Newbie Trying to Get Started

LoneSoldier · May 15, 2024, 7:19 PM

I installed from the Arch Linux repos, but it did not create ~/MagicMirror/ directory. When I first launched magicmirror, it worked, but it took over my entire screen. :)

What I want is for it to be like wallpaper, and show me things like disk space, and memory and CPU usage. Here is what I see in CLI:

[config]$ magicmirror

> magicmirror@2.22.0 start
> DISPLAY="${DISPLAY:=:0}" ./node_modules/.bin/electron js/electron.js

[15.05.2024 22:02.39.397] [LOG]   Starting MagicMirror: v2.22.0
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.399] [LOG]   Loading config ...
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.400] [LOG]   Loading module helpers ...
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.401] [LOG]   No helper found for module: alert.
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.407] [LOG]   Initializing new module helper ...
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.407] [LOG]   Module helper loaded: updatenotification
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.407] [LOG]   No helper found for module: clock.
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.468] [LOG]   Initializing new module helper ...
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.468] [LOG]   Module helper loaded: calendar
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.468] [LOG]   No helper found for module: compliments.
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.469] [LOG]   No helper found for module: weather.
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.476] [LOG]   Initializing new module helper ...
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.476] [LOG]   Module helper loaded: newsfeed
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.476] [LOG]   All module helpers loaded.
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.508] [LOG]   Starting server on port 8080 ... 
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.605] [ERROR] Whoops! There was an uncaught exception...
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.607] [ERROR] Error: listen EADDRINUSE: address already in use 127.0.0.1:8080
    at Server.setupListenHandle [as _listen2] (node:net:1432:16)
    at listenInCluster (node:net:1480:12)
    at GetAddrInfoReqWrap.doListen [as callback] (node:net:1629:7)
    at GetAddrInfoReqWrap.onlookup [as oncomplete] (node:dns:111:8) {
  code: 'EADDRINUSE',
  errno: -98,
  syscall: 'listen',
  address: '127.0.0.1',
  port: 8080
}
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.607] [ERROR] MagicMirror² will not quit, but it might be a good idea to check why this happened. Maybe no internet connection?
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.607] [ERROR] If you think this really is an issue, please open an issue on GitHub: https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/issues
[15.05.2024 22:02.39.620] [LOG]   Launching application.
^C/usr/share/magicmirror/node_modules/electron/dist/electron exited with signal SIGINT
[config]$ cat ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js
// in your config.js add these lines.

electronOptions: {
  width: 1920,
  height: 1200,
  fullscreen:  false,
  backgroundColor: '#00000000',
  titleBarStyle: 'none',
  frame: false,
  type: 'desktop',
  hasShadow: false,
  transparent: true,
  resizable:   false,
},
electronSwitches: ["enable-transparent-visuals"],


[config]$

Any advice how to get started is appreciated.

LoneSoldier · May 16, 2024, 4:49 PM

@sdetweil OK, the issue was that I used this

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/magicmirror

It’s 2.22 and I’m not sure how it works.

I installed normally from git now and it works, and also the “wallpaper” code works for me.

Thank you for your help.

Now I will try to configure this.

sdetweil · May 15, 2024, 7:34 PM

@LoneSoldier see
https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/15663/how_to-magicmirror-as-desktop-wallpaper-all-platform-updated?_=1715801448276

by default MagicMirror IS the app running on a fixed display on the wall so it would BE
the image displayed

sdetweil · May 15, 2024, 7:36 PM

@sdetweil address in use means it is running already

probably via pm2, so do

pm2 stop all

see the output of
pm2 --help
for all the command options

LoneSoldier · May 15, 2024, 7:44 PM

@sdetweil Yes, that’s where I got my code, but I don’t think it’s using that.

Yes, I also just figured out it’s already running.

When I launch it in my Mate desktop, it covers all the windows and also the panel on one of my monitors. It’s not in the background at all.

Here is the valid CLI output:

[config]$ magicmirror

> magicmirror@2.22.0 start
> DISPLAY="${DISPLAY:=:0}" ./node_modules/.bin/electron js/electron.js

[15.05.2024 22:43.51.198] [LOG]   Starting MagicMirror: v2.22.0
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.200] [LOG]   Loading config ...
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.201] [LOG]   Loading module helpers ...
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.202] [LOG]   No helper found for module: alert.
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.208] [LOG]   Initializing new module helper ...
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.208] [LOG]   Module helper loaded: updatenotification
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.208] [LOG]   No helper found for module: clock.
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.267] [LOG]   Initializing new module helper ...
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.267] [LOG]   Module helper loaded: calendar
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.267] [LOG]   No helper found for module: compliments.
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.268] [LOG]   No helper found for module: weather.
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.275] [LOG]   Initializing new module helper ...
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.275] [LOG]   Module helper loaded: newsfeed
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.275] [LOG]   All module helpers loaded.
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.310] [LOG]   Starting server on port 8080 ... 
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.394] [LOG]   Server started ...
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.394] [LOG]   Connecting socket for: updatenotification
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.395] [LOG]   Starting module helper: updatenotification
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.395] [LOG]   Connecting socket for: calendar
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.395] [LOG]   Starting node helper for: calendar
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.395] [LOG]   Connecting socket for: newsfeed
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.395] [LOG]   Starting node helper for: newsfeed
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.395] [LOG]   Sockets connected & modules started ...
[15.05.2024 22:43.51.406] [LOG]   Launching application.
[15.05.2024 22:43.52.005] [LOG]   Create new calendarfetcher for url: http://www.calendarlabs.com/ical-calendar/ics/76/US_Holidays.ics - Interval: 300000
[15.05.2024 22:43.52.016] [LOG]   Create new newsfetcher for url: https://rss.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/HomePage.xml - Interval: 300000
[15.05.2024 22:43.52.029] [INFO]  Checking git for module: default
[15.05.2024 22:43.52.406] [INFO]  Newsfeed-Fetcher: Broadcasting 25 items.
[15.05.2024 22:43.53.215] [INFO]  Calendar-Fetcher: Broadcasting 8 events.
^C/usr/share/magicmirror/node_modules/electron/dist/electron exited with signal SIGINT
[config]$ pm2
bash: pm2: command not found
[config]$

Thank you.

sdetweil · May 15, 2024, 8:01 PM

@LoneSoldier how did you make it autostart? create a service?

that code is 3 years old
I never tried it
@MMRIZE does this still work?

MMRIZE · May 15, 2024, 8:43 PM

@sdetweil
For Linux, there are many distros, so I’m not sure it works on all environments.
For Mac/Windows, I think it will still work.

MMRIZE · May 15, 2024, 8:54 PM

@LoneSoldier
On which lines did you put the additional configurations? Last line? Show me full config.js.

LoneSoldier · May 16, 2024, 7:11 AM

@MMRIZE

Here’s the whole file. I don’t know yet what else to put in. Just trying to get started:

// in your config.js add these lines.

electronOptions: {
  width: 1920,
  height: 1200,
  fullscreen:  false,
  backgroundColor: '#00000000',
  titleBarStyle: 'none',
  frame: false,
  type: 'desktop',
  hasShadow: false,
  transparent: true,
  resizable:   false,
},
electronSwitches: ["enable-transparent-visuals"],

MMRIZE · May 16, 2024, 7:42 AM

I tested on my Mac, it works still.(MM 2.27) For linux, I believe it has to work also. (Because it is one of the default features of the Electron.)

CONFIG.JS

/* config.js */
...
timeFormat: 24,
units: "metric",

/* Insert here */
electronOptions: {
	fullscreen:  false,
	backgroundColor: '#00000000',
	titleBarStyle: 'none',
	frame: false,
	type: 'desktop',
	hasShadow: false,
	transparent: true,
	resizable:   false,
},
electronSwitches: ["enable-transparent-visuals"],

modules: [
	{
		module: "clock",
		position: "top_left"
	},
...

CUSTOM.CSS

/* 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 */
}

sdetweil · May 16, 2024, 3:56 PM

@LoneSoldier that cannot be the whole file.

see the config.js.sample in the vonfig folder as a starter. you can add those fields to it

my install script copies the sample to start with