# System tray icons via D-Bus **URL:** \ **Category:** Showcase\ **Tags:** c, build-system\ **Created:** [October 30, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750 "2025-10-30T02:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/1 "2025-10-30T02:41:55Z")
I was trying to implement a basic system tray icon using some gui kit but ended up making [this](https://github.com/charlesrocket/libstray) c lib. Turned out this is a pretty challenging (?) topic. GTK4 dropped support, 3rd party libs are deprecated or require GTK3 (the ones I thought I could get to work). So this is a pure c dbus system tray handler wrapped in Zig. No Glib, no GTK, no QT. Dynamic icons/titles work, as well as simple menus + callbacks. Pretty minimal, I am trying to expand. Testing on FreeBSD/Hyprland/eww. ![stray1](https://ziggit.dev/uploads/default/original/2X/4/44e6148b5cc937a2de384a4a95c9e65c78463018.png) ![stray2](https://ziggit.dev/uploads/default/original/2X/1/12e83470f833d561a1f152ea3e66bfe1eebeed65.png) demo: ```shell zig build run ``` > Not sure if this works on macos, there is dbus brew tho. Need to figure out if I can test it on BSD. ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 3:05am UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/2 "2025-10-30T03:05:00Z")
There is also [GitHub - AyatanaIndicators/libayatana-appindicator-glib: Ayatana Application Indicators Shared Library (GLib-2.0 reimplementation, 100% GTK-free, 100% dbusmenu-free)](https://github.com/AyatanaIndicators/libayatana-appindicator-glib) but its GPL and broken [README lies about being implementation of StatusNotifierItem · Issue #89 · AyatanaIndicators/libayatana-appindicator-glib · GitHub](https://github.com/AyatanaIndicators/libayatana-appindicator-glib/issues/89). ---
**Author:** ![Southporter](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/southporter/32/2500_2.png) [@Southporter](https://ziggit.dev/u/Southporter)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/3 "2025-10-30T15:08:04Z")
I’ve been looking to do this exact thing for my little break notification app. I was getting nowhere with dbus docs, so this will be a great help. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/4 "2025-10-30T15:16:25Z")
No worries! I hope it works for you! I am pushing a fix for linux in a few. Yea the docs are not great, but I guess the level is too low, so there are not many consumers. ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/5 "2025-10-30T16:35:20Z")
zig 0.15-ready ## 0.1.0 ### Bug Fixes - Update `callconv()` - Update `sleep()` ### Documentation - Add README.md - Update features - Fix `TrayIcon` comment - Update comments ### Features - Add menu support - Add demo app ### Miscellaneous tasks - Add LICENSE - Set indentations - Add gitignore - Ignore `zig-out` ### Operations - Add demo test - Install dependencies ### Refactor - Move declarations ### Styling - Change alignment - Fix formatting - Break open brackets ### Build - Add `docs` step - Fix library links > **[Release 0.1.0 · charlesrocket/libstray](https://github.com/charlesrocket/libstray/releases/tag/0.1.0)** > > Bug Fixes > > Update callconv() > Update sleep() > > Documentation > > Add README.md > Update features > Fix TrayIcon comment > Update comments > > Features > > Add menu support > Add demo app > > Miscellaneous tasks > > Add LIC... ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/6 "2025-11-03T15:42:43Z")
## 0.1.1 ### Bug Fixes - Drop `c_allocator` - Resolve leaking items - Fix array list - Update `onQuit` ### Documentation - Update description - Adjust description - Reformat comments ### Miscellaneous tasks - Add CI badge ### Operations - Add test job ### Testing - Add basic app ### Build - Bump MSZV to 0.15.2 > **[Release 0.1.1 · charlesrocket/libstray](https://github.com/charlesrocket/libstray/releases/tag/0.1.1)** > > Bug Fixes > > Drop c\_allocator > Resolve leaking items > Fix array list > Update onQuit > > Documentation > > Update description > Adjust description > Reformat comments > > Miscellaneous tasks > > Add CI badge > > Operations... ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/7 "2025-11-10T22:59:00Z")
Fixed some signaling bugs and added custom pixmaps, radio/check items, and tooltips. Almost done! Need to play with item icons and submenus, and it will be finished. ## 0.2.0 ### Bug Fixes - Drop redundant error print - Improve watcher error - Resolve leaks - `icon` destroys the menu - Set proper service name - Resolve dynamic updates - Clean up pixmap infra ### Documentation - Update description - Fix gnome description ### Features - [**breaking**] Add allow item control - [**breaking**] Add pixmap support - Add tooltips - Add radio item support ### Styling - Fix `stray_register()` - Update format ### Testing - Add disabled item - Add title - Update pixmaps - Add checked item > **[Release 0.2.0 · charlesrocket/libstray](https://github.com/charlesrocket/libstray/releases/tag/0.2.0)** > > Bug Fixes > > Drop redundant error print > Improve watcher error > Resolve leaks > icon destroys the menu > Set proper service name > Resolve dynamic updates > Clean up pixmap infra > > Documentation > > Update descrip... ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/8 "2025-11-11T16:01:43Z")
> > > Closes #5 ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/9 "2025-11-11T22:30:19Z")
everything works smoothly with eww and waybar, no warnings in dbus. ~~but kde shows main menu in the submenu aah. this is fun.~~ fixed kde menus ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 4:29am UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/10 "2025-11-12T04:29:07Z")
> > > Menu icons don't get custom pixmaps, D-Bus protocol requires PNG format. It is m…ore efficient to just install PNG icons and use them like named icons. ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/11 "2026-03-21T20:22:42Z")
## 0.4.0 ### Bug Fixes - Update app layout - Improve submenu handling - Add test item - Change label - Check all strings in `stray_create` - Improve menu checks - Handle multiple instances - Improve scroll handling - Ensure `NewStatus` is flushed - Check message type in `register_with_watcher()` - Clean up `emit_properties_changed()` - Remove redundant signals from `stray_set_icon_pixmap()` - Use global menu id root - Drop redundant `WindowId` - Check `create_menu_item()` - Safeguard filter/match rule - Check pixmap size - Update `setIconPixmap()` - Correct checked item ### Documentation - Update `fd()` description ### Features - Add file descriptor - [**breaking**] Track registrations - [**breaking**] Add x/y callback coordinates - Add `onScroll` - Add `window_id` - Add `onRemovePixmap()` ### Performance - Drop `usleep()` ### Refactor - Move `*RadioGroup` - Improve `stray_destroy()` logic - Consistent user data fields - Drop redundant zeroing loop - Drop redundant `emit_properties_changed()` ### Styling - Fix formatting - Disable `AlignAfterOpenBracket` - Align open brackets - Align operands ### Testing - Add callbacks > **[Release 0.4.0 · charlesrocket/libstray](https://github.com/charlesrocket/libstray/releases/tag/0.4.0)** > > Bug Fixes > > Update app layout > Improve submenu handling > Add test item > Change label > Check all strings in stray\_create > Improve menu checks > Handle multiple instances > Improve scroll handling > Ensure NewSt... ---
**Author:** ![charlie](https://ziggit.dev/user_avatar/ziggit.dev/charlie/32/1930_2.png) [@charlie](https://ziggit.dev/u/charlie)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 1:21am UTC](https://ziggit.dev/t/system-tray-icons-via-d-bus/12750/12 "2026-05-21T01:21:32Z")
## 0.4.1 ### Bug Fixes - Empty payload clears pixmap - Update `main()` - Update test runner ### Operations - Bump actions/deploy-pages from 4.0.5 to 5.0.0 - Bump actions/configure-pages from 5.0.0 to 6.0.0 - Bump actions/upload-pages-artifact from 4.0.0 to 5.0.0 - Bump zig to 0.16 ### Refactor - Add `emit_signal_string()` - Drop redundant ternary - Add `status_to_string()` - Recursive `find_menu_item()` - Add `notify_item_changed()` ### Styling - Improve alignments ### Build - Drop `clean` - Bump MSZV to 0.16 > **[Release 0.4.1 · charlesrocket/libstray](https://github.com/charlesrocket/libstray/releases/tag/0.4.1)** > > Bug Fixes > > Empty payload clears pixmap > Update main() > Update test runner > > Operations > > Bump actions/deploy-pages from 4.0.5 to 5.0.0 > Bump actions/configure-pages from 5.0.0 to 6.0.0 > Bump actions/uplo...