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Rainmeter

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Windows desktop customization tool
Rainmeter icon
Rainmeter 4.4 settings panel
Initial releaseFebruary 22, 2001; 23 years ago (2001-02-22)
Stable release4.5.20 / August 27, 2024; 4 months ago (2024-08-27)
Repositorygithub.com/rainmeter/rainmeter
Written inC++ and C# used for plugins
Operating systemWindows 7 SP1 and later
PlatformIA-32 and x64
Available in32 languages
LicenseGNU GPL v2
Websitewww.rainmeter.net

Rainmeter is a free and open-source desktop customization utility for Windows released under the GNU GPL v2 license. It allows users to create and display user-generated customizable desktop widgets or applets called "skins" that display information. Ready to use collections of skins can be downloaded and installed in packages known as "suites".

Common functionalities of Rainmeter skins include desktop clocks, RSS readers, system monitors, weather widgets, application launchers and audio players.

Development

The Rainmeter project was originally founded by Kimmo 'Rainy' Pekkola, the developer of Rainlendar, in 2001. The project is primarily written in C++, while plugins can be written in either C++ or C#.

Usage

Rainmeter skins are written in Rainmeter code using a text editor and stored as INI configuration files. System resource values and other information such as weather or time are stored through "measure" values within a skin, which can then be shown through different kinds of customizable visual elements called "meters".

Reception

CNET, in a 4 out of 5 star rating, praised the software's flexibility, wide variety of themes and "enthusiastic community", while noting the program "isn't as intuitive as it could be." Softpedia also gave the software a 4 out of 5 star rating, citing its comprehensive tutorials and low system resource usage, while criticizing its lack of cross-platform support.

References

  1. "Releases · rainmeter/rainmeter". GitHub. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  2. "Setting Up - Rainmeter Docs". Rainmeter. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  3. Patrizio, Andy. "Why you need Rainmeter even in a business setting". Computerworld. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  4. ^ "Rainmeter 3.1 review: Customize your desktop with". PCWorld. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  5. Ravenscraft, Eric (2017-01-04). "How to Create an Attractive, Customized Desktop HUD with Rainmeter". Lifehacker. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  6. Lavish, T (2017-05-25). "Rainmeter lets you customize your Windows desktop with widgets & skins". The Windows Club. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  7. "Create your own Windows themes with Rainmeter 4.0". TechRadar. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  8. "Rainmeter: An Open Community". DeviantArt. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  9. "Developers - Rainmeter Docs". Rainmeter. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  10. "Creating Skins - Rainmeter Docs". Rainmeter. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  11. "Rainmeter". Download.com. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  12. Opris, Elena (2014-01-30). "Rainmeter 3 Review". Softpedia. Retrieved 2018-02-23.

External links

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