LiteStep
Encyclopedia
LiteStep is a Windows Shell
replacement for Windows 9x and up, licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
(GPL).
LiteStep may appeal to people who like their desktop to be visually appealing, people who like to configure their environment, Unix
/Linux
users, and people who find the Start button interface that comes with Windows
to be less than ideal. Like most of the commonly known Windows shell replacements, LiteStep is based on the idea of a small core that loads configurable modules (DLL
s). LiteStep has a large number of modules allowing Windows
users to configure their environment to be minimalistic or rich and full-featured . When needed, additional modules are downloaded and installed automatically. A theme for LiteStep is a collection of configurations, scripts and images stored in a .zip or .lsz file that, when installed, change the visual style of the desktop. When using recent themes with a recent version of LiteStep, installation is automatic.
LiteStep was inspired by AfterStep
, which in turn was inspired by Nextstep
. LiteStep was initially developed by Francis Gastellu as a closed source project until April 1998 (version b23), and was then entirely rewritten (versions 24 and up) by the newly assembled development team. LiteStep later inspired DarkStep, which supports scripting, and PureLS. It also
inspired Phil Stopford in 1999 to start LDE(X)
, which is a complete and production-stable LiteStep-based Windows
interface replacement. LiteStep is one of the oldest remaining Windows shell replacements. Over time, and due to the rise of popularity in freeform skinning
, LiteStep desktop designs have tended to drift away from the AfterStep
layouts seen under pre-24 versions.
LoadModule tells litestep.exe to load a module where "$ThemeDir$" is the variable defining the location of the theme files. "Modules\" is the directory under the theme directory that holds the theme-specific modules, and "alitestepmod.dll" is the filename of the Module being loaded.
Variables are just as easy to set, with many already hardcoded. $LiteStepDir$ is one such variable being the directory that litestep.exe resides in.
Other variables can be set by writing a line in step.rc like this:
You could then use the variable $Firefox$ instead of the full path to the executable. Variables can be combined in a statement to provide flexibility and power.
The variable $dirTheme$ is the directory of the theme being currently used, and $rcStep$ is a variable that calls the theme's specific configuration file.
Modules are what make LiteStep look and behave the way you want it to. There are graphical modules that are used to build GUI elements. There are also non-graphical modules used to create hotkeys, watch window classes, and create Litestep-specific commands called !bang commands.
!bang commands are a flexible and powerful way to define scripting variables that can reference files, folders, namespaces, executables, other LiteStep modules or parts of the current LiteStep interface. Many !bang commands are hardcoded into the LiteStep core, but others can be provided through scripting or through !bang modules. Bangs are also the primary way you control the modules themselves. Bangs can be executed through a hotkey, a popup menu, shortcuts, or through one of the Litestep commandline modules.
Some of the most popular modules include:
Windows Shell
The Windows shell is the main graphical user interface in Microsoft Windows, and since Windows 95 hosted by Windows Explorer. The Windows shell includes well-known Windows components such as the Taskbar and the Start menu...
replacement for Windows 9x and up, licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
(GPL).
LiteStep may appeal to people who like their desktop to be visually appealing, people who like to configure their environment, Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
/Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
users, and people who find the Start button interface that comes with Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
to be less than ideal. Like most of the commonly known Windows shell replacements, LiteStep is based on the idea of a small core that loads configurable modules (DLL
Dynamic-link library
Dynamic-link library , or DLL, is Microsoft's implementation of the shared library concept in the Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems...
s). LiteStep has a large number of modules allowing Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
users to configure their environment to be minimalistic or rich and full-featured . When needed, additional modules are downloaded and installed automatically. A theme for LiteStep is a collection of configurations, scripts and images stored in a .zip or .lsz file that, when installed, change the visual style of the desktop. When using recent themes with a recent version of LiteStep, installation is automatic.
LiteStep was inspired by AfterStep
AfterStep
AfterStep is a stacking window manager for the X Window System. The goal of AfterStep's development is to provide for flexibility of desktop configuration, improved aesthetics and efficient use of system resources, and was used in such distributions as MachTen...
, which in turn was inspired by Nextstep
NEXTSTEP
NeXTSTEP was the object-oriented, multitasking operating system developed by NeXT Computer to run on its range of proprietary workstation computers, such as the NeXTcube...
. LiteStep was initially developed by Francis Gastellu as a closed source project until April 1998 (version b23), and was then entirely rewritten (versions 24 and up) by the newly assembled development team. LiteStep later inspired DarkStep, which supports scripting, and PureLS. It also
inspired Phil Stopford in 1999 to start LDE(X)
LDE(X)
LDE is one of the most mature LiteStep distributions, being developed almost continuously since 1999. It made its public debut with LDE R4 in October 1999 and the LDE-X R1.0 release marked a significant change in approach during 2000...
, which is a complete and production-stable LiteStep-based Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
interface replacement. LiteStep is one of the oldest remaining Windows shell replacements. Over time, and due to the rise of popularity in freeform skinning
Skin (computing)
In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users....
, LiteStep desktop designs have tended to drift away from the AfterStep
AfterStep
AfterStep is a stacking window manager for the X Window System. The goal of AfterStep's development is to provide for flexibility of desktop configuration, improved aesthetics and efficient use of system resources, and was used in such distributions as MachTen...
layouts seen under pre-24 versions.
Modules
The interface of LiteStep is composed of modules, most having the extension .dll. They are loaded through a text configuration file called step.rc. The syntax of step.rc is very simple. To load different modules you would write a line like this:LoadModule $ThemeDir$Modules\alitestepmod.dll
LoadModule tells litestep.exe to load a module where "$ThemeDir$" is the variable defining the location of the theme files. "Modules\" is the directory under the theme directory that holds the theme-specific modules, and "alitestepmod.dll" is the filename of the Module being loaded.
Variables are just as easy to set, with many already hardcoded. $LiteStepDir$ is one such variable being the directory that litestep.exe resides in.
Other variables can be set by writing a line in step.rc like this:
Firefox "C:\progra~1\Mozill~1\firefox.exe"
You could then use the variable $Firefox$ instead of the full path to the executable. Variables can be combined in a statement to provide flexibility and power.
include "$dirTheme$$rcStep$"
The variable $dirTheme$ is the directory of the theme being currently used, and $rcStep$ is a variable that calls the theme's specific configuration file.
Modules are what make LiteStep look and behave the way you want it to. There are graphical modules that are used to build GUI elements. There are also non-graphical modules used to create hotkeys, watch window classes, and create Litestep-specific commands called !bang commands.
!bang commands are a flexible and powerful way to define scripting variables that can reference files, folders, namespaces, executables, other LiteStep modules or parts of the current LiteStep interface. Many !bang commands are hardcoded into the LiteStep core, but others can be provided through scripting or through !bang modules. Bangs are also the primary way you control the modules themselves. Bangs can be executed through a hotkey, a popup menu, shortcuts, or through one of the Litestep commandline modules.
Some of the most popular modules include:
- lsxcommand.dll: One of the oldest continually maintained non-core modules. This is a commandline where you can enter bang commands, filepath commands i.e. notepad.exe or C:\, and urls.
- geekamp.dll: A module that creates bangs to control winamp. The bangs can then be used in User Interface elements such as shortcuts, or hotkeys, etc.
- hotkey.dll: This type of module lets you create custom hotkeys such as CTRL+R, which can be used to execute a bang command such as !recycle, which reloads all of litesteps configurations from the step.rc, or a module specific bang command such as (for example) !amp_play, which instructs geekamp (or some similar modules) to tell Winamp to play the current song in its playlist.
- xlabel.dll: The relatively new x-modules are in a state of constant development. xlabel is an extension of label.dll. Most theme developers now use xlabel for its ease of use, backward compatibility, and highly advanced features over its predecessors. This module allocates areas of the desktop for text or images, or a combination of both, to create a truly custom look to windows. Basically anything you would like to display and interact with can be made using xlabel.
See also
- Windows shell replacement: list other Windows GUI replacements.
External links
- Project website (Source Code)
- LiteStep Community (Themes, Apps and User Community)
- German LiteStep Community (Articles around LiteStep and Shell related software)