Jun 26, 2008

great job~

Comment by cliffordsnow, Jun 29, 2008

This is great. Running it on Fedora 9. So far only found one gadget that doesn't work; "Stock Market Tracker" doesn't load. I was looking for the google finance stock tracker but didn't see it in the list.

Keep up the great work.

Comment by sourtooth, Jul 06, 2008

@joe.breu: ActiveX... hmmm... isn't that microsoft... i think it is. that facebook gadget just shows a Microsoft ActiveX applet then. sorry, but it won't work, complain to facebook or ms. it ain't google's fault, they can't fix it.

@developers: great work!

Comment by soundz, Jul 11, 2008

Not working on Fedora 9 either... why is Google leaving this to the elite?

Comment by adam.plante, Aug 18, 2008

@Soundz Because its a beta

Comment by leutzdb, Oct 19, 2008

For Arch users get it with yaourt using AUR:

yaourt -S google-gadgets

It pukes and gives some instructions, follow them, then rerun the yaourt command above.

Run with:

ggl-qt (for KDE) ggl-gtk (for Gnome)

An RSS feed gadget is started and an icon added to the panel systray. Right click the icon and choose "Add Gadgets".

I tried the weather bug gadget under KDE4.1.2 and it does indeed work.

Comment by angeldelcaos, Oct 20, 2008

Wow, this comes with an Apache License, Google is the best that can happen to Linux. Beers for everyone.

Comment by joshrules001, Dec 28, 2008

I found a .deb it's at getdeb.net or getdebs.net

Comment by chengjx0818, Jan 11, 2009

i'm trying to run it on linux

Comment by joseadanof, Jan 20, 2009

Some news about Fedora 10 procedure?

Comment by fagianijunior, Jul 16, 2009

How to update for more gadgets?

Comment by rorateau, Jul 22, 2009

hello

Comment by geniusnishant, Aug 14, 2009

when i used it at my home, it was working perfectly using ggl-gtk.. but now that i am behind a proxy server.. i dont know where to authenticate it.. there is no support or i am not able to find it.. help guys!!

Comment by sparrowt, Sep 07, 2009

EASIEST WAY TO INSTALL on UBUNTU ------------------------ EASIEST WAY TO INSTALL on UBUNTU

Google gadgets is supported in Ubuntu Jaunty (9.04) so you just need to run:

sudo apt-get install google-gadgets-gtk

Otherwise visit http://www.getdeb.net/app/Google+Gadgets

I love you google!! :)


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