conky

Launch with default, built-in config

$ conky

$ conky [[-C|--print-config]] > ~/.conkyrc

$ conky [[-c|--config]] [path/to/config]

$ conky [[-d|--daemonize]]

$ conky [[-a|--alignment]] [top|bottom|middle]_[left|right|middle]

$ conky [[-p|--pause]] [5]

conky [-c configfile] [-d] [-q] [-u interval] [options]

-c, --config=file
    Load specified config file instead of ~/.conkyrc

-C
    Print default config file location and exit

-d, --daemon
    Daemonize; fork to background after startup

-q, --quiet
    Quiet mode; disable logging

-u, --update-interval=seconds
    Global update interval (default 3.0)

-v, --verbose
    Prints debugging info

-h, --help
    Display help and exit

-V, --version
    Display version and exit

-a, --alignment={top|bottom|...}
    Screen alignment (overrides config)

-b, --own-window
    Create own window (default off)

-w, --own-window-type=type
    Window type: desktop/normal/override (needs compositor)

-o, --own-window-transparency=0-1
    Window transparency (0=invisible)

-t, --text-buffer-size=bytes
    Text buffer size (default 256)

-p, --pause=seconds
    Pause before forking to background

Conky is a free, open-source system monitor for the X Window System (and Wayland via hacks). It displays vital stats like CPU, memory, disk usage, network, temperatures, and processes directly on the desktop with minimal resource overhead. Highly configurable via a plain-text file (~/.conkyrc by default), it supports layouts, colors, fonts, gradients, rings, and Lua scripting for dynamic behaviors. Position it anywhere, make it transparent or with shadows (needs compositor like compton). Ideal for Linux users wanting a glanceable, personalized dashboard without heavy tools like GNOME System Monitor. Runs as a daemon for always-on display, updates at set intervals (default 1s). Supports MPD, weather APIs, RSS, calendars via templates like ${cpu cpu0}. Portable across distros; conky-all package often includes extras like Cairo/IMLib2 support for advanced graphics.

Requires X11 compositor (e.g., picom) for transparency/shadows; Wayland support experimental.
High update rates increase CPU use.
Lua scripts can crash if buggy.
Fonts/metrics may vary by distro.

Edit ~/.conkyrc: lua_load for scripts, TEXT sections for layout.
Variables: ${cpu}, ${mem}, ${top name 1}.
Sample: conky -c ~/.conkyrc &

Advanced: ${lua func args} calls Lua functions for custom calcs/animations.
conky.objects namespace available.

Use with conky-manager GUI for themes; autorun via autostart or systemd.

Created 2003 by Philip Kovacs as fork of 'lcd'. Gained popularity in early Linux desktops. Version 1.10 (2014) introduced Lua API, config v2. Now maintained by conky-dev team; active on GitHub. conky-all bundles backends like Cairo. Widely used in Arch, Ubuntu; themes shared on DeviantArt/Reddit.

top(1), htop(1), glances(1), lm-sensors(1), xdotool(1)