This open-source tool gave me the Windows desktop I've always wanted

2 weeks ago 2

While I wouldn't say I've always been particularly fussy about what my Windows desktop looks like, I've recently become more interested in tools to customize Windows 11 in order to get the widgets I want while also creating a sleek appearance.

Luckily, I stumbled upon JaxCore when looking up useful open-source tools and by using it, I finally achieved a Windows look that I enjoy. In fact, I've shared it with friends whose minimalist desktops I initially envied.

Customization tools built on Rainmeter

JaxCore is a set of plugins and tools that run on Rainmeter to give you access to widgets that customize your Windows desktop. Like Rainmeter, it is also open-source and available for free. However, I found that the inclusion of pre-made, customizable tools makes it more beginner-friendly for those who aren't very familiar with Rainmeter skins. Of course, if you are familiar with the software and know your way around coding scripts, JaxCore gives you the flexibility you need.

While JaxCore still works and is publicly available, it is no longer under active development. This means that if you encounter bugs, you have to rely on the tool's wiki or your own coding knowledge.

JaxCore includes modules that allow you to adjust the way certain functions appear, including YourFlyouts (replacements for volume and brightness features), YourMixer (a customizable volume mixer), ValliStart (a start menu replacement), Keylaunch (hotkeys for apps), and IdleStyle (customizable screensavers). It also has widgets such as ModularVisualizer (an audio visualizer), ModularClocks (clock widgets), ModularPlayers (now playing widgets), and Plainext (a system stats widget).

Unlocking more customization for my Windows desktop

Diving into JaxCore's tools

While JaxCore has plenty of tools available, I was most interested in creating a sleek desktop that includes a few widgets and an optimized start menu. There are a few things I dislike about Windows 11, including the way it goes about providing widgets. This resulted in me completely disabling the widgets feature on Windows.

But when I found JaxCore, I was excited to dive back into widgets without there being a bunch of irrelevant suggestions or prompts to use Microsoft Edge or Bing. My main aim was to be able to get a prominent view of the date and time, a media player widget, a different volume mixer, and a more useful start menu.

While configuring JaxCore, the tool would occasionally freeze when adjusting settings. To get around this, I would use Refresh all in Rainmeter to get the skin to work properly again.

Playing around with JaxCore was both frustrating and rewarding. The tool froze a few too many times, but I was eventually able to get a number of features working. But while I wanted the clock widget to also show the weather, the plugin couldn't recognize my location. I also successfully set up a new volume mixer to enjoy, only for it to eventually become buggy.

At the same time, I saw other features take shape and work well that really added a new layer to my desktop environment. The IdleStyle screensaver greets me when I go idle for more than five minutes, while the ValliStart menu responds snappily to my Windows key.

It took some time, but I'm happy with the result

It came together in the end

When I got my widgets working and customized, including a media player, clock, and new start menu; I paired this with a new wallpaper to really elevate the overall appearance of my desktop. While some parts were frustrating, it proved to be worth the effort in the end.

My new start menu actually allows me to switch my audio output device more quickly than my Windows volume mixer, while also giving me an overview of my system resources. It also makes my power settings more easily accessible. One drawback is that I couldn't bind the new menu to the Windows button on my taskbar without aligning it to the left. Since the left alignment felt disquieting after using a central alignment for so long, I decided it was enough to have the Windows key bound.

The media player widget allows me to get an overview of the song I'm playing on the Spotify web app, along with media keys and album art. While the clock widget is simple, it gives me the look and feel I was looking for.

A Windows 11 laptop using various tools to look like macOS

I've been bitten by the customization bug

While I'm still beaming at my new desktop, dipping my toe into Windows customization has made me realize that there are plenty of tools waiting to be discovered. When I have more time, I plan to play around with JaxCore's tools a bit more to see what else it can do.

I will also probably dive into more Rainmeter tools and skins that can make up for the buggy elements in JaxCore, or check out some of the Rainmeter alternatives out there.