desktop-detector

🖥️ desktop-detector

A small Windows utility and Node.js wrapper that detects when the desktop becomes the foreground window (i.e., when all applications are minimized).

This version improves detection by distinguishing between a true "Show Desktop" (triggered via Win+D or the taskbar button) and a simple click on the desktop:

• Show Desktop is recognized when:
  • Any window minimize-start event occurs within a 500-millisecond window before desktop activation (meaning a "burst" of one or more minimization events).
  • It is triggered via the "Show Desktop" button or the Win+D hotkey.
• A plain click on the desktop is ignored as a "Show Desktop" event and logs only a simple "shown" state.

⚙️ Features

• Detects when the Windows desktop is shown or hidden (based on focus).
• Distinguishes "Show Desktop" (via key/button) from ordinary clicks.
• Exposes a clean JavaScript API for use in Node.js.
• Optional --quiet and --log CLI flags for flexible output.

📦 Installation

npm install desktop-detector

Or clone it:

git clone https://github.com/nstechbytes/desktop-detector.git
cd desktop-detector
npm install

🚀 Usage

In Node.js:

const { startDesktopDetector } = require('desktop-detector');

// Start monitoring
const proc = startDesktopDetector({
  quiet: false, // show console output
  log: true     // also log to `detect-desktop.log`
});

// Optional: stop after 10 seconds
setTimeout(() => {
  proc.kill();
  console.log("Stopped detector.");
}, 10000);

🧰 CLI Options

You can also run the binary directly:

./bin/detect-desktop.exe [--quiet] [--log] [--help]

Flag	Description
--quiet	Suppresses console output
--log	Logs output to detect-desktop.log
--help	Displays usage information

🧪 Example Output

[2025-05-24 16:00:00] Initial state: Desktop is BACKGROUND
[2025-05-24 16:00:00] Listening for Show Desktop; press Ctrl+C to exit.
[2025-05-24 16:01:10] *** Desktop is now FOREGROUND (Show Desktop)
[2025-05-24 16:01:12] *** Desktop is now BACKGROUND (apps restored via desktopMode)
[2025-05-24 16:02:00] *** Desktop is now FOREGROUND (shown)

📜 License

MIT © nstechbytes