MM as Desktop background (for MacOS / Linux)

MMRIZE

Though I’m not using Windows anymore, I always envy the Rainmeter despite its ridiculous instability and low performance.
10 minutes ago, suddenly I remembered the idea that the Electron could be used for that purpose. That means I can use MM as a desktop wallpaper. So I did.

Here’s how to do it.

For disclaimers, Electron cannot hook Windows Desktop by itself. There are a few solutions for that, but I don’t want to hack MM heavily. For Windows, use Rainmeter.

custom.css

:root {
  --color-text: #DDD;
  --color-text-dimmed: #BBB;
  --color-text-bright: #fff;
  --color-background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);
 /* make fonts color brighter */

  --font-size: 2vh;
  --font-size-small: 0.75rem;

  --gap-body-top: 20px;
  --gap-body-right: 120px;
  --gap-body-bottom: 20px;
  --gap-body-left: 40px;
/* adjust margin for your screen */
}

* {
  text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px #000000; /* make text more readable on the background image */
}

config.js

In the case of Linux, some options might need to be modified.

electronOptions: {
  /*
  x: 1920,
  y: -320,
  width: 3360,
  height: 1892,
  */
  width: 1920,
  height: 1200,
  fullscreen:  false,
  backgroundColor: '#00000000',
  titleBarStyle: 'none',
  frame: false,
  type: 'desktop',
  hasShadow: false,
  transparent: true,
  resizable:   false,
},

width, height : Your screen resolution
x, y : position offset from 0, 0 for the left-upper corner of MM screen.

If you are using multi-screen like this and you want to place MM to secondary monitor;

You can adjust x and y to move MM to the secondary monitor.

js/electron.js

I’m not sure this is necessary. but when above modification is not enough, try this.

// line 22 of electron.js
// Change this line
app.commandLine.appendSwitch("autoplay-policy", "no-user-gesture-required");

// to this.
app.commandLine.appendSwitch("autoplay-policy", "no-user-gesture-required", "enable-transparent-visuals");

carbon (1).png
This needs source modification. I already made a PR to enable customizing electron switches, but this online source modification is needed before acceptance of that PR.

I tested it on macOS, and I believe it will be working on Linux also. Have good luck.

sdetweil

@mmrize u can pass the electronOptions in config.js

MMRIZE

@sdetweil said in MM as Desktop background (for MacOS / Linux):

u can pass the electronOptions in config.js

Yup, I did it so of course. But the switch (not electronOptions) is not customizable in MM.

sdetweil

@mmrize yes, correct.

boblewis

@MMRIZE why your weather app is overlapping with other apps?

MMRIZE

@boblewis ??? I cannot catch your words. More details?

ankonaskiff17

@MMRIZE I think he sees icons in front of the weather module, doesn’t realize MM is the desktop