Finding the workspace size (screen size less the taskbar) using GTK

Question

How do you create a main window that fills the entire desktop without covering (or being covered by) the task bar and without being maximized

Answer 1

You are totally at the mercy of your window manager for this, and the key issue here is:

without being maximized

So we are left with a number of hacks, because basically maximization and resizing are two separate things, in order that you might be able to remember where it was when it is unmaximized.

So before I show you this hideous hack, I urge you to consider using proper maximization and just be happy with it.

So here goes:

import gtk

# Even I am ashamed by this
# Set up a one-time signal handler to detect size changes
def _on_size_req(win, req):
    x, y, w, h = win.get_allocation()
    print x, y, w, h   # just to prove to you its working
    win.disconnect(win.connection_id)
    win.unmaximize()
    win.window.move_resize(x, y, w, h)

# Create the window, connect the signal, then maximise it
w = gtk.Window()
w.show_all()
w.connection_id = w.connect('size-request', _on_size_req)
# Maximizing will fire the signal handler just once,
# unmaximize, and then resize to the previously set size for maximization.
w.maximize()

# run this monstrosity
gtk.main()