BeWidgets vs GKrellM

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.

GKrellM is a free system-monitoring program that stacks multiple readings in one interface and supports themes matching a window manager, GTK or another theme. Its built-in monitors cover CPU, processes, disks, network interfaces, memory, swap, filesystems, uptime and internet connections. When supported by the system’s hardware and software, temperature, fan and voltage monitors can show configurable warnings and alarms. A mailbox monitor checks mbox, maildir, MH, POP3 and IMAP mailboxes, and can launch a mail reader or mail-checking program. GKrellM can also run as a client and collect data from a gkrellmd server on a remote machine. Both the program and server support plugins for specialized monitors. Builds or compilation options are listed for Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, NetBSD, OpenBSD and Windows. GKrellM requires GTK, GDK and GLib; the server requires GLib and can be installed without GTK or X libraries. It is released under the GNU General Public License at no cost.