added applet and updated README

Makefile

@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 all: build
 
 # rgb:
-# 	clang++ -std=c++23 ./rgb.cpp -o ./rgb
+# 	clang++-14 -std=c++23 ./rgb.cpp -o ./rgb
 
 acer-rgb-cli:
-	clang++ -std=c++23 acer-rgb-cli.cpp -o acer-rgb-cli
+	clang++-14 -std=c++23 acer-rgb-cli.cpp -o acer-rgb-cli
 
 build-cli: acer-rgb-cli
 
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ clean-cli:
 	rm -f acer-rgb-cli
 
 acer-rgbd: 
-	g++ -O2 -std=c++23 acer-rgbd.cpp -o acer-rgbd
+	g++-14 -O2 -std=c++23 acer-rgbd.cpp -o acer-rgbd
 
 build: acer-rgbd
 

README.md

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # acer-lighting
 
+> **Fork Notice:** This is a fork of [fcrespo82/acer-lighting-daemon](https://github.com/fcrespo82/acer-lighting-daemon) with added GUI tray applet support.
+
 **Thanks**
 
 This project benefited greatly from the work, testing and research of several community contributors — especially: @ZoeBattleSand, @0x189D7997, and @JakeBrxwn. Their reverse-engineering, testing, tooling and discussion (see https://github.com/0x7375646F/Linuwu-Sense/pull/65) made much of this possible.
@@ -7,7 +9,7 @@ This project benefited greatly from the work, testing and research of several co
 Small tools to control Acer laptop RGB zones and a daemon that persists/apply states.
 
 > [!CAUTION]
-> The code here was based on the work of others but it was written with the help of AI too 
+> The code here was based on the work of others but it was written with the help of AI too
 
 ## Build
 
@@ -48,6 +50,41 @@ If you need to undo the install:
 sudo make uninstall
 ```
 
+## GUI Tray Applet
+
+A system tray applet is included for easy RGB control without using the command line.
+
+### Dependencies
+
+```sh
+sudo apt install python3-gi gir1.2-appindicator3-0.1
+```
+
+### Running
+
+```sh
+python3 acer-rgb-tray.py
+```
+
+The applet appears in your system tray. Click it to access:
+- **Color presets** (Red, Green, Blue, White, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Orange)
+- **Custom...** - Opens a full color picker dialog
+- **Effect** submenu - Static, Breathing, Neon, Wave, Ripple, Zoom, Snake, Disco, Shifting
+
+### Autostart
+
+To start the applet automatically on login:
+
+```sh
+cp acer-rgb-tray.desktop ~/.config/autostart/
+```
+
+Make sure the daemon is running before the applet starts:
+
+```sh
+sudo systemctl enable acer-rgbd.service
+```
+
 ## Usage
 
 - Send commands to the daemon using the `acer-rgb` helper (it talks to the daemon socket):
@@ -85,3 +122,4 @@ sudo systemctl restart acer-rgbd.service
 
 - The installer writes an initial all-green state (keyboard/lid/button) to `/var/lib/acer-rgbd/state.txt` so newly installed systems show green LEDs by default.
 - Running the daemon requires root privileges (or appropriate udev rules) to access the HID device.
+- The GUI applet communicates with the daemon via socket (`/run/acer-rgbd.sock`) and runs as a regular user.

acer-rgb-tray.desktop

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Application
+Name=Acer RGB Control
+Comment=Control Acer keyboard RGB lighting
+Exec=/home/ncode/Dev/acer-lighting-daemon/acer-rgb-tray.py
+Icon=input-keyboard
+Terminal=false
+Categories=Utility;Settings;
+StartupNotify=false

acer-rgb-tray.py

@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Acer RGB Keyboard Tray Applet - Menu-based controls."""
+
+import gi
+gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")
+gi.require_version("AppIndicator3", "0.1")
+
+from gi.repository import Gtk, AppIndicator3, Gdk
+
+from daemon_client import (
+    RGBState, EFFECTS,
+    is_daemon_running, get_states, set_rgb
+)
+
+# Color presets (name, r, g, b)
+COLOR_PRESETS = [
+    ("Red", 255, 0, 0),
+    ("Green", 0, 255, 0),
+    ("Blue", 0, 0, 255),
+    ("White", 255, 255, 255),
+    ("Cyan", 0, 255, 255),
+    ("Magenta", 255, 0, 255),
+    ("Yellow", 255, 255, 0),
+    ("Orange", 255, 128, 0),
+]
+
+
+class AcerRGBTray:
+    """System tray application with menu-based controls."""
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.current_state = None
+
+        self.indicator = AppIndicator3.Indicator.new(
+            "acer-rgb-tray",
+            "media-view-subtitles-symbolic",
+            AppIndicator3.IndicatorCategory.HARDWARE
+        )
+        self.indicator.set_status(AppIndicator3.IndicatorStatus.ACTIVE)
+
+        self.load_state()
+        self.build_menu()
+
+    def build_menu(self):
+        """Build the dropdown menu with all controls."""
+        menu = Gtk.Menu()
+
+        # Status line at top
+        self.status_item = Gtk.MenuItem(label="Loading...")
+        self.status_item.set_sensitive(False)
+        menu.append(self.status_item)
+
+        menu.append(Gtk.SeparatorMenuItem())
+
+        # Color presets directly in menu
+        for name, r, g, b in COLOR_PRESETS:
+            item = Gtk.MenuItem(label=name)
+            item.connect("activate", self.on_color_preset, r, g, b)
+            menu.append(item)
+
+        # Custom color option
+        custom_item = Gtk.MenuItem(label="Custom...")
+        custom_item.connect("activate", self.on_custom_color)
+        menu.append(custom_item)
+
+        menu.append(Gtk.SeparatorMenuItem())
+
+        # Effect submenu
+        effect_item = Gtk.MenuItem(label="Effect")
+        effect_submenu = Gtk.Menu()
+        self.effect_group = []
+        for effect_id, effect_name in EFFECTS:
+            item = Gtk.RadioMenuItem(label=effect_name)
+            if self.effect_group:
+                item.set_property("group", self.effect_group[0])
+            self.effect_group.append(item)
+            item.connect("toggled", self.on_effect_changed, effect_id)
+            effect_submenu.append(item)
+        effect_item.set_submenu(effect_submenu)
+        menu.append(effect_item)
+
+        menu.show_all()
+        self.indicator.set_menu(menu)
+        self.update_ui_from_state()
+
+    def load_state(self):
+        """Load current state from daemon."""
+        if not is_daemon_running():
+            self.current_state = RGBState(device="keyboard")
+            return
+
+        try:
+            states = get_states()
+            if "keyboard" in states:
+                self.current_state = states["keyboard"]
+            else:
+                self.current_state = RGBState(device="keyboard")
+        except Exception:
+            self.current_state = RGBState(device="keyboard")
+
+    def update_ui_from_state(self):
+        """Update menu items to reflect current state."""
+        if self.current_state is None:
+            self.status_item.set_label("Daemon not running")
+            return
+
+        state = self.current_state
+
+        # Update status line
+        color_name = self.get_color_name(state.r, state.g, state.b)
+        effect_name = dict(EFFECTS).get(state.effect, state.effect)
+        self.status_item.set_label(f"{color_name} | {effect_name}")
+
+        # Update effect radio buttons
+        for i, (effect_id, _) in enumerate(EFFECTS):
+            if effect_id == state.effect:
+                self.effect_group[i].set_active(True)
+                break
+
+    def get_color_name(self, r, g, b):
+        """Get color name from RGB values, or hex if not a preset."""
+        for name, pr, pg, pb in COLOR_PRESETS:
+            if (r, g, b) == (pr, pg, pb):
+                return name
+        return f"#{r:02X}{g:02X}{b:02X}"
+
+    def on_color_preset(self, item, r, g, b):
+        """Handle color preset selection."""
+        self.current_state.r = r
+        self.current_state.g = g
+        self.current_state.b = b
+        self.apply_state()
+
+    def on_custom_color(self, item):
+        """Show color chooser dialog."""
+        dialog = Gtk.ColorChooserDialog(
+            title="Choose Color",
+            transient_for=None
+        )
+        dialog.set_use_alpha(False)
+        dialog.set_rgba(Gdk.RGBA(
+            self.current_state.r / 255,
+            self.current_state.g / 255,
+            self.current_state.b / 255,
+            1.0
+        ))
+
+        if dialog.run() == Gtk.ResponseType.OK:
+            rgba = dialog.get_rgba()
+            self.current_state.r = int(rgba.red * 255)
+            self.current_state.g = int(rgba.green * 255)
+            self.current_state.b = int(rgba.blue * 255)
+            self.apply_state()
+
+        dialog.destroy()
+
+    def on_effect_changed(self, item, effect_id):
+        """Handle effect selection."""
+        if not item.get_active():
+            return
+        self.current_state.effect = effect_id
+        if effect_id == "static":
+            self.current_state.speed = 0
+        else:
+            self.current_state.speed = 5
+        self.apply_state()
+
+    def apply_state(self):
+        """Apply current state to daemon."""
+        self.current_state.device = "keyboard"
+        success, msg = set_rgb(self.current_state)
+        if success:
+            self.update_ui_from_state()
+        else:
+            self.status_item.set_label(f"Error: {msg}")
+
+    def run(self):
+        Gtk.main()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    app = AcerRGBTray()
+    app.run()

daemon_client.py

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+"""Socket client for acer-rgbd daemon communication."""
+
+import socket
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Optional
+
+SOCKET_PATH = "/run/acer-rgbd.sock"
+
+EFFECTS = [
+    ("static", "Static"),
+    ("breathing", "Breathing"),
+    ("neon", "Neon"),
+    ("wave", "Wave"),
+    ("ripple", "Ripple"),
+    ("zoom", "Zoom"),
+    ("snake", "Snake"),
+    ("disco", "Disco"),
+    ("shifting", "Shifting"),
+]
+
+DEVICES = ["keyboard", "lid", "button"]
+
+
+@dataclass
+class RGBState:
+    device: str = "keyboard"
+    hidraw: str = "/dev/hidraw4"
+    effect: str = "static"
+    brightness: int = 100
+    speed: int = 0
+    direction: str = "none"
+    r: int = 255
+    g: int = 255
+    b: int = 255
+    zone: str = "all"
+
+    def to_command(self) -> str:
+        return (
+            f"SET dev={self.device} hidraw={self.hidraw} "
+            f"effect={self.effect} bright={self.brightness} "
+            f"speed={self.speed} dir={self.direction} "
+            f"r={self.r} g={self.g} b={self.b} zone={self.zone}"
+        )
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_line(cls, line: str) -> "RGBState":
+        state = cls()
+        for pair in line.split():
+            if "=" not in pair:
+                continue
+            key, val = pair.split("=", 1)
+            if key == "dev":
+                state.device = val
+            elif key == "hidraw":
+                state.hidraw = val
+            elif key == "effect":
+                state.effect = val
+            elif key == "bright":
+                state.brightness = int(val)
+            elif key == "speed":
+                state.speed = int(val)
+            elif key == "dir":
+                state.direction = val
+            elif key == "r":
+                state.r = int(val)
+            elif key == "g":
+                state.g = int(val)
+            elif key == "b":
+                state.b = int(val)
+            elif key == "zone":
+                state.zone = val
+        return state
+
+
+def send_command(cmd: str) -> str:
+    """Send command to daemon and return response."""
+    sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    sock.connect(SOCKET_PATH)
+    sock.sendall(cmd.encode() + b"\n")
+    response = sock.recv(8192).decode()
+    sock.close()
+    return response
+
+
+def is_daemon_running() -> bool:
+    """Check if daemon is available."""
+    try:
+        send_command("GET")
+        return True
+    except (FileNotFoundError, ConnectionRefusedError):
+        return False
+
+
+def get_states() -> dict[str, RGBState]:
+    """Get current state for all devices."""
+    response = send_command("GET")
+    states = {}
+    for line in response.strip().split("\n"):
+        if line.startswith("SET"):
+            state = RGBState.from_line(line)
+            states[state.device] = state
+    return states
+
+
+def set_rgb(state: RGBState) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Send RGB command to daemon. Returns (success, message)."""
+    try:
+        response = send_command(state.to_command())
+        if response.strip().startswith("OK"):
+            return True, "OK"
+        else:
+            return False, response.strip()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return False, "Daemon not running (socket not found)"
+    except ConnectionRefusedError:
+        return False, "Cannot connect to daemon"
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, str(e)