How can I get tzclock into a current fresh installation, now that …

nitja · 23 July 2025 10:28

… it has been taken from the AUR.
Well, that’s been some time ago, but it still lives @ my desktop without any issues.

How can I transfer it to the current (still to be configured) laptop?

I had done that successfully for the original cairo-clock till ~2016, but cannot fully recall the complete procedure. (… like all what I’d done with Linux between ~2001 and the reset of my memory 4 years and 2 days ago)

details of the installation @ desktop

    ~  LANG=C pamac info tzclock                                        ✔ 
Name                  : tzclock
Version               : 4.6-1
Description           : Cairo clock to display the time around the world
URL                   : https://theknight.co.uk
Licenses              : GPL-3.0-or-later
Repository            : AUR
Installed Size        : 276,6 kB
Groups                : --
Depends On            : gtk3 libnotify libdial
Optional Dependencies : --
Make Dependencies     : --
Check Dependencies    : --
Required By           : --
Optional For          : --
Provides              : --
Replaces              : --
Conflicts With        : --
Packager              : Mark Wagie <mark@manjaro.org>
Maintainer            : lmartinez-mirror
First Submitted       : Do 26 Nov 2009 06:05:56 CET
Last Modified         : Do 07 Nov 2024 23:15:22 CET
Votes                 : 8
Out of Date           : --
Build Date            : Sa 27 Jan 2024 19:31:07 CET
Install Date          : Di 27 Feb 2024 13:34:11 CET
Install Reason        : Explicitly installed
Validated By          : Signature
Backup files          : --

    ~  LANG=C pamac info gtk3                                           ✔ 
Name                  : gtk3
Version               : 1:3.24.49-2
Description           : GObject-based multi-platform GUI toolkit
URL                   : https://www.gtk.org/
Licenses              : LGPL-2.1-or-later
Repository            : extra
Installed Size        : 55,7 MB
Groups                : --
Depends On            : adwaita-fonts adwaita-icon-theme at-spi2-core cairo
                        dconf desktop-file-utils fontconfig fribidi gdk-pixbuf2
                        glib2 glibc harfbuzz iso-codes libcloudproviders
                        libcolord libcups libegl libepoxy libgl librsvg libx11
                        libxcomposite libxcursor libxdamage libxext libxfixes
                        libxi libxinerama libxkbcommon libxrandr libxrender
                        pango shared-mime-info tinysparql wayland
                        gtk-update-icon-cache
Optional Dependencies : evince: Default print preview command [Installed]
Required By           : aisleriot appstream-glib cinnamon-desktop cjs clutter
                        dconf-editor eog evince evolution-data-server firefox
                        fontforge gcolor3 gcr gdm geany gedit gedit-plugins
                        geeqie gimp gnome-autoar gnome-color-manager
                        gnome-desktop gnome-disk-utility gnome-session
                        gnome-settings-daemon gnome-terminal gspell
                        gst-plugin-gtk gtkhash gtkmm3 gtksourceview3
                        gtksourceview4 gtksourceviewmm gtkspell3 gucharmap ibus
                        inkscape libappindicator-gtk3 libdbusmenu-gtk3 libdial
                        libgedit-amtk libgedit-gtksourceview libgedit-tepl
                        libgnome-games-support libgnomekbd libhandy libpeas
                        libportal-gtk3 lollypop manjaro-application-utility
                        manjaro-hello meld pamac-gtk perl-gtk3
                        python-manjaro-sdk signal-desktop sushi
                        system-config-printer themix-gui-git
                        themix-theme-oomox-git thunderbird timeshift totem
                        tzclock vte3 webkit2gtk webkit2gtk-4.1
                        xdg-desktop-portal-gtk xdg-user-dirs-gtk yelp
Optional For          : avahi ghostscript jre11-openjdk jre8-openjdk
                        libcanberra libdecor libreoffice-fresh pacman-mirrors
                        pinentry plymouth qt5-base qt6-base zbar
Provides              : gtk3-print-backends libgailutil-3.so=0-64
                        libgdk-3.so=0-64 libgtk-3.so=0-64
Replaces              : gtk3-print-backends<=3.22.26-1
Conflicts With        : gtk3-print-backends
Packager              : Jan Alexander Steffens (heftig) <heftig@archlinux.org>
Build Date            : Fr 09 Mai 2025 18:56:53 CEST
Install Date          : Mo 16 Jun 2025 12:32:46 CEST
Install Reason        : Installed as a dependency for another package
Validated By          : Signature
Backup files          : --

    ~  LANG=C pamac info libnotify                                      ✔ 
Name                  : libnotify
Version               : 0.8.6-1
Description           : Library for sending desktop notifications
URL                   : https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libnotify
Licenses              : LGPL-2.1-or-later
Repository            : extra
Installed Size        : 151,7 kB
Groups                : --
Depends On            : gdk-pixbuf2 glib2 glibc
Optional Dependencies : --
Required By           : gnome-bluetooth-3.0 gnome-disk-utility
                        gnome-settings-daemon gnome-tweaks ibus mhwd-db nemo
                        pamac-gtk signal-desktop system-config-printer tzclock
Optional For          : firefox geoclue thunderbird
Provides              : libnotify.so=4-64
Replaces              : --
Conflicts With        : --
Packager              : Jan Alexander Steffens (heftig) <heftig@archlinux.org>
Build Date            : Sa 29 Mär 2025 01:36:39 CET
Install Date          : Sa 19 Apr 2025 08:49:19 CEST
Install Reason        : Installed as a dependency for another package
Validated By          : Signature
Backup files          : --

    ~  LANG=C pamac info libdial                                        ✔ 
Name                  : libdial
Version               : 2.5-1
Description           : Library to display a clock or a dial
URL                   : https://theknight.co.uk/
Licenses              : GPL-3.0-or-later
Repository            : AUR
Installed Size        : 52,0 kB
Groups                : --
Depends On            : gtk3
Optional Dependencies : --
Make Dependencies     : --
Check Dependencies    : --
Required By           : tzclock
Optional For          : --
Provides              : libdial.so=2
Replaces              : --
Conflicts With        : --
Packager              : Mark Wagie <mark@manjaro.org>
Maintainer            : lmartinez-mirror
First Submitted       : So 12 Jan 2020 22:24:00 CET
Last Modified         : Do 07 Nov 2024 23:14:33 CET
Votes                 : 0
Out of Date           : --
Build Date            : Sa 27 Jan 2024 19:29:01 CET
Install Date          : Di 27 Feb 2024 13:33:56 CET
Install Reason        : Installed as a dependency for another package
Validated By          : Signature
Backup files          : --
    ~                                                                   ✔

dirtree of related files @ desktop

    /run/media/tn/Transporter/tzclock  LANG=C tree     ✔ 
.
|-- home
|   `-- tn
|-- usr
|   |-- bin
|   |   |-- notify-send
|   |   |-- screenSize
|   |   `-- tzclock
|   |-- include
|   |   |-- dialsys.h
|   |   `-- libnotify
|   |       |-- notification.h
|   |       |-- notify-enum-types.h
|   |       |-- notify-features.h
|   |       `-- notify.h
|   |-- lib
|   |   |-- girepository-1.0
|   |   |   `-- Notify-0.7.typelib
|   |   |-- libdial.so -> libdial.so.2.0.1
|   |   |-- libdial.so.2 -> libdial.so.2.0.1
|   |   |-- libdial.so.2.0.1
|   |   |-- libnotify.so -> libnotify.so.4
|   |   |-- libnotify.so.4 -> libnotify.so.4.0.0
|   |   |-- libnotify.so.4.0.0
|   |   `-- pkgconfig
|   |       |-- dial.pc
|   |       `-- libnotify.pc
|   `-- share
|       |-- appdata
|       |   `-- tzclock.appdata.xml
|       |-- applications
|       |   `-- tzclock.desktop
|       |-- gir-1.0
|       |   `-- Notify-0.7.gir
|       |-- icons
|       |   `-- hicolor
|       |       |-- 128x128
|       |       |   `-- apps
|       |       |       `-- tzclock.png
|       |       |-- 48x48
|       |       |   `-- apps
|       |       |       `-- tzclock.png
|       |       `-- scalable
|       |           `-- apps
|       |               `-- tzclock.svg
|       `-- man
|           `-- man1
|               `-- notify-send.1.gz
`-- var
    `-- lib
        `-- pacman
            `-- local
                `-- libdial-2.5-1
                    |-- desc
                    |-- files
                    `-- mtree

29 directories, 27 files
    /run/media/tn/Transporter/tzclock                           ✔

I think I’ve tried to just copy the related files (completely(?) and with correct(ed) permissions), but that didn’t work.
Aware of my sciolism, I don’t want to mess around with the laptop installation, now that I’ve found a route to a really clean install at long last … without asking the advice of our experts here.

If these strongly discourage from doing so, I need recommended alternatives with strong emphasis on the minimal decoration, clarity and the waiver of distraction. While having the possibility to place more instantiations for different time zones side by side and to get a popup message at a preset time are nice to have, that wouldn’t make a deal breaker.

Nachlese · 23 July 2025 10:35

… just going by the name (I don’t know the app) - no, it has not been taken from AUR:

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/tzclock

ps:
I think I may have misunderstood you when you said:
“it has been taken from …”

nitja · 23 July 2025 10:45

The entries (tzclock and libdial) are still there, but it wouldn’t compile and the AUR never provided a binary.
p.s.: The entries refer to a url that’s no longer available.

Nachlese · 23 July 2025 10:56

The PKGBUILD is old and does reference versions of sources which are no longer available.
The now available version of libdial is 2.6 and the now available version of tzclock is 4.7

https://theknight.co.uk/download.html

… the PKGBUILDs for both packages needs adjustment, needs to be edited before trying to use it
I’ll try this in the next couple of hours, probably.

It may be easier to use makepkg and build libdial and then tzclock separately.

nitja · 23 July 2025 11:02

opps - theknight has come online again! That’s really good news!
re. packaging: I think that @Yochanan might soon take care.

Nachlese · 23 July 2025 11:04

Is he the maintainer?
I don’t recognize that name there.

Aragorn · 23 July 2025 11:05

He’s a Manjaro packager, not the maintainer of those two AUR packages.

Nachlese · 23 July 2025 11:32

I edited the PKGBUILD for both packages, adjusted the version to what is now available.
ran updpkgsums
and then built first libdial and installed it, then tzclock itself.

Works.

I can’t submit it to AUR - I’m not registered there.

soundofthunder · 23 July 2025 12:48

It looks like the project is infrequently maintained.

However, I’ve added updated PKGBUILDs for both tzclock-4.7 and libdial-2.6 in the comments section:

tzclock (AUR)

You should be able to choose e to edit the PKGBUILDs as you begin the build process via AUR.

pamac build tzclock

The only changes made to the PKGBUILDs were to respective version numbers and checksums (SHA256).

PKGBUILDs also included (below) for reference.

I hope this helps.

Cheers.

PKGBUILD (tzclock-4.7)

# Maintainer: Luis Martinez <luis dot martinez at disroot dot org>
# Contributor: Felix Golatofski <contact@xdfr.de>
# Contributor: Marcos Heredia <chelqo at gmail dot com>
# Contributor: Juan Diego Tascon
# Contributor: Lee James

pkgname=tzclock
pkgver=4.7
pkgrel=1
pkgdesc="Cairo clock to display the time around the world"
arch=('x86_64')
url="https://theknight.co.uk"
license=("GPL-3.0-only")
depends=('gtk3' 'libnotify' 'libdial')
changelog=CHANGELOG
source=("$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.bz2::$url/releases/Source/$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.bz2")
sha256sums=('ff9fe076ab306c8ebb68bbe4797726f24a67b8cd5fddb926f745c38b0d136cce')

build() {
    cd "$pkgname-$pkgver"
    ./configure --prefix=/usr
    make
}

package() {
    cd "$pkgname-$pkgver"
    DESTDIR="$pkgdir/" make install
    install -Dm644 COPYING "$pkgdir/usr/share/licenses/$pkgname/LICENSE"
    install -Dm644 AUTHORS tzclock.spec -t "$pkgdir/usr/share/doc/$pkgname/"
}

PKGBUILD (libdial-2.6)

# Maintainer: Luis Martinez <luis dot martinez at disroot dot org>
# Contributor: Lex Black <autumn-wind@web.de>
# Contributor: Lee James

pkgname=libdial
pkgver=2.6
pkgrel=1
pkgdesc="library needed by tzclock"
arch=('x86_64')
url="https://theknight.co.uk"
license=("GPL-3.0-only")
depends=('gtk3')
provides=("$pkhname.so=2-64")
source=("$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.bz2::$url/releases/Source/$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.bz2")
sha256sums=('4639779bdf735dfda0755f22ddb7519ba8417813232e583a49f7a8fa01364d60')

build() {
    cd "$pkgname-$pkgver"
    ./configure --prefix=/usr
    make
}

package() {
    cd "$pkgname-$pkgver/"
    make DESTDIR="${pkgdir}" install
}

Edit:-

tz is another project that might potentially be of interest;

linux-aarhus · 23 July 2025 12:50

I have a private repo where I just rebuilt tzclock and libdial.

https://uex.dk/repos/nixrepo

If you are on Plasma especially Wayland - it is not good - the Plasma clock widget is better and it can do timezones as well.

Ben · 23 July 2025 12:57

Nothing beats conky

Nachlese · 23 July 2025 13:17

tzclock can look cool - conky as well

I couldn’t see any of these if any program window was open - all I can see at all times is my panel
with the clock and other gadgets I feel I need …

nitja · 23 July 2025 13:21

Big thanks to all participants!
I know about oz/tz and conky - and that both are way out of target here¹⁾.
¹) cf. opening, last ¶ and picture

Like all since my ‘reset’, it’ll take longer than expected till I’ve fully digested and processed it. Then I’ll append a short report of the outcome and mark @Nachlese’s post (#7) as Solution.

Ben · 23 July 2025 13:35

This is why Conky allows some things to go on top…

nitja · 23 July 2025 13:48

But the clock is still to be “read”, i.e. to be focused, while the “simple as possible” analog one sends its information without distraction through the corner of one’s eye into (sub)conscious.

One ᐸotᐳ-question:
I’ve recently seen a screenshot from you that included the mouse cursor and that seemed half-transparent and frill-free.
What theme are you using?

Ben · 23 July 2025 14:40

It’s an ancient cursor theme I just can’t give up… resolution isn’t great.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/m1f16gbsbm3sezfshe6mm/Chameleon.tar.gz?rlkey=006cqxjuxu2xi89hrjmk8vzev&dl=0