Command Applet

Command applets are experimental; the package API may change.

Use a command applet when the panel item only needs to run commands. It is the right fit for app launchers, URL launchers, screenshot buttons, lock buttons, power menus, and small personal shortcuts.

If the applet needs to show changing state, render custom popovers, or react to events while a process keeps running, use an exec applet instead.

Flow

1. Create a package file in ~/.config/glimpse/applets.
2. Add the package id to a panel section in config.toml.
3. Click the panel item to run the command.

Button Example

# ~/.config/glimpse/applets/terminal.toml
id = "terminal"
type = "command"

[command]
icon = "utilities-terminal-symbolic"
tooltip = "Open terminal"
command = ["ghostty"]

Add the package id to a panel:

# ~/.config/glimpse/config.toml
[[panels]]
left = ["pager", "terminal", "mpris"]

Menu Example

# ~/.config/glimpse/applets/power-menu.toml
id = "power-menu"
type = "command"

[command]
icon = "system-shutdown-symbolic"
tooltip = "Power"
command = ["loginctl", "lock-session"]

[[command.menu]]
label = "Suspend"
command = ["systemctl", "suspend"]

[[command.menu]]
label = "Restart"
command = ["systemctl", "reboot"]

[[command.menu]]
label = "Power Off"
command = ["systemctl", "poweroff"]

The main button runs command. Menu items run their own commands.

Options

Field	Description
icon	Icon name shown in the panel.
label	Optional text label shown in the panel.
tooltip	Tooltip shown on hover.
command	Command run by the primary click.
on_click	Same behavior as command; useful when you prefer explicit event names.
on_middle_click	Command run by middle click.
on_scroll_up	Command run when scrolling up over the applet.
on_scroll_down	Command run when scrolling down over the applet.
on_scroll_left	Command run when horizontal scrolling left over the applet.
on_scroll_right	Command run when horizontal scrolling right over the applet.
menu	Optional menu entries. Each entry has label and command.

Shell Syntax

Commands are argument arrays, not shell strings. This avoids quoting surprises:

command = ["xdg-open", "https://calendar.google.com"]

Use a shell only when you need shell features like pipes, redirects, variables, or command substitution:

command = ["sh", "-c", "grim ~/Pictures/Screenshots/$(date +%F-%H%M%S).png"]

When To Use Exec Instead

Use an exec applet when the panel item needs to:

• update its label, icon, or state over time;
• show a custom popover with live content;
• react to panel events inside a running program;
• keep state between clicks.

See Also

Page	Use it for
Custom Applets	Choosing between command and exec applets.
Exec Applet	Live applets and custom popovers.
Applet Reference	Built-in applets shipped with the shell.