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“I have the need for tools that solve my problem in a very specific way … when I don’t find such tools, I make them myself.”

Such is the philosophy of David Flemström (aka Dflemstr), and a slick new launcher called Panorama is the result. Whipped up in his sleep using C++ and Qt 4.6.1, this powerful alternative to Pmenu is shown above in just one possible incarnation. Other Panorama modes shown off so far include “Pmenu mode“, the magnificent Magma theme, and a special treat for the mega-minimalists out there.

* I don’t put any restrictions on the themes (called UIs) for Panorama. If you want to write an UI, you’ll be using Javascript and a markup language called QML to write the entire user interface (or you just copy someone else’s UI and swap the images ). This means that one theme can have a sliding interface, another theme can be tabbed, another can just have a list of applications to launch while another just displays computer information.

* Themes are made to adapt to you, and not vice versa. You can of course control a Panorama UI using the D-Pad and the action buttons, but if you want to, you can also use the mouse cursor to click your way through the application, or you can use your fingers and the touch screen to drag and slide around things. There are no restrictions there, either.

* I want it to be possible to extend your theme to do exactly what you want. Want to have an analogue clock in your UI? Panorama does that. Want to show the latest XKCD strip in the background? Panorama can do that. Want to show the number of E-Mails you have relative to how long your “/etc/X11/xorg.conf” file is? Panorama can do that, too.

-Dflemstr

This is just a taste of the action of course; many more details can be found via the source link below.

So is it for everyone? Not necessarily. Cpasjuste’s very capable Pmenu will be pre-installed on your Pandora, and it may be all you ever need. But if you prefer your broth with a few hits from the spice weasel, Panorama is the after-market upgrade to keep your eye on. Bam!

Source