Feature request: start in tray

[Denebet]

It would be convenient to have an option in the preferences to start EE directly in the system tray (without displaying the EE window).

[wwmm]

I think we already have this option in our preferences window. What you are describing is what I already do in my system. But i is possible this is one more of the cases where the desktop support for system tray icons matters.

[Denebet]

I don't see an option to launch EE without its window appearing:

[wwmm]

Oh... If you enable autostart on login EasyEffects will create for you inside ~/.config/autostart a desktop file that launches EasyEffects as easyeffects --service-mode --hide-window. THis makes it autostart on your without showing its window.

[wwmm]

But if you want that without autostarting on login a new option will be necessary. Or manually giving the command line option --hide-window

[Denebet]

With Alacarte, I added --hide-window to the end of the command to get:

/usr/bin/flatpak run --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command=easyeffects com.github.wwmm.easyeffects --hide-window

Perfect for me, thanks Wellington!

However, I still stand by my suggestion to make this easier with a simple checkbox in EE's preferences.

[Denebet]

Actually, it's not perfect: EE runs with its icon in the system tray, but it's impossible to display the EE window.
I am therefore forced to remove the --hide-window option.

[wwmm]

Is there a reason to not use the autostart file? The current behavior is more or less the same the gtk code had.

[Denebet]

I just tested it, and EE did indeed create, as you indicated, a file /.config/autostart/com.github.wwmm.easyeffects.desktop which contains:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=com.github.wwmm.easyeffects
X-XDP-Autostart=com.github.wwmm.easyeffects
Exec=flatpak run --command=easyeffects com.github.wwmm.easyeffects --service-mode --hide-window
X-Flatpak=com.github.wwmm.easyeffects

and it's impossible to display the EE window.

[Denebet]

Actually, it's a bug I just discovered. See #4484

[wwmm]

Did you remove --hide-window you added to your launcher using alacarte? Only the autostart desktop file should have it.

[Denebet]

I just redid the autostart test after making sure that the --hide-window option was indeed removed from my launcher with Alacarte: I confirm this bug.

[wwmm]

What happens if you try to run easyeffects from a terminal after it was autostarted on login?

[Denebet]

The terminal returns absolutely nothing.
To be very precise, by clicking (left) either on the launcher icon (or using the same command in a terminal), or on the system tray icon, the window appears on the dash as if it were open (like Firefox: underlined in white with its title), simply minimized:

But EE window does not show, and clicking its title on the dash has no effect.
If I "quit" EE by right-clicking on it > Quit, then everything works correctly.

[wwmm]

The terminal returns absolutely nothing.

Executing EasyEffects while another instance is running makes the window to be shown. OR at least it is what happens on the computers I tried. that is assuming the option --hide-window was not given.

What happens if the tray icon is not enabled in our preferences window?

[Denebet]

Same as above (title underlined in white, no window visible).

[Denebet]

Executing EasyEffects while another instance is running makes the window to be shown. OR at least it is what happens on the computers I tried. that is assuming the option --hide-window was not given.

That's exactly what happens at my place... if the autostart option is not used.

[Denebet]

I don't know if this will help, but here's the output from the terminal when launching EE with the --hide-window option (but with the autostart option disabled):

/usr/bin/flatpak run --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command=easyeffects  com.github.wwmm.easyeffects --hide-window
easyeffects: stream_input_effects.cpp:245	Before: 54 -> alsa_input.usb-Sonix_Technology_Co.__Ltd._USB_2.0_Camera-02.mono-fallback
easyeffects: stream_input_effects.cpp:245	Before: 54 -> alsa_input.usb-Sonix_Technology_Co.__Ltd._USB_2.0_Camera-02.mono-fallback
easyeffects: main.cpp:154	Disabling global bypass
QWebEngineDesktopMediaRequest is neither a default constructible QObject, nor a default- and copy-constructible Q_GADGET, nor a QObject marked as uncreatable.
You should not use it as a QML type.
QSystemTrayIcon::setVisible: No Icon set
qrc:/qt/qml/ee/type/presets/contents/ui/PageStreamsEffects.qml:11:1: QML PageStreamsEffects: Created graphical object was not placed in the graphics scene.
qt.graphs2d.series: points list size is 0, can't calculate spline points.
qrc:/qt/qml/ee/type/presets/contents/ui/PageStreamsEffects.qml:11:1: QML PageStreamsEffects: Created graphical object was not placed in the graphics scene.
qt.graphs2d.series: points list size is 0, can't calculate spline points.
qrc:/qt/qml/ee/type/presets/contents/ui/Main.qml:221:5: QML ShortcutsSheet: Binding loop detected for property "implicitHeight":
qrc:/qt/qml/org/kde/kirigami/templates/OverlaySheet.qml:139:5

and without the --hide-window option:
/usr/bin/flatpak run --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command=easyeffects com.github.wwmm.easyeffects easyeffects: stream_input_effects.cpp:245 Before: 54 -> alsa_input.usb-Sonix_Technology_Co.__Ltd._USB_2.0_Camera-02.mono-fallback easyeffects: stream_input_effects.cpp:245 Before: 54 -> alsa_input.usb-Sonix_Technology_Co.__Ltd._USB_2.0_Camera-02.mono-fallback easyeffects: main.cpp:154 Disabling global bypass QWebEngineDesktopMediaRequest is neither a default constructible QObject, nor a default- and copy-constructible Q_GADGET, nor a QObject marked as uncreatable. You should not use it as a QML type. QSystemTrayIcon::setVisible: No Icon set qrc:/qt/qml/ee/type/presets/contents/ui/PageStreamsEffects.qml:11:1: QML PageStreamsEffects: Created graphical object was not placed in the graphics scene. qt.graphs2d.series: points list size is 0, can't calculate spline points. qrc:/qt/qml/ee/type/presets/contents/ui/Main.qml:221:5: QML ShortcutsSheet: Binding loop detected for property "implicitHeight": qrc:/qt/qml/org/kde/kirigami/templates/OverlaySheet.qml:139:5

[Denebet]

I realize that the bug is only related to the --hide-window option and not to the autostart option (I just updated the #4484 title).

[Denebet]

On Ubuntu 25.04 in a virtual machine (with VirtualBox) with the GNOME Tray Icons: Reloaded extension and the --hide-window option, EE works perfectly (even bug #4453 doesn't appear). There's only one unexpected difference: the middle click on the system tray icon toggles the window open/close, while left and right clicks display the system tray menu.

[wwmm]

There's only one unexpected difference: the middle click on the system tray icon toggles the window open/close

That is what happens on KDE too. Personally I do not see much point in this shortcut. It is easier to me to use the left button for this.

[Denebet]

I agree that the optimal behavior, for me too, is that of the other icons in my system tray (Birdtray, transmission-qt and gmusicbrowser): show/hide the window on a left click, and show the system tray menu on a right click (and nothing special on middle click).

[Denebet]

Following up on #4484 .