#tz-dmenu

tz-dmenu is a program that displays the current time in various time zones via dmenu.

Three versions of this program exist.

1. Python: this was the first version and Python was chosen due to my familiarity with the language.

2. Rust: I decided to try and write this in Rust as a learning exercise. This version is missing nice error handling which would be good to add as I learn more.

3. Racket: I've been playing with Racket in recent times and am always looking for an excuse to write more Racket code. This small program was a good opportunity to do this.

4. Clojure: Similar to Racket, Clojure has piqued my interest and this small program is not too ambitious to write in a new language.

#Components

#Python

• Python 3.6
• pytz : dealing with time zones

#Rust

• rust 1.41.0
• chrono : dealing with dates and times
• chrono-tz : dealing with time zones
• dirs : obtaining the user's configuraton directory
• toml : parsing toml
• subprocess : executing and communicating with child processes (similar to Python's subprocess)

#Racket

• Racket 7.6
• gregor : date and time library
• shell/pipeline : library for basic unix-style pipelines

#Clojure

• Clojure 1.10.1
• tick : date and time library
• me.raynes/conch : library for executing and communicating with child processes

#Usage

#Python

1. Create the config file ~/.config/tz_dmenu/config.ini and populate it with the time zones you want to view. Here is an example:

[timezones]
Tokyo = Asia/Tokyo

1. Copy the program python/tz_dmenu to a location on your PATH and execute it or bind it to a keystroke combination.

#Rust

1. Create the config file ~/.config/tz_dmenu/config.toml and populate it with the time zones you want to view. Here is an example:

[timezones]
Tokyo = Asia/Tokyo

1. Build a release version of the program.

$ cd rust
$ cargo build --release

1. Copy the program rust/target/release/tz_dmenu to a location on your PATH and execute it or bind it to a keystroke combination.

#Racket

1. Create the config file ~/.config/tz_dmenu/config.rkt and populate it with the time zones you want to view. Here is an example:

(("Tokyo" . "Asia/Tokyo"))

1. Build a release version of the program.

$ cd racket
$ raco exe tz_dmenu.rkt

1. Copy the program racket/tz_dmenu to a location on your PATH` and execute it or bind it to a keystroke combination.

#Clojure

1. Create the config file ~/.config/tz_dmenu/config.edn and populate it with the time zones you want to view. Here is an example:

[{:name "Tokyo" :tz "Asia/Tokyo"}]

1. Run the program via clj.

$ clj -m tz-dmenu.core

I intended on creating a pre-built binary with GraalVM however I ran into issues with the date libraries that I tried using. Writing some Java interop might solve this problem however I will wait to see if either of these issues are fixed.

1. clojure.java-time

   java_time.graph.Types cannot be cast to java.lang.Comparable

2. tick

   Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: No matching method withZoneSameInstant found taking 1 args for class java.time.ZonedDateTime

#Credits

Inspired by networkmanager-dmenu