SageTV Win8 Non-Metro app

[JerryB]

For those who are unaware, Microsoft removed support for gadgets at the RTM stage of Windows 8. I initially tried creating a Metro app to replace the functionality that I lost by no longer being able to run the SageTV gadget.

Unfortunately, this Metro app has several significant limitations including the fact that a representative of Microsoft has stated that Microsoft will not approve the app for distribution through the "Windows Store," a requirement for Metro apps, and the fact that I spend 98% of my time in the desktop environment and thus rarely see the app to know what TV programs are currently recording or scheduled to start recording in the near future.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've come to realize that I really want a desktop app that continually displays my current and upcoming recording schedule. A suggestion was made to develop this app in Rainmeter and Darcilicious is currently working on this approach. I have no experience with Rainmeter and instead decided to try and develop a small Windows desktop program. I'm still working on the program but, in case anyone is interested, here is a screenshot of what I've developed so far.

Currently, the program takes up 7.2 MB of memory. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

[JerryB]

I've added a couple of additional functions and, as a result, the program now occupies 260 by 400 pixels and takes up 9.0 MB of physical memory. Here are updated screenshots for anyone interested.

[darcilicious]

Looking good!

[JerryB]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Looking good!

Thanks. The one thing that my screen shots don't show is that programs that are currently being recorded, as opposed to just scheduled for some time in the future, are depicted in red instead of black so that they clearly stand out. I've previously messed up more than one recording when I've installed an update and rebooted either the SageTV server or the system without recognizing that a recording was ongoing.

Since this is designed to sit on the desktop and run continuously, I'm trying to keep the screen size and memory footprints as small as possible. Therefore, unless beta testing reveals some undetected issues or someone comes up with a critical feature that they would like added, I think I'm done, at this for this first version.

Since this has only been tested on my system and then only for a limited amount of time, I'm not ready to release it to the SageTV community. Anyone who is interested in program and would like to help with beta testing should send me a PM.

[darcilicious]

Does it only work under Windows 8 or will it also work on Windows 7?

[Dargason]

Yeah, that looks really nice! How do you make a windows app? Is that java? It looks a little bit like the VB apps I've written too.

[JerryB]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

Does it only work under Windows 8 or will it also work on Windows 7?

I've only tested it on Windows 8 but it's a standard desktop program and I haven't added anything that I'm aware of that depends on a specific version of Windows so, theoretically, it should run on XP, Vista and Windows 7, as well.

[JerryB]

Originally Posted by Dargason

Yeah, that looks really nice! How do you make a windows app? Is that java? It looks a little bit like the VB apps I've written too.

The app was developed in Visual Studio 2012 using C#/XML. However you are correct, this app could have just as easily been developed using VB by changing syntax. I'm just more comfortable with C# at the moment.

[Eternal]

why cant you use the sidebar gadget?

http://8gadgetpack.net/

[JerryB]

Originally Posted by Eternal

why cant you use the sidebar gadget?

http://8gadgetpack.net/

Because I don't want to add unsupported code with known security issues to my computer, especially to run an app that is no longer being developed, when I've developed a replacement app without these issues that totally addresses all of my needs.