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[GH-ISSUE #91] Control ironbar at runtime #2867

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opened 2026-05-22 23:52:21 +01:00 by JakeStanger · 13 comments

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:21 +01:00

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Originally created by @yavko on GitHub (Mar 30, 2023).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/issues/91

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

I would like to reload my ironbar config, would also be cool to change config settings at runtime

Describe the solution you'd like

A IPC socket for ironbar that listens on a socket, and a basic cli tool for communicating with it

Describe alternatives you've considered

Maybe TCP? But TCP is slower and is harder to locate, since you have to use ports.

Additional context

I think Hyprland does it well, so maybe that could lead to inspiration

Originally created by @yavko on GitHub (Mar 30, 2023). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/issues/91 **Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.** I would like to reload my ironbar config, would also be cool to change config settings at runtime **Describe the solution you'd like** A IPC socket for ironbar that listens on a socket, and a basic cli tool for communicating with it **Describe alternatives you've considered** Maybe TCP? But TCP is slower and is harder to locate, since you have to use ports. **Additional context** I think Hyprland does it well, so maybe that could lead to inspiration

JakeStanger

2026-05-22 23:52:21 +01:00

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JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Mar 30, 2023):

This is something I've considered as a part of #71. Hot-reloading the full config is also something I want to implement eventually.

The rough plan so far is an IPC socket and CLI built into ironbar, toggleable via a feature flag, which provides the following functions:

Ability to update special variables (codename 'ironvar') to make dynamic content more elegant (for #71)
Ability to toggle popups and run whatever other in-built commands come along
Ability to reload config.

I'm not sure about changing config settings at runtime. I don't think it would be hugely complex to implement on top of hot-reloading, but I am not sure how much benefit it would have vs the complexity. What would you like to achieve with it, in case there's a different way we could go about it?

@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Mar 30, 2023): This is something I've considered as a part of #71. Hot-reloading the full config is also something I want to implement eventually. The rough plan so far is an IPC socket and CLI built into ironbar, toggleable via a feature flag, which provides the following functions: - Ability to update special variables (codename 'ironvar') to make dynamic content more elegant (for #71) - Ability to toggle popups and run whatever other in-built commands come along - Ability to reload config. I'm not sure about changing config settings at runtime. I don't think it would be hugely complex to implement on top of hot-reloading, but I am not sure how much benefit it would have vs the complexity. What would you like to achieve with it, in case there's a different way we could go about it?

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@yavko commented on GitHub (Mar 31, 2023):

I'm not sure about changing config settings at runtime. I don't think it would be hugely complex to implement on top of hot-reloading, but I am not sure how much benefit it would have vs the complexity. What would you like to achieve with it, in case there's a different way we could go about it?

Honestly, I'ts just something I came up, I don't know how I would use it lol.

@yavko commented on GitHub (Mar 31, 2023): > I'm not sure about changing config settings at runtime. I don't think it would be hugely complex to implement on top of hot-reloading, but I am not sure how much benefit it would have vs the complexity. What would you like to achieve with it, in case there's a different way we could go about it? Honestly, I'ts just something I came up, I don't know how I would use it lol.

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@yavko commented on GitHub (Apr 2, 2023):

I came up with another must feature, support to open the gtk inspector

@yavko commented on GitHub (Apr 2, 2023): I came up with another must feature, support to open the gtk inspector

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Apr 3, 2023):

I don't think you can do that programatically, or at least I cannot find anything on it. You can launch ironbar with the inspector with GTK_DEBUG=interactive.

@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Apr 3, 2023): I don't think you can do that programatically, or at least I cannot find anything on it. You can launch ironbar with the inspector with `GTK_DEBUG=interactive`.

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@yavko commented on GitHub (Apr 4, 2023):

I don't think you can do that programatically, or at least I cannot find anything on it. You can launch ironbar with the inspector with GTK_DEBUG=interactive.

Well, eww can do it, though I have no clue how tho

@yavko commented on GitHub (Apr 4, 2023): > I don't think you can do that programatically, or at least I cannot find anything on it. You can launch ironbar with the inspector with `GTK_DEBUG=interactive`. Well, eww can do it, though I have no clue how tho

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 18, 2023):

Well, eww can do it, though I have no clue how tho

Turns out it's literally just:

gtk::Window::set_interactive_debugging(true)

👀

@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 18, 2023): > Well, eww can do it, though I have no clue how tho Turns out it's literally just: ```rs gtk::Window::set_interactive_debugging(true) ``` :eyes:

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@yavko commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023):

I know this might seem useless, but actually it has a lot of use, but I think being able to load CSS at runtime shouldn't be too hard. I personally would use this to change the background of the music widget to a blurred background of the cover. Also, I saw the work done on the branch so far https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/compare/master...feat/cli-ipc, seems great!

@yavko commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023): I know this might seem useless, but actually it has a lot of use, but I think being able to load CSS at runtime shouldn't be too hard. I personally would use this to change the background of the music widget to a blurred background of the cover. Also, I saw the work done on the branch so far https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/compare/master...feat/cli-ipc, seems great!

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023):

Also, I saw the work done on the branch so far https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/compare/master...feat/cli-ipc, seems great!

Watch this space, some very interesting stuff coming in the next few days (assuming I have time...)

I think being able to load CSS at runtime shouldn't be too hard

I can see the use for that, and yeah I think that's fairly trivial with CSS - it's already hot-loading anyway, so should just be a matter of adding more files to the mix.

@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023): > Also, I saw the work done on the branch so far https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/compare/master...feat/cli-ipc, seems great! Watch this space, some very interesting stuff coming in the next few days (assuming I have time...) > I think being able to load CSS at runtime shouldn't be too hard I can see the use for that, and yeah I think that's fairly trivial with CSS - it's already hot-loading anyway, so should just be a matter of adding more files to the mix.

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023):

Tracking the branch in the draft PR https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/pull/199 as we go to make it easier to follow along - suggestions and feedback as I go is very welcome, as I want to get this right before we merge it in.

Currently this includes a ping command, and a command to open the GTK inspector. I'm also tracking the dynamic variables from #71 but will keep discussion on those in that thread.

Run ironbar --help for CLI help. Commands can be sent while a main Ironbar instance is a running.

The IPC will not correctly close the socket, so it necessary to manually delete this currently:

rm /run/user/1000/ironbar-ipc.sock

@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 22, 2023): Tracking the branch in the draft PR https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/pull/199 as we go to make it easier to follow along - suggestions and feedback as I go is very welcome, as I want to get this right before we merge it in. Currently this includes a ping command, and a command to open the GTK inspector. I'm also tracking the dynamic variables from #71 but will keep discussion on those in that thread. Run `ironbar --help` for CLI help. Commands can be sent while a main Ironbar instance is a running. The IPC will not correctly close the socket, so it necessary to manually delete this currently: ``` rm /run/user/1000/ironbar-ipc.sock ```

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@yavko commented on GitHub (Jun 28, 2023):

Another command idea: popup
Example: ironbar popup open <name>
I think being able to open popups from other places could be useful, I also think this can be supplemented with popup:open:name inside of buttons actually in ironbar

@yavko commented on GitHub (Jun 28, 2023): Another command idea: popup Example: `ironbar popup open <name>` I think being able to open popups from other places could be useful, I also think this can be supplemented with `popup:open:name` inside of buttons actually in ironbar

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 28, 2023):

Way ahead of you there ;) https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/issues/71#issuecomment-1426882879

The implementation for this is a bit tricky, since modules and their popup control is fully self-contained, and relies on the module's location on the bar, so I'll probably get the main CLI/vars into master then work on that one separately.

@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 28, 2023): Way ahead of you there ;) https://github.com/JakeStanger/ironbar/issues/71#issuecomment-1426882879 The implementation for this is a bit tricky, since modules and their popup control is fully self-contained, and relies on the module's location on the bar, so I'll probably get the main CLI/vars into master then work on that one separately.

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@yavko commented on GitHub (Jun 28, 2023):

Ah lol

@yavko commented on GitHub (Jun 28, 2023): Ah lol

JakeStanger commented

2026-05-22 23:52:22 +01:00

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@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 29, 2023):

The base CLI and IPC are merged 🎉 I will leave this open to track the couple of additional commands listed above, but for new ones pls now stick those in their own issue.

@JakeStanger commented on GitHub (Jun 29, 2023): The base CLI and IPC are merged :tada: I will leave this open to track the couple of additional commands listed above, but for new ones pls now stick those in their own issue.