# DeskDash

> DeskDash puts live widgets on your Windows desktop background and can replace the Windows taskbar with one of its own. Arrange, resize and restyle everything your way, install more from a built-in marketplace, or build your own with a documented API.

DeskDash is the Windows desktop widget app published at https://www.desktop-dashboard.com. The app is
named DeskDash and its website is desktop-dashboard.com:
one product, two names. It is also written as "Desktop Dashboard".

## At a glance

- **What it is:** a desktop application that puts live widgets on the Windows
  desktop background, behind your open windows.
- **Platforms:** Windows 10 and Windows 11, 64 bit. Mac and Linux are planned,
  not released.
- **Pricing:** a one-time purchase, no subscription and no ads. Every widget on
  the marketplace is free and included. The current amount is on https://www.desktop-dashboard.com and in
  the FAQ below.
- **Widgets:** installed from a marketplace built into the app, each declaring
  exactly what it can access before it runs. Browsable without the app at
  https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace.
- **Taskbars:** the app can replace the Windows taskbar with one from the
  marketplace (a floating dock, a side rail or a full-width bar) carrying your
  pinned and open apps, start menu and notification area. One runs at a time,
  and the Windows taskbar comes back with one click. Browsable at
  https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/taskbars.
- **Extensible:** a widget is a folder of plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript with
  no build step, written against a documented API. Docs at https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/docs.
- **Multi monitor:** every connected display gets its own layout, remembered
  per display across reconnects.

## Key pages

- [Home](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/): what the app does, with video.
- [About](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/about): what DeskDash is and who builds it.
- [Download](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/download): system requirements and how to get it.
- [Widget marketplace](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace): every published widget.
- [Taskbar marketplace](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/taskbars): every published taskbar.
- [Developer docs](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/docs): the widget API, manifest, permissions and tokens.
- [Changelog](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/changelog): every released version.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is DeskDash?

DeskDash is a Windows app (with Linux and Mac versions coming later) that turns your desktop background into a live dashboard. You place widgets (clocks, system stats, weather, notes and more) directly on your wallpaper, arrange and style them how you like, and they stay behind your normal windows. Widgets come from a built-in marketplace, and anyone can build their own. Make your desktop be your own, with what you need in focus

### How much does it cost?

The app has a one-time cost of 10€ plus tax where it applies, an early access price for the first 100 buyers that goes up afterwards. There are no subscriptions, no ads and all widgets on the marketplace are free. If you need multiple devices support, email me at ciprian@desktop-dashboard.com and I can give you access.

### Which platforms are supported?

Windows will be the first to launch. Later I plan on adding support for Mac and Linux as well.

### Does it work with more than one monitor?

Yes, multiple monitors are supported from the start. Every display gets its own layout, so you can keep widgets on one screen, run a full dashboard on another, or leave a display completely clean. Layouts remember their display and come back when you reconnect it.

### Can DeskDash replace the Windows taskbar?

Yes. The marketplace has a Taskbars section beside Widgets. Pick one and it takes the place of the Windows taskbar, with your pinned apps, open windows, start menu and notification area, in its own style: a floating dock, a side rail or a full-width bar. One taskbar runs at a time. It asks for permissions the same way a widget does, and the Windows taskbar comes back with one click in the store.

### How do I install widgets?

From inside the app: open the marketplace, pick a widget and add it to your desktop. Before it runs you see exactly what it can access, and you decide what to grant. You can browse available widgets from this site, no need to download the app.

### Will it slow down my computer?

It shouldn't be noticeable. Widgets are small web pages that only do the work you see on screen, hidden widgets are fully unloaded, and a display with no widgets costs nothing. During testing, no noticeable impact was seen. Their performance will vary though, as anyone can upload their own widgets, and some might be less optimized than others. There is also a low performance mode you can enable if you feel like your computer is struggling.

### Is it safe to run widgets I didn't write?

Yes (mostly). People will be able to submit their own widgets and I'll try to keep approval and verification process at a high level. Security is a very important aspect and I'd like to make sure people can feel safe downloading from the marketplace.

### Can I build my own widgets?

Yes, the app offers a Developer mode that gives you access to widget inspecting, and generating your own starting template. Docs are available on this site and you can check them to see how to build a good widget. Files for AI agents are also available if you want to go that route.

## Widgets

Every widget and taskbar published to the DeskDash marketplace. All are free and install from inside the app.

- [App Strip widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.app-strip): A pill strip of Windows system apps: Settings, Explorer and friends; + picks from the host catalog
- [Aurora taskbar](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.aurora): A full-width glass bar whose surface is a living light field: it dances to whatever is playing, breathes with your CPU when the room is quiet, brightens under your pointer and leans toward the focused app. A clock, a now-playing chip and vitals rings ride on it, and the chip opens a deck with transport, volume and meters.
- [Calculator widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.calculator): A basic calculator with keyboard input and a history tape
- [Calendar widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.calendar): Month and week calendar: click a day to add events, reminders and repeats
- [Claude Usage widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.claude-usage): Claude Code's /usage limit bars, today's tokens by model, and live sessions
- [Clock widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.clock): Time and date, driven by the host's tick source
- [Countdown widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.countdown): Time until or since a date, in days, months or years
- [Desktop Drawer widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.desktop-drawer): App drawer for any folder you pick: mirror the whole folder, or curate items with + and drag them between drawers; collapses to a slim handle on any edge
- [Dock taskbar](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.dock): A macOS-style floating dock: a centered pill of big app icons with a magnification wave, launch bounce, window dots, live window previews, a start button and an optional system tray.
- [Drives widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.drives): Each fixed drive with a capacity bar and used or free space text
- [Flight Radar widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.flight-radar): Live local ADS-B radar scope with a nearest-aircraft readout (community data, no API key)
- [Focus widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.pomodoro): Pomodoro focus timer: work/break cycles, progress ring, chime
- [Forecast widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.forecast): The next hours or the next days for a city via Open-Meteo (no API key)
- [Greeting widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.greeting): Hero greeting: time-of-day word, tagline, big clock and date, optional card background
- [Habits widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.habits): Weekly habit tracker: a dot per day, click to check off, browse past weeks
- [Now Playing widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.now-playing): What's playing on this PC: album art, track info, transport controls, seekable progress
- [Power widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.power): Shut down, restart, sleep, lock or sign out, from a strip of buttons on the desktop
- [Rail taskbar](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.rail): A tall glass rail on the left or right screen edge: tray at the top, apps in the middle, games and start at the bottom. A pointer glow rides the rail, icons lift toward the screen, one accent notch slides to the focused app, launches pulse until the app lands, and the games button opens your installed Steam and GOG library beside the rail.
- [Schedule widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.schedule): Weekly timetable of hour blocks with durations, repeats, reminders and per-day progress
- [Slot Machine widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.slot-machine): A three-reel slot machine: pull the lever, land a line, get confetti
- [Status Bar widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.status-bar): A slim top bar: date and time centered, weather, wifi, volume and battery at the right
- [Steam Recent widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.steam-recent): Recently played Steam games: hours, cover art, achievement progress, click to launch
- [Sticker widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.sticker): Pins an image to the desktop: a photo, a logo, a transparent PNG sticker
- [Sticky Note widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.stickynotes): A classic sticky note that keeps whatever you type on it
- [System Controls widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.system-controls): Wifi, volume and battery in one bar: network list with connect/disconnect, working volume slider, settings shortcuts
- [System Rings widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.system-rings): CPU, RAM, GPU, disk and network as live three-quarter radial gauges, current value only
- [System Vitals widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.system-vitals): Live CPU / RAM / GPU / network sparklines from the host's 1Hz vitals stream
- [Today widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.today): The day, set large: one or two lines of weekday, month, date or year
- [Todo widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.todo): A light task list: add tasks, check them off, clear the done ones
- [Visualizer widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.visualizer): Audio spectrum bars: a transparent baseline that dances with whatever is playing
- [Weather widget](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/marketplace/deskdash.weather): Current conditions for a city via Open-Meteo (no API key)

## Articles

Guides and notes published on the DeskDash site. Append ".md" to any of these URLs for the article as plain markdown.

- [Desktop gadgets for Windows 11: what replaced the sidebar](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/blog/desktop-gadgets-windows-11): Windows 11 has no desktop gadgets. Why Microsoft removed them, why the Widgets board is not the same thing, and the apps that put gadgets on the desktop.
- [DeskDash vs Rainmeter: what each one can reach on your PC](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/blog/deskdash-vs-rainmeter): DeskDash vs Rainmeter, side by side: where widgets come from, what each one can run on your PC, sensors, multi-monitor, taskbar and price.
- [Rainmeter alternatives in 2026: which ones are still maintained, and what each widget can reach on your PC](https://www.desktop-dashboard.com/blog/rainmeter-alternatives): Rainmeter alternatives audited for August 2026: last release, licence, real price, and what a widget can reach on your PC once installed.

# Docs

- [DeskDash widget docs](/docs): Build, style, and publish widgets for DeskDash with plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, no build step required.
- Getting started
  - [What a widget is](/docs/getting-started/what-is-a-widget): The mental model: a folder of plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in an isolated frame, a manifest that declares everything, and the dd SDK as the only door to the system.
  - [Developer mode and the dev kit](/docs/getting-started/developer-mode): Turn on developer mode to scaffold widgets, get typed autocomplete from the generated dev kit, reload from the tray, and inspect running widgets.
  - [Your first widget](/docs/getting-started/your-first-widget): A start-to-finish tutorial that builds a small clock widget: scaffold, manifest, markup, live time, and the reload loop.
- Guides
  - [Writing the manifest](/docs/guides/manifest): What goes in manifest.json: identity, API and app version floors, the entry document, sizing on the grid, and the schema line that gives you autocompletion.
  - [Settings and presets](/docs/guides/settings): Declare user-facing settings fields, reuse the shared presets, and read and react to values with dd.settings.
  - [Interactivity and input](/docs/guides/interactivity): How mouse input reaches a widget: the interactive flag, capture regions marked in the DOM, hover events, and what happens when widgets overlap.
  - [Popouts and flyouts](/docs/guides/popouts): Open a second sandboxed pane from a widget, exchange messages with it, and use the flyout helper for panels that retract on their own.
  - [Building a taskbar](/docs/guides/taskbars): What a taskbar is, what the host does for it, and a first bar from three tags: the folder, the manifest, the edge, input by segments, previews, a pane, settings and publishing.
  - [Working with data](/docs/guides/working-with-data): Fetch over HTTP against a declared host allowlist, poll politely, persist small state, and prefer host events over polling.
  - [Using the components](/docs/guides/components): Build widget UI from the dd-* elements, keep structure in HTML, and use signals and dd.ui.create for the parts that actually change.
  - [Theming and tokens](/docs/guides/theming): Style with the --dd-* design tokens so widgets follow every theme, read token values from JavaScript, and react to theme changes at runtime.
  - [Publishing to the marketplace](/docs/guides/publishing): Get a publisher handle, upload the widget zip, build the listing with screenshots, and get through review and later updates.
- Making it feel native
  - [Design guidelines](/docs/native/guidelines): What makes a widget feel native to DeskDash: components first, tokens always, quiet motion, and restraint in density and decoration.
  - [Performance and quality](/docs/native/performance): Polling intervals, animation discipline, effect hygiene, behavior at extreme sizes, and a self-check list before you publish.
- Reference
  - API
    - [Core runtime](/docs/reference/api/core): The core of the dd global: dd.ready and the init context, dd.request, dd.poll, dd.log, and how permission gating works on every call.
    - [UI toolkit](/docs/reference/api/ui): Reference for dd.ui: create, signal, computed, effect, bindParts, autofit, token, pressGuard, and the components registry.
    - [Settings, storage, and files](/docs/reference/api/settings-storage): Reference for dd.settings, dd.storage and its limits, dd.files, and how secret references resolve.
    - [Time, dates, theme, and cursor](/docs/reference/api/environment): Reference for dd.time ticks, dd.dates calendar arithmetic, dd.theme tokens and accent helpers, and dd.cursor hover and movement events.
    - [System and power](/docs/reference/api/system): Reference for dd.system status, vitals, volume, and Wi-Fi, and for dd.power capabilities and actions.
    - [Media and audio](/docs/reference/api/media-audio): Reference for dd.media now-playing status and transport controls, and the dd.audio spectrum stream.
    - [Desktop, folders, apps, and games](/docs/reference/api/desktop-apps): Reference for dd.desktop items, dd.folders listings and icons, dd.apps launching, and dd.games, the installed game library.
    - [Bar widgets](/docs/reference/api/bar-widgets): Reference for the bar-only surface: the taskbar store and the strip, the open windows, the pinned apps, the preview flyout, the system tray mirror, the start-menu tap and the per-app context menu, gated by the taskbar permission.
    - [Data services](/docs/reference/api/data-services): Reference for dd.http fetch against host allowlists, the dd.weather helpers, and dd.claudeUsage.
    - [Notifications and dialogs](/docs/reference/api/notifications-dialogs): Reference for dd.notify and the dd.dialogs pickers for desktop and folder items.
    - [Popouts, peers, and widgets](/docs/reference/api/widgets-together): Reference for dd.popout including flyouts, dd.peers drag and drop between widgets, and the dd.widgets control surface.
  - [Manifest reference](/docs/reference/manifest): Every manifest.json field: identity, versions, entry, sizing, permissions, settings, popout, and bundled fonts.
  - [Permissions reference](/docs/reference/permissions): Every permission a widget can request, what the user is told it means at install time, and which methods and events it unlocks.
  - [Token reference](/docs/reference/tokens): All --dd-* design tokens by category: surfaces, text, accent, status, charts, fonts, radii, spacing, elevation, and motion.
  - [Component reference](/docs/reference/components): The dd-* elements with their attributes, parts, slots, presets, and override points.
  - [Event reference](/docs/reference/events): Every event topic a widget can subscribe to, with payload shapes, permission gating, and delivery rules.
  - [Errors and versioning](/docs/reference/errors-versioning): Bridge error codes, the API version lifecycle, the deprecation policy, and what happens when a manifest is too old or too new.
- Concepts
  - [How the sandbox works](/docs/concepts/security): The layers that keep widgets contained, why widget identity comes from the frame and not the payload, and what install-time grants mean.