Howto: Install The Official Google Gadgets in Ubuntu Linux!

Labels: , Posted by defcon on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 4:20 PM


Via cnet:
Google Desktop has been available for some time now on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms. However, Google Gadgets — mini-applications that can be placed anywhere on the desktop — have, until now, only been available on Windows and Mac. Jim Zhuang, of Google's software engineering team, announced the first Linux version on Tuesday.

"Since releasing Google Desktop for Linux, we've added almost all of our most requested features, like 64-bit support and the ability to search applications and documents. All [but for] one major exception: Desktop Gadgets," wrote Zhuang on the company's open-source blog. "Gadget support is not just a single feature, but rather an entire platform for miniature applications. It's a complex undertaking, but we're now putting the finishing touches on the product."


Zhuang invited developers to view the source code for the entire project. "For Gadgets for Linux, we don't just want to simply release the final offering, but we also want to give everyone a chance to tinker with the code powering the gadgets," Zhuang wrote. "For this project, fostering a transparent and lively developer community is just as important as serving our users."

Google Gadgets for Linux are compatible with those written for Google Desktop for Windows and the "Universal Gadgets" on iGoogle. Therefore, according to the company, "a large library of existing gadgets [is] immediately available to Linux users, [and] gadget developers will benefit from a much larger potential user base without having to learn a new API".

The downloadable application includes the gadget library and a host program to allow users to run the gadgets on the desktop. Hosts are available for both GTK+ and Qt. The project is open sourced under the Apache License.

Howto Install:
Open System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party repo's
Add these repo's:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ubuntu hardy main

Now lets finally install shall we?
Click here after adding and refreshing the repository to install via one click or via the command line:
sudo apt-get install google-gadgets

Press Alt-F2 and type in ggl-gtk

You autostart Google Gadgets for Linux by opening sessions via System->Preferences->Sessions
Then click +Add and input the fields like this:
Name:Google Gadgets
Command Line:sleep 10 ; ggl-gtk
Click ok and then make sure its check marked to startup

Comments (18)

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Richard Jones's avatar

Richard Jones · 877 weeks ago

Thank you ubuntu-unleashed, this made it such a breeze to install. I had seen this on Lifehacker yesterday but the instructions on how to install were much harder than these, so hard in fact, that I couldn't do it at all! Thanks again!
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Elaine's avatar - Go to profile

Elaine · 877 weeks ago

Thanks for the instructions. A lot of time I don't get to use the cool stuff, because I run on AMD 64, but most of the gadgets I've tried are working.

1 reply · active 877 weeks ago
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CFV's avatar

CFV · 877 weeks ago

Thanks mate, It looks more easier in your website than the Google one ..

I have a problem after install it in your way . It doesn't work . when I type ggl-gtk , I got this msg:

CFV@CFV-desktop:~$ ggl-gtk

Failed to open zip file /usr/share/google-gadgets/resources.gg: No such file or directory

Not a regular file: /usr/share/google-gadgets/resources

Not a regular file: /

Initialize default_framework extension.

Failed to load module libxml2-xml-parser

Failed to load module gtk-edit-element

Failed to load module gtkmoz-browser-element

Failed to load module gst-mediaplayer-element

Failed to load module gtk-system-framework

Failed to load module gst-audio-framework

Failed to load module linux-system-framework

Failed to load module smjs-script-runtime

Failed to load module curl-xml-http-request

Failed to load messages.

Segmentation fault

Do you know what is the problem ?

Best regards.

CFV
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Luke Ekblad's avatar

Luke Ekblad · 875 weeks ago

When I run ggl-gtk the google gadgets Icon comes up on my panel so I right click it and hit the gadgets button. The window comes up and says updating google gadgets please wait... then failed to update google gadgets please try again. Why wont this wonk?
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Big Dan's avatar - Go to profile

Big Dan · 874 weeks ago

Thanks for the tip, very helpful and smooth install! :)
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nicopathe's avatar

nicopathe · 868 weeks ago

hello, im french... so sorry for my english.
I can't do "Click here after adding and refreshing the repository"
the message is (translation) "can't find google gadget."
i don't understand because I have add
"deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ubuntu hardy main"
and "deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ubuntu hardy main"
as you said.
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Brian's avatar

Brian · 867 weeks ago

Thanks! This is great! Any clue on how to make its background totally transparent (like gOS) instead of a grey background?

You can reach me about transparency that email I used to track replies, and visitors can reply, I think I will be notified!

Thanks again! I knew the process, just not the repos and terminal is always the fast and easy <3

/slinks off in the hopes to find a PNG to cut some transparent gray out of in gimp ^^ Hope it is that simple ^^
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adam's avatar

adam · 850 weeks ago

for some reason, on my 901, the gadgets wont work ever since I ran system update! If I select Google Gadgets, it flashes in the panel but the gadgets never load and I dont see the 4-color gadgets icon! What gives?
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lgrc's avatar

lgrc · 843 weeks ago

thank you, it works pefectly (and am running AMD 64 )
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Dan's avatar

Dan · 842 weeks ago

On Intrepid, I had to use the Hardy repositories for Google Gadgets. However, this created two dependency problems: libltdl3 >= 1.5.2-2 and libqtwebkit1d. libtld3 has apparently been renamed to libtld7 and libwebkit1d may now be libqt4-webkit. I have heard of something called "dependency hell" and so I am putting this on hold for the rest of the day while I think about this and alternatives. ttyl.
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ravidizh's avatar

ravidizh · 828 weeks ago

Thanks so much :D
You made it very easy and quickly to do! it was exactly what I needed!
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b O m's avatar

b O m · 825 weeks ago

Thx man. I found out that my terminal failed while trying to install it, but anyways i found it at Programs -> Add/Remove. (i think it was something i did wrong :O)

Anyways. Thank you :) You're the best :) :)

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