# The &kcpuload; Handbook

Markus Gustavsson

    mighty@fragzone.se

Ben Burton

    bab@debian.org

16 December 2002
1.99

&kcpuload; is a simple CPU meter which graphs a recent history of CPU usage in the system tray. It has support for SMP and separate user/system loads.

KDE KCPULoad

## Introduction

&kcpuload; is a small program for Kicker (the KDE panel). It shows a recent history of CPU usage in the form of one or two configurable diagrams in the system tray. These diagrams have settings for colors and various different styles.

Note that it isn't the real system load that is shown, but the percent used of the total CPU power, which is calculated from the number of CPU ticks between each update.

If there is more than one CPU on the system, the combined CPU usage from both can be shown, or you can choose to have one separate diagram for each CPU.

Left click on a diagram to bring up a small information box which will show the exact CPU usage in text form.

Note that using a slower update interval will give a more stable and accurate diagram without flicker.

## Configuration

To configure &kcpuload;, click on the diagram in the system tray using your right mouse button. A configuration menu will appear.

The settings chosen in the configuration menu are saved automatically to the &kcpuload; configuration file as soon as they are set. There is no need to save the settings manually.

SMP (Dual CPU) Support

  If you don't have an SMP system, none of the SMP options will appear in the menu. If you do, you will be presented with both an SMP on/off option at the top of the options menu, and (when SMP is turned on) a second color settings menu for the second diagram.

  If you choose to have SMP off, you will only see one diagram showing the values from both CPUs combined. If you choose to have SMP on, there will be one diagram for each CPU showing their individual loads.

Changing the Update Speed

  Choose Speed from the configuration menu to change how frequently the diagram(s) are updated. Choose a lower value to get a more responsive diagram. Choose a higher value to get a slower but more stable and less flickering diagram.

Splitting the System and User Loads

  Enable the Graph Splitting option to have the diagram split into an upper part and a lower part. The upper part of the diagram will show the user load (the apps you're using on a day-to-day basis). The lower part which is a white scale will show the system load (which includes daemons and other low level parts of the system and kernel).

Changing Diagram Style

  The Style option in the configuration menu will let you change the look of the diagram. Options include a Lines option which only draws a straight line across the diagram, a Bars option which draws a bar graph, and a Shaded option which shades the diagram in a nice black-to-color tone.

Soft Curves

  The Soft Curves option can be used to smooth the diagram(s). This means that diagrams won't show very fast changes, but instead move slowly up and down with a little delay on the movements. This feature can make the diagrams look better, especially when the update interval is set to a fast flickering rate.

Labels and Grid

  These options control what is displayed behind the diagram(s). The Labels option will turn on small text labels in the upper left corner of each diagram showing which CPU the diagram represents. The Grid option will toggle a background grid of horizontal lines.

Changing Diagram Colors

  Each CPU diagram has a corresponding Color option in the menu; this can be used to change the color of the diagram.

## Other Features

Active and Clear

  These two functions are located at the top of the options menu.

  The Active option is the power switch for the whole program. This can be used to suspend the diagram so that it doesn't measure any readings.

  The Clear option will erase all readings and start afresh with an empty diagram.

Pop-Up Information Dialog

  Left click on one of the diagrams to bring up a small pop-up information box. To hide it, left click on the diagram again, or right click on the pop-up itself.

  While the pop-up is shown, you can move it around with the left mouse button. This pop-up is both sticky and always on top, so that you can have it in a corner all the time if you like.

Session Management

  If &kcpuload; is still running when KDE is shut down, it will restart when KDE is restarted.

## License

&kcpuload;

- Copyright 1999-2000, Markus Gustavsson mighty@fragzone.se.
- Copyright 2002, Ben Burton bab@debian.org.

See the &kcpuload; About box for a full list of credits.

&underGPL;

## Installation

### How to obtain &kcpuload;

&install.intro.documentation;

### Requirements

- A Linux system (using kernel 2.2 or newer) or a BSD system;

- The Qt and the KDE libraries;

- A running KDE panel (Kicker).

### Compilation and Installation

&install.compile.documentation;