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

This project was originally forked from Slingshot from the elementary team:

• https://launchpad.net/slingshot

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

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 libwnck-3-dev libgtk-3-dev xterm 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 libwnck-devel gtk3-devel xterm python3 python3-wheel python3-setuptools gnome-menus
  

• For Arch Linux:

  sudo pacman -Sy meson ninja libgee gnome-menus vala glib2 gdk-pixbuf2 libwnck3 gtk3 xterm 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).

Dynamic Background (optional feature)

LighPad added a new feature, now you can use a custom background of your choice. You can add any wallpaper or image strictly under some of the following path/files and lightpad will use them (prioritizing the JPG format):

$HOME/.lightpad/background.jpg

$HOME/.lightpad/background.png

Blocklist File (optional feature)

Another new added functionality, is the ability to hide applications using a blocklist 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.

Changelog

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 #5, there are no cursor blinking in the searchbar
• Fixed issue #9, can't toggle lightpad via keyboard shortcut
• Release in progress...

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 blacklist 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, now the black background is dynamic using an image if there 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

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