argus-overview 3.1.0

Professional multi-boxing tool for EVE Online (Linux & Windows)

Argus Overview v3.0

The Complete Professional Multi-Boxing Solution for EVE Online

Quick Install

Linux (pip):

pip install argus-overview
argus-overview

Linux (portable — no install):

# Download from https://github.com/AreteDriver/Argus_Overview/releases
tar -xzf Argus-Overview-*-Linux.tar.gz && cd argus-overview-linux
./run.sh

Windows: Download the .exe from Releases and run it.

1,875 tests · 96% coverage · 2,500+ downloads

Cross-platform support (Windows native, Mac) planned for v3. Community interest in Qt/Rust port welcome — see CONTRIBUTING.md.

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Screenshots

Overview Tab

Window preview management with grid layouts and auto-arrange.

Roster Tab

Character management with roles, status, and team organization.

Cycle Control Tab

Cycling groups with hotkey recording.

Sync Tab

EVE settings synchronization between characters.

Settings Tab

General settings with auto-save and notifications.

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Platform Support

Platform	Status	Download
Linux	Full-featured native application	Portable Tarball / AppImage
Windows	Full-featured native application	Windows .exe

• Linux: X11/XWayland support with native tools (xdotool, wmctrl). Portable tarball runs directly after unpacking.
• Windows: Native Win32 API implementation. No external tools required.

☕ Support Development

If you find Argus Overview useful, consider supporting development:

• In-Game: Send ISK donations to AreteDriver in EVE Online
• Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/aretedriver

Your support helps keep this project maintained and improving! o7

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🌟 v3.0 - Unified Cross-Platform Release

One codebase for both Linux and Windows!

New in v3.0:

• Unified Codebase - Single repository supporting both Linux and Windows
• Platform Abstraction Layer - Clean separation of platform-specific code
• Native Win32 API - Full Windows support using native APIs (pywin32)
• Improved Architecture - Better testability and maintainability
• All v2.9 Features - Intel parser, settings sync, and more

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Previous Releases

v2.9 Intel Channel Parser

Monitor your intel channels and stay safe in null-sec!

New in v2.9:

• Intel Tab - New tab for monitoring EVE chat logs
• System Detection - Recognizes null-sec system names (HED-GP, 1DQ1-A, etc.)
• Ship Recognition - Identifies 100+ EVE ship types including capitals
• Hostile Counts - Parses counts (+5, x10, gang of 20, etc.)
• Threat Assessment - Five levels from clear to critical
• Configurable Alerts - Set thresholds and cooldowns
• Auto Log Detection - Finds EVE logs in native and Proton installs

v2.8 CCP Fair Play Compliance

This release ensures full compliance with CCP's EULA and Fair Play Policy.

Changes in v2.8:

• Removed Visual Alerts - Red flash detection feature removed for EULA compliance
• Tab Rename - "Automation" tab renamed to "Cycle Control" for clarity
• Documentation Updates - All docs updated for consistency

v2.7 Performance Edition

This release focused on performance optimization and security hardening.

✅ NEW in v2.7:

1. Preview Filter ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Quick search box in Overview toolbar
• Type to filter visible windows by character name
• Status bar shows filtered count

2. Keyboard Window Control ⭐⭐⭐

• Number keys 1-9 activate windows by position
• Works when Overview tab is focused
• Quick direct access to specific windows

3. Performance Optimizations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Fixed CPU busy loop (15-20% CPU reduction)
• Fixed memory leak (~600x memory reduction per window)
• Added wmctrl result caching (1-second TTL)
• Fixed O(n²) duplicate detection in hotkey groups

4. Security Hardening ⭐⭐⭐

• Window ID validation on all subprocess calls
• Path traversal prevention in layout manager
• Narrowed exception handlers to specific types

v2.6 Performance & Layout Edition

This release focuses on performance optimization and layout management for running multiple EVE clients smoothly!

✅ NEW in v2.6:

1. Low Power Mode ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Reduces FPS to 5
• Perfect for running with EVE clients open
• Minimizes GPU/CPU usage while maintaining functionality

2. Auto-Minimize Inactive ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Automatically minimizes previous window when cycling
• Works with preview clicks, F13/F14 hotkeys, and per-character hotkeys
• Persistent toggle in Settings > Performance

3. Disable Previews ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Option to stop capture loop entirely
• Maximum GPU savings - window cycling still works
• Enable when you only need hotkey switching

4. Drag-Drop Layout ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Drag windows from preview area to arrangement grid
• Visual placement before applying layout
• Works with all grid patterns (2x2, 3x1, etc.)

5. HotkeyEdit Widget ⭐⭐⭐

• Click "Record" then press any key to set hotkeys
• Supports F13/F14 for G13 integration
• No more manual text entry

v2.2 Ultimate Edition - Major UX Overhaul

This release focused on usability, automation, and polish with 14 new features!

✅ NEW in v2.2:

1. System Tray Integration ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Orange "V" icon in system tray
• Minimize to tray instead of closing
• Quick access menu (Show/Hide, Profiles, Settings)
• Double-click to show/hide main window
• Notifications for new characters

2. One-Click Import ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Scan and import ALL EVE windows with one button
• Automatically detects character names from window titles
• Skip duplicates automatically
• Shows count of imported characters

3. Auto-Discovery ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Background process scans every 5 seconds (configurable)
• Automatically adds new EVE windows when they launch
• Shows notification for each new character
• No more manual adding required!

4. Per-Character Hotkeys ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Bind Ctrl+1 to "Main Character", Ctrl+2 to "Scout Alt"
• Global hotkeys work even when EVE has focus
• Configure in settings.json

5. Position Lock ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Lock thumbnail positions to prevent accidental moves
• Lock button in toolbar + Ctrl+Shift+L hotkey
• Visual lock icon on thumbnails when locked

6. Custom Labels ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Right-click thumbnail → "Set Label..."
• Display "Scout", "Logi", "DPS" instead of character names
• Persists across sessions

7. Hover Effects ⭐⭐⭐

• Opacity fade on hover (30% default, configurable)
• See through thumbnails to underlying windows
• Smooth transitions

8. Activity Indicators ⭐⭐⭐

• Small colored dot on each thumbnail
• Green = focused, Yellow = recent activity, Gray = idle
• Quickly identify active windows

9. Session Timers ⭐⭐⭐

• Optional "2h 15m" display on thumbnails
• Shows how long each character has been logged in
• Enable in settings

10. Themes ⭐⭐⭐

• Dark (default), Light, EVE (orange accents)
• Configure in settings.json
• Affects all UI elements

11. Quick Minimize/Restore All ⭐⭐⭐

• Ctrl+Shift+M: Minimize all EVE windows
• Ctrl+Shift+R: Restore all EVE windows
• Tray notifications show count

12. Hot Reload Config ⭐⭐⭐

• Edit settings.json while running
• Click "Reload Config" in tray menu
• Changes apply without restart

13. Enhanced Context Menu ⭐⭐⭐

• Focus Window, Minimize, Close (with confirmation)
• Set Label, Zoom Level
• Remove from Preview

14. Smart Position Inheritance ⭐⭐⭐

• New thumbnails position relative to existing ones
• Fills right-to-left, then starts new row
• Respects screen boundaries
• Grid snapping (10px)

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From v2.1:

Layout Presets ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Save and restore complete window arrangements
• Named layouts for different activities
• One-click switching between configurations

Auto-Tiling & Grid Layouts ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Professional grid patterns: 2x2, 3x1, 1x3, 4x1
• Main+Sides pattern for focus gameplay
• Cascade layout for quick overview

Team & Character Management ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Full character database
• Account grouping
• Activity-based teams
• Auto-assignment when characters log in

Multi-Monitor Support ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Auto-detect all monitors
• Per-monitor layouts
• Spread windows across monitors

EVE Settings Sync ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Copy keybindings between characters
• Sync UI layouts, overview settings
• Batch sync to entire team

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🚀 Quick Start

Installation

Option 1: Install from PyPI (Recommended)

# Using pipx (recommended - manages virtual environment automatically)
pipx install argus-overview

# Run
argus-overview

If you don't have pipx installed:

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install pipx
pipx ensurepath

# Fedora
sudo dnf install pipx
pipx ensurepath

# Arch
sudo pacman -S python-pipx
pipx ensurepath

Alternative: Install in a virtual environment

# Create and activate virtual environment
python3 -m venv ~/.venv/argus
source ~/.venv/argus/bin/activate

# Install
pip install argus-overview

# Run (with venv activated)
argus-overview

Note: Modern Linux distributions (Debian 12+, Ubuntu 23.04+, Fedora 38+) use PEP 668 to protect the system Python. Running pip install argus-overview directly will show an "externally-managed-environment" error. Use pipx or a virtual environment instead.

Option 2: Portable Tarball (No Installation)

Download the portable tarball from Releases - runs directly after extraction with no installation required.

# Download and extract
tar xf argus-overview-X.X.X-portable-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
cd argus-overview-X.X.X

# Run immediately
./run.sh

# Optional: Add to applications menu
./install-desktop.sh

This is the simplest option - just unpack and run. The tarball includes a bundled Python virtual environment with all dependencies.

Option 3: Install from Source

# One-liner install
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AreteDriver/Argus_Overview/main/install.sh | bash

# Or manual installation
git clone https://github.com/AreteDriver/Argus_Overview
cd Argus_Overview
./install.sh

# Run
~/argus-overview/run.sh

First-Time Setup

1. Main Tab: Add EVE windows, minimize inactive to save GPU
2. Characters & Teams Tab: Add your characters, create teams
3. Layouts Tab: Save your window arrangements
4. Settings Sync Tab: Copy settings from your main to alts

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📋 Features Overview

From v2.0:

• ✅ Low-latency multi-window previews
• ✅ Draggable, resizable preview frames
• ✅ Global hotkeys (Ctrl+Alt+1-9)
• ✅ Profile management
• ✅ Adjustable refresh rates (1-60 FPS)
• ✅ Always-on-top mode
• ✅ Click-to-activate
• ✅ Minimize inactive windows (50-80% GPU savings!)
• ✅ Threaded capture system (no UI lag!)

NEW in v2.1:

• ✅ Layout presets with quick-switch
• ✅ Auto-grid tiling (6+ patterns)
• ✅ Character & team management
• ✅ Multi-monitor support
• ✅ EVE settings synchronization

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💡 Usage Examples

Mining Fleet

1. Create "Mining Team" with Orca + 3 miners
2. Arrange in 2x2 grid
3. Save as "Mining Layout"
4. Minimize inactive miners to save GPU

PvP Fleet

1. Create "PvP Team" with FC + Logi + DPS
2. Use Main+Sides layout (FC center, others on side)
3. Link to "PvP Layout"
4. Quick-switch with Ctrl+Tab

Multi-Account Trading

1. Create "Market Team" with trader alts
2. Use 3x1 horizontal layout
3. Sync overview settings from main to all alts
4. Monitor all markets simultaneously

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⚙️ System Requirements

• OS: Linux (X11 or XWayland required - see Wayland note below)
• Python: 3.10 or higher
• System Tools: wmctrl, xdotool, ImageMagick, x11-apps

Dependencies

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install wmctrl xdotool imagemagick x11-apps python3-pip

# Fedora/RHEL
sudo dnf install wmctrl xdotool ImageMagick xorg-x11-apps python3-pip

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S wmctrl xdotool imagemagick xorg-xwd python-pip

Wayland Compatibility

Argus Overview requires X11 tools (wmctrl, xdotool) to function. These tools do not work on pure Wayland sessions.

Session Type	Works?	Notes
X11 (Xorg)	Yes	Full functionality
XWayland	Yes	Most Wayland sessions include XWayland by default
Pure Wayland	No	Wayland security model prevents window management

Why doesn't pure Wayland work?

Wayland's security model intentionally prevents applications from:

• Listing windows from other applications
• Capturing screenshots of other windows
• Moving or focusing other application windows
• Sending keystrokes to other windows

This is a security feature, not a bug. EVE-O Preview on Windows works because Windows allows these operations.

Running EVE with PROTON_ENABLE_WAYLAND?

When EVE runs as a native Wayland window, Argus Overview cannot capture or control it. Solutions:

1. Remove PROTON_ENABLE_WAYLAND - Let EVE run under XWayland (default behavior)
2. Use an X11 session - Select "GNOME on Xorg" or similar at login
3. Check XWayland is running - Most compositors enable it by default. Verify with: echo $DISPLAY

Argus Overview will detect pure Wayland sessions at startup and display a warning.

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📖 Documentation

• QUICKSTART.md - Get started in 5 minutes
• docs/USER_GUIDE.md - Comprehensive user manual
• docs/ARCHITECTURE.md - Technical architecture
• WHATS_NEW.md - Complete feature changelog
• CONTRIBUTING.md - How to contribute
• CHANGELOG.md - Version history

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🎯 Performance

• Memory: ~50-100 MB per preview
• CPU: 2-5% per preview at 30 FPS
• GPU Savings: 50-80% with minimize inactive feature
• Capture Latency: <50ms with threaded system

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🛠️ Troubleshooting

"Wayland Detected" warning at startup? → See Wayland Compatibility section above. Run EVE without PROTON_ENABLE_WAYLAND or use an X11 session.

No windows detected / empty window list? → Check if running pure Wayland: echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE. If "wayland" and echo $DISPLAY is empty, X11 tools won't work.

Characters not found for settings sync? → Add custom EVE installation path in Settings Sync tab

Windows not auto-arranging? → Ensure character names match EVE window titles

High CPU usage? → Reduce refresh rate or number of active previews

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions welcome! This is a community project.

• Feature requests
• Bug reports
• Code improvements
• Documentation
• Translations

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📄 License

MIT License - See LICENSE file

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🎮 Credits

• Inspired by EVE-O-Preview for Windows
• Built for the EVE Online community
• Special thanks to all contributors and testers

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💬 Support

• Check documentation
• Review troubleshooting section
• Check logs: ~/.config/argus-overview/argus-overview.log
• Report issues with full details

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Fly safe, capsuleers! o7

Argus Overview v2.8 The Complete Professional Solution for Linux Multi-Boxing