Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Nerdtool VS Bginfo

Compare Nerdtool VS Bginfo and see what are their differences

Nerdtool logo Nerdtool

NerdTool is a GeekTool-like application that displays information directly on your desktop.

Bginfo logo Bginfo

This fully-configurable program automatically generates desktop backgrounds that include important information about the system.
  • Nerdtool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-19
  • Bginfo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-31

Nerdtool features and specs

  • Customizability
    Nerdtool offers a high level of customizability allowing users to display various types of information on their desktop, such as system stats, text and images, or even shell output, by creating personalized skins.
  • Lightweight
    The application is lightweight, meaning it doesn’t require much system resources, allowing it to function efficiently in the background without slowing down other processes.
  • Open Source
    Nerdtool is open source, which means users can modify and improve the code according to their needs or preferences and also contribute towards the app’s development.
  • Free
    The application is freely available, providing an economical choice for displaying system information and other feeds directly on the desktop without any cost.

Possible disadvantages of Nerdtool

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For new users, Nerdtool may present a steep learning curve due to its reliance on scripting and absence of a more intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
  • Limited Support
    Being an open-source project, it may have limited official support and may rely heavily on community contributions for troubleshooting and updates.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Nerdtool may encounter compatibility issues with recent operating system updates or third-party applications, as it may not receive timely updates to address these changes.
  • Basic UI
    The user interface of Nerdtool is relatively basic and may not be as visually appealing or user-friendly as other modern desktop widget applications.

Bginfo features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Bginfo has a simple interface that is easy to configure, allowing users to quickly set up and customize the desktop information display.
  • Customizable Display
    Users can configure the information displayed, including system details such as IP address, computer name, and more, tailored to their specific needs.
  • Low Resource Impact
    Bginfo runs with minimal resource usage, ensuring that it does not affect system performance significantly.
  • Automated Updates
    Once configured, Bginfo can automatically update the displayed information, ensuring it is always current without manual intervention.
  • Supports Multiple Output Formats
    Bginfo can output system information in various formats, not just as part of the wallpaper, facilitating different usage contexts.

Possible disadvantages of Bginfo

  • Limited to Windows
    Bginfo is only available for Windows operating systems, limiting its usefulness to environments without diverse OS requirements.
  • Static Display Limitations
    The information displayed is static until the next update cycle, which might not suit environments that require real-time data.
  • Basic Visual Customization
    While it allows some customization, its visual options are basic and may not meet the needs of users looking for extensive design flexibility.
  • Manual Configuration Requirement
    Initial setup and configuration require manual input, which might be a hurdle for non-technical users or those setting up numerous systems simultaneously.
  • Dependency on Desktop Wallpaper
    Because Bginfo overlays information on the desktop wallpaper, any changes to the wallpaper need to be managed so they do not disrupt the display.

Nerdtool videos

Nerdtool & Quartz Composer... Experiments... 2 of 4

Bginfo videos

How to Use SysInternals BGinfo To Put Critical Information On Your Desktop Background

More videos:

  • Review - BGInfo informações úteis na área de trabalho dos usuários | http://professorramos.com

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nerdtool and Bginfo)
Monitoring Tools
35 35%
65% 65
Command Line Tools
38 38%
62% 62
Tool
41 41%
59% 59
Log Management
40 40%
60% 60

User comments

Share your experience with using Nerdtool and Bginfo. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Bginfo seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Nerdtool mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Nerdtool yet. Tracking of Nerdtool recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Bginfo mentions (10)

  • Sticky notes app that will actually stick notes
    BGinfo is one very simple approach to your basic premise. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is there anyway to always show the PC name on a desktop?
    Check out BGInfo. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/bginfo. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Show us your BI set up! Here's mine
    BGinfo runs on boot to overlay useful information on the wallpaper. Source: over 2 years ago
  • New IT dude needs help/guidance from some more experienced wizards here.
    Microsoft has BGinfo @ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/bginfo that is free and can be pushed to machines to display relevant data like machine name and IP right on the desktop and its highly visible to end users. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Create a toolbar with powershell?
    But, I recommend taking a look at bginfo. A lot of places just use this to constantly display the system's info on the Desktop. It seems like a campy solution, but it's a popular campy solution that no one questions. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Nerdtool and Bginfo, you can also consider the following products

Conky - Latest commit 262a292 on Dec 7, 2017 brndnmtthws Add missing build dep. Conky is a free, light-weight system monitor for X, that displays any kind of information on your desktop.

Desktop Info - This little application displays system information on your desktop in a similar way to some other...

GKrellM - GKrellM is a single process stack of system monitors which supports applying themes to match its...

Übersicht - Keep an eye on what is happening on your machine and in the World.

Rainmeter - Rainmeter is a desktop customization platform.

Cysboard - A lightweight conky alternative that uses HTML/CSS for themes.