Übersicht vs BeWidgets

Übersicht is a free macOS app that places the output of system commands on the desktop in small widgets. Widgets can present information as tables, charts, or graphs, adapt to screen sizes, and are written in HTML5, JavaScript, and React JSX. The app includes a gallery and installation instructions for community widgets, spanning categories such as system monitoring, clocks, calendars, weather, RSS feeds, networking, and media. For development, Übersicht watches the widget directory and updates the display when files change. Commands run at a configurable interval, once per second by default, or can be set not to refresh automatically. A built-in local proxy supports Ajax requests to external sites, and AppleScript scripting is available. The download page specifies macOS 12 or later, and the app is released under the GNU General Public License version 3 or a later version at the user's option. Widgets can execute arbitrary code, so the maker advises checking their source; malicious code cannot be ruled out.

BeWidgets is a Windows app for customizing a desktop with widgets, including changing widget colors and usage. Users can update widgets individually inside the application and receive notifications when updates are available. Layouts collect widgets into arrangements that can be saved and loaded. The maker's documentation describes a store for downloading widgets and notes that a layout store update is scheduled for 2026. BeWidgets is distributed through the Microsoft Store; the listed plan is free, and the Store listing indicates in-app purchases. For users who want to build widgets, the maker provides a Visual Studio project template. Custom widget packages use the.wpkg archive format and can be installed into BeWidgets. The listed development prerequisites are Visual Studio,.NET 8.0, the Windows 11 SDK, and the BeWidgets Widget Template extension. The maker describes the interface as modern, easy to use, and inspired by Windows 11.