Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

Jamie Michelle · 2019-08-27 01:46:34

Hi, everyone! I created the following Linux/Unix-like desktop-environment theme entitled Computing Machine. It is for GTK+ 2/Gnome 2 applications; GTK+ 3/Gnome 3 applications; and Qt 5/KDE 5 applications via the Qt5 Configuration Tool ( https://sourceforge.net/projects/qt5ct/ ). The following is its OpenDesktop.org Pling page and its GitHub source-repository, respectively:

https://www.pling.com/p/1315191/ , https://github.com/Jamie-Michelle/Computing-Machine

This desktop theme is intended to be visually reminiscent of classic desktop user-environments. See the included "Information.txt" file for instructions on how to configure this theme.

The computer-desktop background/wallpaper image featured in the pictures is entitled Angel Skin, and is available here: https://www.pling.com/p/1315563/ , https://github.com/Jamie-Michelle/Angel-Skin

The Conky setup depicted in the images is available here: https://www.pling.com/p/1315871/ , https://github.com/Jamie-Michelle/Conky-Files

Already Computing Machine quite usable, at least with my desktop-environment setup. It was developed on the XFCE desktop-environment versions 4.12 and 4.14. I haven't tested it on other full desktop environments, just on window managers such as Claude's Tab Window Manager (CTWM), Feeble Virtual Window Manager (FVWM), Motif Window Manager (MWM), Tab Window Manager (TWM), and Virtual Tab Window Manager (VTWM), and it works quite well on them when the instructions in its included "Information.txt" file are followed. So on different full desktop environments, it may require some modifications to work well.

My intentions with this theme are to create a classic style of desktop theme while attempting to keep the code for it simple. As such, it doesn't attempt to make the GTK+ 2 and GTK+ 3 portions of the theme look exactly alike; but rather, to make them similar-looking in a retro style while keeping a consistent color scheme between them. Also to that end, this theme doesn't attempt to exactly mimic any actual historical user-environment theme, but instead is in the general pattern of them, e.g., sharp-cornered rectangle buttons and entry fields with solid-line pseudo-shadow edges; solid colors (e.g., no bubble-buttons with pseudo-shadow gradients); etc. This theme is intended to be practical in a form-follows-function manner.

For those who like classic-style desktop themes, I hope you enjoy!

Last edited by Jamie Michelle (2019-10-06 20:14:10)

Jamie Michelle · 2019-08-27 04:50:49

By the way, since I'm a bit of an '80s girl at heart, were you goodly folks aware that the Computing Machine computer-desktop theme has its own official '80s retrospective theme song? Yes, it's true. After all, what computer user-environment theme could possibly be complete without having official theme music selected for it? Since we're being thematic here. If Tony the Tiger can have an official theme song, then surely a computer-desktop theme can. So with no further ado, I present the theme song selected for Computing Machine:

* "Liquid Stranger & Space Jesus - Dragonhawks", WAKAAN ( youtube.com/user/TheLiquidStranger ), Sept. 5, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HizLy8FmjUk . Mirror: "Liquid Stranger & Space Jesus - Dragonhawks", Second Phase ( youtube.com/user/1080pDubstep ), Apr. 20, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nREN5CPReUU . Mirror: "Liquid Stranger x Space Jesus - Dragonhawks", Echo Music ( youtube.com/channel/UCXcq_IoUl1kNyV-Oa1nOb9w ), Apr. 24, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQSByNJOilg .

Enjoy this completely normal-sounding music which harkens back to an '80s classic!

kunzlata · 2019-08-27 15:23:51

HI, I haven't installed it but it looks nice, particularly the panel.

You know, this relief effect is actually a usability thing.

Jamie Michelle · 2019-08-27 19:05:03

kunzlata wrote:

HI, I haven't installed it but it looks nice, particularly the panel.

Thank you, Kunzlata!

You know, this relief effect is actually a usability thing.

That's how I think about it, too. I think the old-style pop-in, pop-out buttons; the recessed entry fields; etc., better help to provide visual cues that trigger the naturally-evolved perception in the brain of how light and shadows work.

Last edited by Jamie Michelle (2019-08-27 21:03:05)

Jamie Michelle · 2019-10-06 20:17:52

Great news, everyone! The epic quest for interfacial perfection has reached a zenithal milestone. At least with my operating-system setup, the Computing Machine theme has become quite refined and polished. If you haven't yet taken a look, now at version 9 there's never been a better time to feast your eyeballs on the tungstenlike, austere glory that is Computing Machine!

Aravisian · 2019-10-07 02:32:33

Jamie Michelle wrote:

Great news, everyone! The epic quest for interfacial perfection has reached a zenithal milestone. At least with my operating-system setup, the Computing Machine theme has become quite refined and polished. If you haven't yet taken a look, now at version 9 there's never been a better time to feast your eyeballs on the tungstenlike, austere glory that is Computing Machine!

Very polished, I agree.
I would ask, however, that you please specify which version of gtk it runs with.
I just tested it on gtk 3.18 and it did not work. On gtk 3.22 it appeared to work much better.

For those wondering how to check:

apt-cache policy libgtk-3-0

Jamie Michelle · 2019-10-07 20:56:50

Aravisian wrote:

Jamie Michelle wrote:
Great news, everyone! The epic quest for interfacial perfection has reached a zenithal milestone. At least with my operating-system setup, the Computing Machine theme has become quite refined and polished. If you haven't yet taken a look, now at version 9 there's never been a better time to feast your eyeballs on the tungstenlike, austere glory that is Computing Machine!
Very polished, I agree.
I would ask, however, that you please specify which version of gtk it runs with.
I just tested it on gtk 3.18 and it did not work. On gtk 3.22 it appeared to work much better.
For those wondering how to check:
apt-cache policy libgtk-3-0

Thank you for the compliment, Aravisian!

To answer you, my Arch Linux-based system's package-manager lists the following as my GTK+ 3 version:

gtk3 1:3.24.10-1

I have Debian stable 10.0.0 with the latest updates installed in VirtualBox, and running your command lists the following as its GTK+ 3 version:

3.24.5-1

The Computing Machine version 9 theme works well on said virtual Debian system, of which has XFCE as its desktop environment.

I don't bother testing this theme with other desktop environments, just ye olden-times window-managers that I mentioned in my originating post of this thread, so it quite possibly doesn't work well on other systems. But people are of course free to modify it to suit themselves.

Last edited by Jamie Michelle (2019-10-07 22:08:37)

Aravisian · Yesterday 01:44:34

Jamie Michelle wrote:

I have Debian stable 10.0.0 with the latest updates installed in VirtualBox, and running your command lists the following as its GTK+ 3 version:
3.24.5-1
The Computing Machine version 9 theme works well on said virtual Debian system, of which has XFCE as its desktop environment.
I don't bother testing this theme with other desktop environments, just ye olden-times window-managers that I mentioned in my originating post of this thread, so it quite possibly doesn't work well on other systems. But people are of course free to modify it to suit themselves.

If you could please include that it works on version gtk 3.24 in your pling.com download page, others will know whether it is compatible with the gtk version they are using right away.
That being said, and I did not vigorously test, I downloaded your theme and tested it on a gtk 3.22 system and did not find anything that was obviously broken. I will keep testing and if you like and post what I find.
It has a good solid retro look and Kunzlata nailed it about the recessed buttons being helpful. A much needed variation from a lot of the very flat looking themes pushed these days...
Plus not many people are theming for current versions these days and I believe that is necessary to have to retain pride and focus in Linux Operating Systems.

The wallpaper is murder, though. I'm gonna have nightmares about unicorns and rainbows and protecting me lucky charms.

Jamie Michelle · Today 21:12:22

Aravisian wrote:

Jamie Michelle wrote:
I have Debian stable 10.0.0 with the latest updates installed in VirtualBox, and running your command lists the following as its GTK+ 3 version:
3.24.5-1
The Computing Machine version 9 theme works well on said virtual Debian system, of which has XFCE as its desktop environment.
I don't bother testing this theme with other desktop environments, just ye olden-times window-managers that I mentioned in my originating post of this thread, so it quite possibly doesn't work well on other systems. But people are of course free to modify it to suit themselves.
If you could please include that it works on version gtk 3.24 in your pling.com download page, others will know whether it is compatible with the gtk version they are using right away.
That being said, and I did not vigorously test, I downloaded your theme and tested it on a gtk 3.22 system and did not find anything that was obviously broken. I will keep testing and if you like and post what I find.

Thank you for your interest, Aravisian! Yes, I would be curious as to your findings.

It has a good solid retro look and Kunzlata nailed it about the recessed buttons being helpful. A much needed variation from a lot of the very flat looking themes pushed these days...
Plus not many people are theming for current versions these days and I believe that is necessary to have to retain pride and focus in Linux Operating Systems.

I didn't know that regarding a lack of themes for current-version software. I don't much regard myself as a themer: I simply wanted a theme that I could be happy with for my own system, and since Computing Machine is my daily-driver theme, I figured others might find it of use, as well.

The wallpaper is murder, though. I'm gonna have nightmares about unicorns and rainbows and protecting me lucky charms.

I guess it's not everyone's cup of mushroom tea. Although Angel Skin (the name of the wallpaper) does come with the following advisory in its instructions on how to independently recreate it (see https://www.pling.com/p/1315563/ , https://github.com/Jamie-Michelle/Angel-Skin ):

""
WARNING: Deploy this eye-candy safely. End-user assumes responsibility for color-induced catatonic states.
""

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#1 2019-08-27 01:46:34

Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#2 2019-08-27 04:50:49

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#3 2019-08-27 15:23:51

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#4 2019-08-27 19:05:03

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#5 2019-10-06 20:17:52

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#6 2019-10-07 02:32:33

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#7 2019-10-07 20:56:50

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#8 Yesterday 01:44:34

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

#9 Today 21:12:22

Re: Introducing the Computing Machine Desktop Theme

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