---
author: einar
comments: true
date: 2014-01-04 08:03:18+00:00
layout: page
slug: an-expedition-in-the-qml-realm
title: An expedition in the QML realm
wordpress_id: 1270
categories:
- KDE
- Linux
tags:
- KDE
- Linux
- plasma
- QML
---

Among the different widgets I use on my desktop, there is a small one which tells me my current public IP address. The reason I'm having it is due to the fact that my own ISP uses a NAT for almost all its customers (don't ask - long story) and so I need to keep tabs on my current IP, because it may have been blacklisted, and so on.

Up to now I was using [this plasmoid](http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=147229) written in Python, but the code had several issues and used its own way of getting the public IP. However, I knew Plasma has **already** a way to give you your IP, that is the _geolocation _DataEngine. I thought of adjusting the current widget to use this engine, but then I thought "_What if I make one in QML?"_.

It turned out to be a rather easy task, which I accomplished in less than one hour, by reading up some documentation, examples and of course pestering people on IRC. ;)

All I needed to have the IP ready was

{% highlight javascript %}

PlasmaCore.DataSource {
        id: dataSource
        dataEngine: "geolocation"
        connectedSources: ['location']
        interval: 500

        onNewData: {
            if (sourceName == 'location') {
                ipAddr.text = data.ip
            }
        }

{% endhighlight %}

where `ipAddr` was a Text element.

And that's how is the final result (mimicking the other widget I took it from):

![Plasmoid in action]({{ site.url }}/images/2014/01/ip-monitor.png)

There are still a number of issues, for example getting the right size when started, and ensuring it's not resized to a too little size. But I was surprised that it was so easy.

Interested parties can grab it by cloning and installing:

{% highlight bash %}
git clone https://git.dennogumi.org/kde/ip-address-viewer
plasmapkg -i ip-address-viewer/
{% endhighlight %}

Suggestions on code quality are welcome.