![]() Rainmeter icon | |
![]() Rainmeter 4.4 settings panel | |
Initial release | February 22, 2001 |
---|---|
Stable release | 4.5.21 / February 4, 2025 [1] |
Repository | github |
Written in | C++ and C# used for plugins |
Operating system | Windows 7 SP1 and later [2] |
Platform | IA-32 and x64 |
Available in | 32 languages |
License | GNU GPL v2 |
Website | www |
Rainmeter is a free and open-source desktop customization utility for Windows released under the GNU GPL v2 license. It allows users to create and display user-generated customizable desktop widgets or applets called "skins" that display information. [3] [4] Ready to use collections of skins can be downloaded and installed in packages known as "suites". [5]
Common functionalities of Rainmeter skins include desktop clocks, RSS readers, system monitors, weather widgets, application launchers and audio players. [6] [7]
The Rainmeter project was originally founded by Kimmo 'Rainy' Pekkola, the developer of Rainlendar, in 2001. [8] The project is primarily written in C++, while plugins can be written in either C++ or C#. [9]
Rainmeter skins are written in Rainmeter code using a text editor and stored as INI configuration files. [10] System resource values and other information such as weather or time are stored through "measure" values within a skin, which can then be shown through different kinds of customizable visual elements called "meters". [4]
CNET, in a 4 out of 5 star rating, praised the software's flexibility, wide variety of themes and "enthusiastic community", while noting the program "isn't as intuitive as it could be." [11] Softpedia also gave the software a 4 out of 5 star rating, citing its comprehensive tutorials and low system resource usage, while criticizing its lack of cross-platform support. [12]