NickelMenu: An integrated launcher for Kobo eReaders

[NiLuJe]

@svh1985:

1. Since you're running Sergey's stuff, I'm *vaguely* assuming you mean KFMon entries and/or PNGs, so, see this post for NM entries populated by the KFMon generator, and as for actual PNGs "books", just know that you can remove them safely if you're using a current KFMon version.

2. Nope, it's only a placeholder on empty configs.

3. Everything you posted is commented out, so, nothing will actually do anything there.

TL;DR: We'll need your *full* config setup to grok what's happening (possibly KFMon's, too).

Sidebar: Never add an explicit /bin/sh or /bin/sh -c to a cmd_* entry, that's already done internally.
Sidebar²: I/O redirection makes no sense on a cmd_spawn, unless the actual script is very badly behaved.

[lovetoRL]

New here, why would I want to load this new launcher? What does it do?

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by lovetoRL

New here, why would I want to load this new launcher? What does it do?

NickelMenu
The easiest way to launch custom scripts, change hidden settings, and run actions on Kobo eReaders.

Additional features are added to existing menu items. Read Post #1 of this thread.

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by lovetoRL

New here, why would I want to load this new launcher? What does it do?

More specifically, if you are only interested in adding functionality to the built-in reader, you may find the invert screen action useful (menu_item:reader:Invert Screen:nickel_setting:invert). You may also be interested in the nickel_extras action to add links to beta features or the nickel_open action to add links to specific views.

If you are interested in other software, think of NickelMenu as a nicer version of KSM and a more integrated interface to KFMon.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by geek1011

If you are interested in other software, think of NickelMenu as a nicer version of KSM and a more integrated interface to KFMon.

And importantly, NickelMenu works where KSM does not.

[geek1011]

NickelMenu v0.2.0

This release is the second major feature update for NickelMenu.

• Breaking change: For simplicity, `nickel_extras:web_browser` has been renamed to nickel_browser. Note that if you aren't providing any additional arguments, you still need to include a `:` (like `menu_item:main:Web Browser:nickel_browser:`).
• Breaking change: To improve future-proofing so breaking changes won't need to be made in the future and to make the new option for explicit values simpler, the arguments for `nickel_setting` have changed. Instead of only specifying the setting name to toggle, you specify the action (toggle, enable, disable), and then the setting name. For example, instead of using `nickel_setting:invert`, you need to use `nickel_setting:toggle:invert`. This will make it easier to deal with non-boolean settings in the future, or to add additional setting-related functionality.
• NickelMenu now supports reloading configuration files without a reboot.
• Automatic reloading for generators are also supported.
• The configuration parser has been rewritten and is now cleaner and more efficient (this change shouldn't be noticeable in general).
• Explicit values for nickel_setting are now supported. You can now do things like `nickel_setting:enable:force_wifi` and `nickel_setting:disable:force_wifi`.
• Custom URLs for `nickel_browser` are now supported.
• There is a new `modal` option for `nickel_browser` to open it as a pop-up window. This works from any screen, including the web browser itself.
• You can now add custom CSS stylesheets to all web pages with the `nickel_browser` action.

See the release on GitHub for more details.

Spoiler:

nickel_browser - one of:
                      - opens the web browser to the default homepage (note that the line should end with a colon even though the argument is blank)
    <url>             - opens the web browser to the specified URL
    <url> <css>       - opens the web browser to the specified URL and injects the specified CSS (which can contain spaces and colons) into all pages
    modal             - opens the web browser to the default homepage as a pop-up window
    modal:<url>       - see above
    modal:<url> <css> - see above

nickel_setting - <action>:<setting>
    action if one of:
       toggle  - toggles between true/false
       enable  - sets to true
       disable - sets to false
    setting is one of:
      invert      - FeatureSettings.InvertScreen
      lockscreen  - PowerSettings.UnlockEnabled (4.12.12111+)
      screenshots - FeatureSettings.Screenshots

[jsessions]

Updated to v0.2.0 without issue.

Just one really, really minor point and that's with the example configuration file on the documentation page which shows the old invert screen format.

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by jsessions

Updated to v0.2.0 without issue.

Just one really, really minor point and that's with the example configuration file on the documentation page which shows the old invert screen format.

I've fixed it and updated the release.

[Alan_S]

Originally Posted by geek1011

If you are interested in other software, think of NickelMenu as a nicer version of KSM and a more integrated interface to KFMon.

I really don't want to come off as rude, or ungrateful, or anything like that, I really don't, but main thing with KSM for me was that I completely avoided dealing with integrated software (i.e. nickel) and firmware that goes with it.

I know that in case of buying new reader (still looking at Kobo for that) I will use NickelMenu, but, still, I would prefer that we have KSM, or something KSM like, that avoids Kobo original software completely.

On the other hand, good job so far, I'm really thankful that someone works on Kobo devices, I really am.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Alan_S

I really don't want to come off as rude, or ungrateful, or anything like that, I really don't, but main thing with KSM for me was that I completely avoided dealing with integrated software (i.e. nickel) and firmware that goes with it.

I know that in case of buying new reader (still looking at Kobo for that) I will use NickelMenu, but, still, I would prefer that we have KSM, or something KSM like, that avoids Kobo original software completely.

On the other hand, good job so far, I'm really thankful that someone works on Kobo devices, I really am.

The issue with KSM is that it's effectively broken out of the box now for new devices. No one is upgrading it, and with (imo) better alternatives in KFMon and NM (NM in particular for me), i suspect KSM will continue to be a dead project.

[CmplxAdSys]

Originally Posted by lovetoRL

New here, why would I want to load this new launcher? What does it do?

I'm using it because I read PDFs, the built-in Kobo PDF reader is bad, and a need a quick, clean, easy way to launch KOReader, which is much, much better to read PDFs.

I used to use KSM to launch KOReader, but that's depricated, so switched to NickelMenu, which is looking to be clean, simple, and useful!

[JSWolf]

I suggest not installing KSM as it can cause problems that you don't want.

[PeterT]

Any chance of a new action that would take a section name, keyword and value to allow setting some of the more esoteric options; a blank value would result in the entry in the conf file being deleted.

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Any chance of a new action that would take a section name, keyword and value to allow setting some of the more esoteric options; a blank value would result in the entry in the conf file being deleted.

Yes, that was one of the reasons I made the change to the nickel_setting action arguments in v0.2.0. I'll take a closer look at this later.

My main concern is that some settings perform additional actions when changed, and users may become confused if nothing happens instantly, as these additional actions may not be triggered if I set it in a generic way. Although, I guess this would be aimed at people who know what they are doing.

[geek1011]

NickelMenu v0.2.1

This release improves the documentation and fixes a minor cosmetic issue with the setting name in the toast which appears after most nickel_setting actions.

See the release on GitHub for more details.