KBFX Project

KBFX For KDE4 - Revived?

2010-02-26T20:40:44+02:00

Hi all of you.
First i want to say a big thanks for all your support through the years KBFX for KDE3 was developed.
You have been very helpful to us with your comments, ideas, reports etc.
It has been a while KBFX being "frozen".
The actual reasons are a lot and I have explained them in an answer to a user that asked a question about what's going on with the project (link to the question/answer).
Anyway as we spoke with Siraj (the main developer of KBFX) we came to the conclusion that we need to go on developing KBFX for KDE 4 afterall.
So we need your help. We accept any volunteers as developers/designers/QA specialists etc... for the project.
Any ideas and mockups etc are welcome.
There is a separate section for KBFX on KDE 4 in the forum so you can say what you think and exchange ideas.
Right now we desperately need a designer for a new astonishing look of KBFX...
Later on we will gather the new KBFX Team and see what we will create :)
We depend on you and are waiting for your proposals...
Meanwhile you may take a look at another interesting project of ours we are working on: PlexyDesk

New KBFX domains - KBFX.NET and KBFX.INFO

2008-12-30T07:36:29+02:00

Hi all,
It has been a while since our kbfx.org domain was lost and we were down.
Now as everything is back to normal we are having this new domain kbfx.net and the other one kbfx.info ...

Stay tuned for more news...

KBFX For KDE4

2008-05-18T21:45:00+03:00

During the last few months we had some intensive development around raptor menu engine,
and it has reached a level that we can start working on KBFX.
Since we are starting a new menu for KDE4 desktop, we decided that we will also switch our SVN over to googlecode...
So stay tuned for a whole new KBFX menu,

See ya!

KBFX Silk 0.4.9.3.1 Mandriva One (Mandriva 2008) binaries released

2008-02-11T01:25:00+02:00

Today i compiled and uploaded the Mandriva One (Mandriva 2008) binaries (.rpm and .src.rpm files too) of KBFX Silk 0.4.9.3.1.
You can find the files as usual in the Mandriva section of the KBFX Project on SourceForge. The files are named as follows: kbfx-0.4.9.3.1-1.mdv20080.i586.rpm and kbfx-0.4.9.3.1-1.mdv20080.src.rpm

KBFX IS IN SWEDISH MAGAZINE - DATORMAGAZIN

2008-01-27T12:21:14+02:00

Hi All! A strange thing happened on friday.. On the way back to the home from my work at IKEA (?lmhult) i was sitting in the buss and a guy
infront of me was reading Swedish newspaper called DATORMAGAZIN. So i know that they have a Linuxpart in those magazines
and since i was sitting behind him i was looking also while he was reading and when he came to the Linuxpart I was so courious.

Suddenly a strange thing has happens.. KBFX is in the magazine. I could?t belive it. So i kindly asked the man infront of me if he would
let me read the article and I read it thru and a user in magazine had a question

User:
When i start my Kmenu there is soo many applications that they take all my desktop space and i can?t see a single thing
on my desktop. The current menu handleing in KDE is really not usefull and not userfriend. Is there any other solutions?

Response:
I can agree with you that current KDE menu hadleing is not the best, and there is not obvious solution on your problem
but there are alternatives. One example is KBFX. It?s a replacement for original KMENU.
It?s not only better looking. It?s more practical and it offers a way better settings options.
It doesnt take that much space and the user can scoll the menu.

I have created a link with the scanned page with the news.
All thow it?s in Swedish it?s still quite nice to look at.

Here is the link: KBFX IN SWEDISH MAGAZINE

Thanks all!
//Nookie

KBFX.org back again

2007-09-17T09:12:48+03:00

Dear Users. As you may have noticed, KBFX.org was down.
We're back again!
There was a combination of Problems that lead to the long downtime - we apologize for that.

KBFX now is in KDE Extragear

2007-07-12T04:32:00+03:00

Hi all,
KBFX now has been moved to KDE Extragear.
Expect a lot more new features in our next release for KDE3.
In the meantime we are coding KBFX for KDE4 too, so we are a bit busy now.
But that DOES NOT mean that we won't support you and the KDE3 version.
Very soon we will implement the keyboard shortcuts support in KBFX....
Just stay tuned ;)

Love you all ;) {}

PCLinuxOS 2007 Binaries Ready

2007-06-01T08:44:00+03:00

Hi all,
Thanks to our user @nleditor, now we have binaries for the PCLinuxOS 2007 Final.
Have fun with them ;)

KBFX Stable (KBFX Silk 0.4.9.3.1) released

2007-05-16T21:03:00+03:00

Hello everyone,

After a long silence from us now we are happy to announce that finally the stable release of KBFX is ready.
We made a lot of changes to the KBFX Configurator and to KBFX Menu itself.
However we were not able to implement everything you proposed and everything we wanted. So some of the features (see the TODO list in the source files) in "KBFX Silk" (0.4.9.3.1) are still not ready. We are sure that they will present in the next stable release which will be due just after KDE4 is released.
The menu itself, however, is fully functional.

Thanks to all of you who gave us ideas and who tested the prerelease versions of KBFX.

When you download and install this version you may report the found bugs HERE or in an email to me at phobosk(at)mail.kbfx.net

We wait for your opinion and reports.

Take a look at the renewed sections of kbfx.net - How To?
We advise all the KBFX theme authors to have a look at the How to create themes for 0.4.9.3 section in order to transform their themes from the old format to the new one ;)
And look at all the documents in the doc folder of the sources.
For additional help on install see INSTALL file in the sources archive.

All the best from your KBFX Team. :)

Note: Things to be considered before installing "KBFX Silk"
=======================================

1.) To configure and compile "KBFX Silk" you need Cmake >= 2.4.2

2.) To configure, compile and install "KBFX Silk" simply run ./build.sh

3.) Before the install of "KBFX Silk", please unload and uninstall any previous version of KBFX.

4.) After the install of "KBFX Silk" please relogin KDE.

5.) If you need file searching capabilities in KBFX, please download and install Strigi

6.) To enable Strigi support in KBFX, please pass --strigi OR -s option to build.sh i.e: ./build.sh --strigi

========DEMO==============
1.) Flash Demo
2.) User's Guide
3.) Strigi Install Guide

************WARNINIG************

The Skin Spec for KBFX Silk has undergone radical changes!
Many of the themes on kde-look.org might not work!
We encourage theme authors to update their skins or make new ones.
For help on that see here

Thank you.

********************************

The Changelog is as follows:

0.4.9.3.1
=========
- CHANGED layout and font configfile specs
- UPDATED help documentation
- ADDED fade transition effect on the KBFX Button
- ADDED install guides for using checkinstall
- ADDED Hungarian translation (thanks to Ferenc Stelcz for it)
- ADDED option to watch for KDE global changes like new installed applications
- ADDED option for Theme Info
- ADDED resizable configuration dialogs
- ADDED drag&drop hover, pressed and normal images over the KBFX button
- ADDED tooltip support for the KBFX button
- ADDED switch between KBFX and K Menu
- ADDED new two panel skin - "2panels"
- ADDED configurable middle background - middleboxbg.png
- ADDED fonts support in every part of the menu
- ADDED layout support in the KBFX Configurator
- ADDED support for the new versions of strigi
- ADDED support for use of strigi in Gentoo
- ADDED support for SVN version in Gentoo
- ADDED support for PCLinuxOS rpm build (thanks to @PaGal and @tom777 for the testing)
- ADDED support for future KDE4 (part 1)
- ADDED uninstall option for "build.sh" script
- FIXED cmake uninstall
- FIXED RPM .la issues
- FIXED some major bugs
- REMOVED Water effect (too much CPU time consuming and not a favorite one for our users)

KBFX Help written and published

2007-03-15T14:26:27+02:00

Hi all,
Now the help pages of KBFX are ready. They are using the "docbook" format so you can feel more comfortable with the help of KBFX.
You can find the new KBFX Help here: www.kbfx.net

KBFX Skinning Howto updated

2007-03-12T18:56:00+02:00

Hello everyone. We have updated the KBFX Skinning howto. You can now find a section on how to skin the 0.4.9.3 branch of KBFX. Have fun and contribute!

KBFX Stable is on the way

2007-02-25T19:39:00+02:00

Hi all,
The long silence from us was not because we did nothing... :)
Now I am proud to announce that KBFX is ready for a Stable release.
But before that we want to be sure there are no bugs in the current sources. So that is why we are "releasing" a testing KBFX version. It is intended for all of you testers that want to use KBFX and contribute.
The offered version is stable enough (at least our team didn't notice any bugs), but as a precaution we want it first widely tested to be sure it can be named "Stable". So when you download and install this version you may report the found bugs HERE or in an email to me at phobosk(at)mail.kbfx.net

You can download the sources from OUR WEBSITE HERE.
The tar.bz2 is HERE.
There is a src.rpm that is made on Mandriva 2007 but is suitable for all RPM based distroes (just use the command rpmbuild --rebuild kbfx-...)
There is a binary rpm for Mandriva users too HERE.

So we wait for your opinion and reports.
Take a look at the renewed sections of kbfx.net - How To?
We advise all the KBFX theme authors to have a look at the How to create themes for 0.4.9.3 section in order to transform their themes from the old format to the new one ;)
And look at all the documents in the doc folder of the sources.
For additional help on install see INSTALL file in the sources archive.

The Changelog is as follows:

0.4.9.3-20070225
================
- CHANGED layout and font configfile specs
- ADDED resizable configuration dialogs
- ADDED drag&drop hover, pressed and normal images over the KBFX button
- ADDED tooltip support for the KBFX button
- ADDED switch between KBFX and K Menu
- ADDED new two panel skin - "2panels"
- ADDED configurable middle background - middleboxbg.png
- ADDED fonts support in every part of the menu
- ADDED layout support in the KBFX Configurator
- ADDED support for the new versions of strigi
- ADDED support for use of strigi in Gentoo
- ADDED support for SVN version in Gentoo
- ADDED support for PCLinuxOS rpm build (thanks to @PaGal for the testing)
- ADDED support for future KDE4 (part 1)
- ADDED uninstall option for "build.sh" script
- FIXED cmake uninstall
- FIXED RPM .la issues
- FIXED some major bugs

KBFX.org down - what happened...

2007-02-23T12:10:00+02:00

Hi dear users. As you might have seen, our server was down for a week or so. We want to apologize for any inconvenience for you.
What happened? Well, construction works on the building where our server is located required the shutdown of the electrical system during the works. Well... and thats the reason our server was down. Sorry to everyone affected

Greetings Dracor

KBFX Silk 0.4.9.3-20070117 Released

2007-01-18T00:22:00+02:00

Hello everyone,

For all of you that thought we might be dead - you were wrong. ;)
But we had good reason to wait that long with another release:
We wanted to implement things that needed a drastic code rewrite and we wanted to make KBFX ready for porting to KDE4. These requirements urged us - once more - to rewrite it from scratch, allowing us to implement a plug-in infrastructure, which makes KBFX even more customizable. This time, customizable doesn't only include the presentation, but also the functionality.

As this was - and is - a big project - we yet were not able to implement everything we wanted. So some of the features we want in KBFX Silk 0.4.9.3 are still not ready. The menu itself, however, is fully functional.

As KBFX Silk includes many improvements in speed, functionality and design, we wanted to make it available for you. And although we are not yet able to make an official stable release, we proudly present you KBFX Silk 0.4.9.3 as Tested Technology Preview - KBFX Silk TTP. This means the code is stable and was under extensive internal testing and code review, but we still miss some of the functionality desired for the official release, especially in terms of configuration.

So try it, and have fun.

We have great respect for our users, so we choosed one Start Button from kde-look.org and inserted it in this release.
We will use this button until KBFX Silk 0.4.9.3 comes out as stable version. We would like to congratulate Revaline C. Regendra and give him big credits and thanks.

All the best from your KBFX Team. :)

Note: Things to be considered before installing KBFX Silk TTP ===============================================

1.) To configure and compile KBFX Silk TTP you need Cmake >= 2.4.2

2.) To configure and compile KBFX Silk TTP simply run ./build.sh

3.) After the install of KBFX Silk TTP, please unload and uninstall any previous version of KBFX.

4.) Please delete ~/.kde/share/config/kbfxrc after unloading the old version's KBFX applet.

5.) Relogin KDE and load the KBFX Silk TTP applet

6.) If you need file searching capabilities in KBFX, please download and install Strigi

7.) To enable Strigi support in KBFX, please pass --strigi OR -s option to build.sh
i.e: ./build.sh --strigi

KBFX 0.4.9.3.Alpha soon ready for release.

2007-01-11T22:05:35+02:00

Hello Kbfx users.

We are back on track again and working forward KBFX 0.4.9.3 Alpha Release.
There is a tons of new stuff inside.. The entire menu is now build on so called plugins.
We hope atlease that we will release Aplha preview this sunday..
Here is just a screenshot of current status..
Stay tuned out there!

=======================================================
KBFX is an extensible and customizable Desktop resource launcher for K Desktop environment
(KDE). It lets the Desktop users to quickly locate and execute applications, and files of
different types. Apart form the function of resource organization. KBFX lets you search for
resources using multiple search engines quickly and efficiently.

Interaction design of the menu is based on the expert advice from many usability experts. And combining it with our ideas to bring to life a very usable interface design. With KBFX-Spinx release we introduced the idea of a �Flat indexed menu� and we extend the concept further with this release of KBFX-Silk.

While the concepts and functions evolved from our learning curve and the
feedback of the user community and the press, the application was nearly completely rewritten
from scratch to be able to implement an extensible, flexible plug-in framework.

We combined the improved technology base with improved configuration possibilities and have thus created a launch menu that serves our needs and can be configured to suit your needs as well. Play around with the arrangement of components and plug-in, until you�re satisfied � or happy, as we are now able to deliver further functionality in the future, without touching the framework, by delivering plug-in.

The result was that slick, that we HAD to give it a slick name as well � Silk. Silk is the slickest
material we know, and Silk is the slickest launch menu around � not only on Linux, but � at
least in our view � on any operating system we have seen.
Are you ready to evolve? Are you ready for Silk?

New Features :

1.) Faster Load time
2.) The most extensible menu Ever
3.) search As u type
4.) Appealing and Easy Configration
5.) More Stable then Ever
6.) Maximum Eye-Candy

Report bugs section released - bugs.kbfx.net

2006-12-09T11:39:00+02:00

What's up all KBFX users out there!
First of all I want to say that we are very close to release KBFX 0.4.9.3Aplha!

But this is even more important at the moment.
We have installed a new Bugreporting system for KBFX.
You can find it at

BUGS.KBFX.ORG

We all hope that this bugtracking system will help us and also you guys track all those bugs in our
menu which you out there find.
So lets help us improve our menu even more

Best Regards KBFX Team

Linux Magazine Article on KBFX.

2006-12-01T03:57:00+02:00

Two days ago we were informed that the "Linux Magazine" has released a new article on KBFX.
We would like to thank Hans-J?rg Ehren (Product Manager, Linux Magazine) and Frank Wleduwilt (Author of the article) for the fine writing they have done about KBFX.

You can read the article here:
http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/74

KBFX 0.4.9.2rc4 Released

2006-11-18T21:12:00+02:00

Hi all there...
Here is another release of KBFX - the 0.4.9.2rc4 release. A really bad bug connected to the search function has been fixed in it (thanks to @gropiuskalle for the bug report). Some other small and not visible improvements are done too....
Here is the changelog:

0.4.9.2rc4
==========
- CHANGED some aspects of autoconf/automake behaviour
- CHANGED "Toolbar Resize" behaviour - turned off by default so kicker doesn't change its size anymore
- ADDED support for Mandriva 2007 compilation (no menudrake there by default)
- FIXED Searchbar behaviour (thanks @gropiuskalle)
- FIXED some minor bugs

Show off your KBFX!

2006-11-07T11:13:00+02:00

Hi all!

We have now created a gallery where you can show off your KBFX and other users can give comments about it.

The gallery can be found here

We are still working on a gallery for themes where users will be able to upload their themes and stuff.
Enjoy and what are you waiting for - start uploading your screenshots of your KBFX hehe :-)

Best Regards Nookie

KBFX 0.4.9.2rc3 Released

2006-11-05T18:48:00+02:00

Hi all,
There is the long waited bugfix release 0.4.9.2rc3 ....
This will be the last release of the 0.4.9.2 series.
Later there will be a final 0.4.9.2 release containing fixes of all the found bugs and few new translations.
From now on we are heading towards the totally new concept/code of the 0.4.9.5 series.

As usual here is the ChangeLog:

0.4.9.2rc3
==========
- ADDED support for preparing .kbfxtheme files in konqueror (look the explanation in HOWTO file)
- ADDED "--prepare" commandline option to pack existing KBFX Skin Folders to .kbfxtheme files
- ADDED "Default Theme's Personal Image" to the "KBFX Configurator Application"
- ADDED "Toolbar Resize" option to the "KBFX Configurator Application" for the toolbar where the KBFX Button resides
- ADDED it, bg and nl translations
- FIXED some minor bugs

You can help us for the final KBFX 0.4.9.2 release with the translation of the interface.
For this purpose please download the kbfxconfigapp.pot file from SourceForge and use KBabel or poEdit to make the translation. Next send the .po file to my mail - phobosk-at-mail.kbfx.net
Thanks in advance for this help.

Server problems!

2006-10-03T19:34:14+03:00

===================================================
EVERYTHING IS FIXED NOW AND FORUM IS UP AND RUNNING..
OUR DATABASE CRASHED BUT WE HAD BACKUP AND NONTHING HAS GONE LOST =)
====================================================

During couple of days we had some big problems with our server and im trying to figure out why..
The kbfx.net is up and running but for some reason our forum doesn't want to start..

I will try to fix this problem by tomorrow..
Im really sorry about this all of you..

// Nookie

KBFX Team joins Raptor Team

2006-09-28T15:27:00+03:00

Our vision has always been to deliver a better launch menu for KDE. We thank our user base for using it, and you can be sure, that we will progress work. KBFX for 3.5.2 is further developed.

But instead of writing an external Applet for KDE 4.0, we have the pleasure to announce that our team has joined the RaptorMenu team, the team to write a launch menu for KDE 4.0 within the plasma project of KDE itself. Siraj is now one of the maintainers of the project, and we are glad that we can bundle our efforts for a better launch menu more efficiently, by being a part of KDE development directly.

We like to thank our userbase and promise that we are still committed to our vision. Without you, dear users, we would probably not be in a position to be part of the raptor menu. Without your hints, your themes and so on, we wouldn't have been known enough, I think. What does it mean for you? what are the consequences for our userbase? Quite simply, none for KDE 3.5x users. But when KDE 4.0 is out, you won't have to install a separate applet.

Meanwhile, our visions have grown. Be assured that the KBFX team will try to improve your desktop experience further...

Greetz

Nathanael Dracor Gogniat
=====================
KBFX.org TEAM MEMBER
=====================

KBFX 0.4.9.2rc2 Released

2006-09-23T14:18:23+03:00

Hello all people out there..
We have finaly finished the new kbfx 0.4.9.2rc2 with alots of changes.
Download it now and have fun with it.

KBFX 0.4.9.2RC2 contains following updates:

* New default kbfx 0492 theme.

* CHANGED "KBFX Configurator Application" - rewritten from scratch and is no more part of "kcontrol" -

* CHANGED "Tooltip Animation" behaviour - turned off by default

* ADDED fonts configuration option to the "KBFX Configurator Application"

* ADDED Install/Delete Themes to the "KBFX Configurator Application"

* ADDED support for .kbfxtheme files in konqueror (look the explanation in HOWTO file)

* ADDED possibility to change "dude" image to the "KBFX Configurator Application"

* ADDED Free-BSD Support

* FIXED font alignment problems

* FIXED long applications name problem

* FIXED some memory leaks

* FIXED some minor bugs

To download the latest 0.4.9.2rc2 version press on here...
If you guys find any bugs please report the in our forum.

Otherwise stay tuned because we will release 0.4.9.5ALPHA in 2-3 weeks.
Enjoy! Best Regards KBFX TEAM!

PS! The screenshot section will probably be updated in day or two with new screens of 0.4.9.2RC2

No more mockups for public release!

2006-08-22T20:18:58+03:00

Hello all people!!

As you can see the title of this news so me nookie and rest of the team have decided that we are not going to publish more mockups for public.. why is that??

Lots of new menus have come up and this is great because it gives us more motivation to work
even harder, but there has been some negative aspects about this..

Suse will have new menu for next kde release and SOME of ideas are from kbfx especially from my mockups for 0.5. Same thing is with other menus.. They all are building in some way as kbfx..

If we release mockups on how our menu is going to look like and work as, then people are making menus almost like our, and when we release our menu then people are not feeling that there is something new with our menu... This is the main reason.

We want all people to invent something new not the same atleast i feel that way.
Those people who are going to see mock are just developers.. Im really sorry for this news which im writing but it has to be that way for now.

Those mockups on kde-look which i have added will no longer be as our goal as we want to invent something new right..

So expect something new and fresh for kbfx 0.5!!

Best regards
Nookie and KBFX TEAM!

We are getting donations =)

2006-08-13T20:50:16+03:00

We have started to get some donations and we are were thankfull to all people who have donated so far.

People who have donated so far:

* Jovica Galovic = 5 USD
* MATTEO ZULIAN = 5 USD
* Edgar Klusener = 5 USD
* Michael Hirschfeld = 15 USD
* LLV Imports = 20 USD
* Martin Bauhofer = 5 USD
* Peter Sonntag = 10 USD
* Leighton Grant = 2 USD
* William Daniels = 10 USD
=====================================
Thanx to those donations so far guys!!
Best wishes Nookie and the KBFX.org team.

Alot in progress right now!

2006-07-30T22:21:13+03:00

Hello all people
What's up!?

As you can see and hear maybe not so much has been going on here on our homepage but it has happened A LOT behind closed doors if i may say so.

We are currently fixing some bugs in kbfxstable module and we are also at the same time working on to release of KBFX 0.4.9.2RC2.

Meanwhile we also are working on KBFX 0.4.9.5 and also on KBFX 0.5
So guys, as you can see a lot of things are going on...

We should in any day release KBFX 0.4.9.2RC which will include lots of bugfixes with fonts and also some other bugfixes.
KBFX 0.4.9.2RC2 will also contain new KBFX default theme which i think will be better
looking. So stay tuned after KBFX 0.4.9.2RC2...

In the mean we are working on 0.4.9.5 as i said before and there we are going to change our configuration application.
The "KBFX Configurator" will be MUCH more easier to be used and also people will have the chance to translate it to whatever language they like...

Here is a screenshot of our new Configuration Dialog which will be available in KBFX 0.4.9.5. Press on it to get larger image.

In a couple of days i will show you a mock of our default KBFX 0.5 menu on which design I'm working really hard at the moment..
Take care all KBFX users...

Best Regards Nookie and ALL KBFX TEAM!

How is the progress ?

2006-06-26T21:47:25+03:00

Hello all happy people!

What's up and what's happening?

Well lots of work is beeing done behind closed doors and i can tell you guys that we are working very hard on kbfx 0.4.9.2 and in the mean while on kbfx 0.5.

In near future we will release several things:

* Bug tracking sytem (TrackDev)
* Themes section for kbfx
* Kbfx 0.4.9.2

We will try to release bug tracking system and themes gallery this week or next week so stay
tuned =)

The code in the CVS divided in two modules

2006-06-12T19:33:00+03:00

Hi all,

We wanted to inform you that we divided the development of KBFX into two branches:
Stable and Unstable (Development).

So the code in the CVS Repository is also divided into two modules:
1. "kbfxwork" - The modulename with the current source files of the Development version of KBFX.
2. "kbfxstable" - The modulename with the current source files of the Stable version of KBFX.

Please consider this information when you use the CVS Repository. :)

You can see how to use the CVS Repository
here.

KBFX 20060611cvs Released!

2006-06-11T21:30:00+03:00

Hi everyone,
I'm pleased to announce that today we released our second KBFX CVS release.
It has a lot of new features that we will continue to improve in the next releases.

Here is the Changelog:

0.4.9.2-20060611cvs
==============
- ADDED PC-BSD Support
- ADDED Drag and Drop Support
- FIXED a bug with showing icons in "Recently Used" items
- FIXED a bug with the placement of ".face.icon" (thanks @Nucc)
- Flicker Free KBFX Button
- Flicker Free KBFX SPINX Menu TOP
- Better scrolling

You can download the 20060611cvs KBFX CVS release from here.