LightPad is a lightweight, simple and powerful application launcher. It is also Wayland compatible.

This project contributes to Twister OS and collaborates with Ubuntu Budgie (and its BudgieLightpad Applet for the operating system) — special thanks to @fossfreedom

Screenshot

Installation via PPA

Only for Ubuntu based distros, open a terminal and run the next commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libredeb/lightpad
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install com.github.libredeb.lightpad

Compilation

NOTE: packaging files are now tracked in a separated packaging branch.

1. Install dependencies:

• For Ubuntu:

  sudo apt-get install meson ninja-build libgee-0.8-dev libgnome-menu-3-dev cdbs valac libvala-*-dev libglib2.0-dev libgtk-3-dev python3 python3-wheel python3-setuptools gnome-menus

• For Fedora:

  sudo dnf install meson ninja-build libgee-devel gnome-menus-devel cdbs vala libvala-devel glib-devel gtk3-devel python3 python3-wheel python3-setuptools gnome-menus

• For Arch Linux:

  sudo pacman -Sy meson ninja libgee gnome-menus vala glib2 gdk-pixbuf2 gtk3 python python-wheel python-setuptools

2. Clone this repository into your machine

   git clone https://github.com/libredeb/lightpad.git
   cd lightpad/

3. Create a build folder:

   meson setup build --prefix=/usr

4. Compile LightPad:

   cd build
   ninja

5. Install LightPad in the system:

   sudo ninja install

6. (OPTIONAL) Uninstall LightPad:

   sudo ninja uninstall

Post Install

Once installed set shortcut key to access LightPad.

• System -> Preferences -> Hardware -> Keyboard Shortcuts then click on Add button
• Name: LightPad
• Command: com.github.libredeb.lightpad

Now assign it a shortcut key, such as CTRL+SPACE.

NOTE: if you want to use another keyboard shortcut like the SUPER key to activate LightPad in Desktop Environments in which the SUPER key is used, maybe you want to try to disable it first. For example in GNOME Shell you can run next command gsettings set org.gnome.mutter overlay-key '' (and if you want to restorte the original behavior, so run next command gsettings reset org.gnome.mutter overlay-key).

Optional Features

Explore LightPad's optional features to personalize your experience! For a full list of available options and their descriptions, run com.github.libredeb.lightpad --help in your terminal. Or refer to the binary manual page by using the following command man com.github.libredeb.lightpad.

---

Custom Configuration Support

• Generate a template file (-s, --save-config)

  LightPad supports customization through a simple configuration file.
  You can adjust visual aspects such as font size, icon size, and the application grid layout.

  To get started, generate a configuration template so that you can edit the parameters later:

  com.github.libredeb.lightpad --save-config

• Clear the configuration file (-c, --clear-config)

  You can also clear the generated custom settings file so that LightPad uses the values that best fit your display by executing the command:

  com.github.libredeb.lightpad --clear-config

Dynamic Background (-b, --background)

LightPad now supports using a custom background of your choice. You can use any wallpaper of your choice and LightPad will use them (prioritizing the JPG format):

com.github.libredeb.lightpad --background /path/to/image[.jpg|.png|.webp]

Blocklist File

Another new functionality is the ability to hide applications using a blocklist file. In the file.

In the file:

$HOME/.lightpad/blocklist

You must add line by line the full name of the binaries of the applications you want to hide in LightPad. For example:

nautilus
rhythmbox
gnome-screenshot
gnome-terminal
firefox
htop
/usr/bin/gparted
/usr/bin/vlc

These lines appear in the .desktop files located in /usr/share/applications as the value of the Exec= tag.

Debug LightPad

To show debug messages to see what's happening when LightPad run, you can execute next command:

pkill -f com.github.libredeb.lightpad; G_MESSAGES_DEBUG=all com.github.libredeb.lightpad

Changelog

Version 0.0.10

• Added more information required in appdata.xml needed by software stores
• Added command line flags to make using optional features easier (see com.github.libredeb.lightpad --help)
• Fixed issue #51, there is no man page for the binary
• Fixed issue #55, improve criteria for blocklist apps
• Fixed issue #57, lower case apps names are sorted at the end
• Removed unused libwnck3 dependency
• Updated deprecated cairo code
• Updated the license in the source code headers

Version 0.0.9

• Fixed issue #26, opens in wrong monitor
• Fixed issue #28, can't run gnome apps
• Fixed issue #23, can't exit clicking on an empty area
• Fixed issue #21, items overflow when doubling pixels
• Fixed issue #5, there are no cursor blinking in the searchbar
• Fixed issue #9, can't toggle lightpad via keyboard shortcut
• Fixed issue #16, dependency xterm is no longer required
• Fixed issue #29, improve xdg application menu files detection

Version 0.0.8

• Templates added to make packages for Arch Linux (PKG) and Fedora (RPM)
• Config files are introduced for project constants, replacing the hardcoded paths
• Clean CSS code, some vars and unused functionality
• New feature added: hide apps using a blocklist file.
• The paths of background files are moved to $HOME/.lightpad/

Version 0.0.7

• Change indicator pages text for dots without animations
• Fixed the CSS design of the searchbar that made it look cut on some screens
• Implemented a new feature, you can use a image as background (dynamically detected if it's exists)
• Added a new feature, now the apps are ordered alphabetically
• Add SPEC and PKGBUILD files to make packages for Fedora and Arch Linux
• Some bug fixing

Version 0.0.5

• Implemented the exact and standard way to open terminal apps
• Improved meson postinstall script
• Removed desktop environments detection to use the appropiate terminal
• Added xterm as dependency for opening terminal apps (deprecated)

Version 0.0.4

• Fix an important bug in the page indicators causing the wrong size obtained
• Background color brightness of page indicators increased
• Improved the visual appearance of the searchbar
• Increased space between top edge of display and searchbar

Version 0.0.3

• Fix bug 003, where obtain a negative one causing error obtaining array index for indicator pages
• Add suport for LXQT, LXDE and XFCE environments to open terminal apps
• Improve searchbar design, use CSS instead of cairo

Version 0.0.2

• Add dependencies versioning
• Fix a bug with gee assertion index
• Fix bug that cause that terminal apps won't open
• Improve screen recognition for detect netbooks small display

Version 0.0.1

• Clean all code from the fork
• New improved searchbar design
• New revamped icon in different resolutions
• Fix bug for some applications that left their icon in /usr/share/pixmaps
• Support for terminal apps