ShyBar - an automatic Windows 7 taskbar hider

[jykelly]

ShyBar updated to version 1.47. Improved memory usage by a tiny bit. Oh, and added a Bitcoin button in case you want to donate that way. Download link in first post.

 

[jykelly]

UPDATE: Beta of ShyBar version 2.0 is finished. This fixes the anchoring problem of the system tray among other performance fixes. Testers needed because the timings are based only on my computer. I need to know if it translates well to other people's computers. PM me with your system specs (CPU, ram, version of Windows / whether it's 32bit or 64bit) if you'd like to help me test.

 

[alabrand]

First off, thanks a ton for this. It's the only software that does as advertised: Fully hide the taskbar and allow other programs to make use of the entire screen. It's fantastic and I love it.

Here are some ideas from me:

1. Make it not visible in the Windows Task Manager (Applications). That's very picky of me but I'd rather not see it there if possible, either by hiding it in one way or simply not having it be there in the first place.

2. Improve performance as much as possible. Right now it sits at a steady 8-9K memory usage but I haven't tried any video games yet to see if there's a noticeable impact in FPS.

 

[jykelly]

Thank you for the compliment and the suggestions. Unfortunately, as I have a family member who just had emergency liver surgery, I won't be able to devote any time to ShyBar. I need to work on jobs that actually get me paid and this just isn't it.

 

[IAmJack]

Thank you for the compliment and the suggestions. Unfortunately, as I have a family member who just had emergency liver surgery, I won't be able to devote any time to ShyBar. I need to work on jobs that actually get me paid and this just isn't it.

That sucks dude!!

 

[alabrand]

Does this not work with Windows 7 Classic theme or something? No matter which version I try, new or old, it won't work. The application starts but every option is greyed out. I have all the dependencies installed.

 

[jykelly]

The application starts but every option is greyed out. I have all the dependencies installed.

It will only activate if you have the taskbar set to auto-hide.

 

[jykelly]

ShyBar updated to version 2.02. Fixed an issue where the context menu "Disable" option failed to work because I forgot to unhook it from the globalhook. I considered this bug important enough to fix as soon as I had some free time as it could be quite confusing for the user. Also, the "Enable" and "Disable" options in the context menu have been renamed to "Enable ShyBar" and "Disable ShyBar" for clarity.

Download link in first post.

N.B. My sister will be undergoing her third liver operation tomorrow. Please pray for her safe and speedy recovery.

 

[VoraciousGhost]

I tried this out on 8.1, but the process appears to just run for a few seconds and then die, without ever giving me a UI or error. If you'd like a copy of Win8.1, I have an extra key from my University. I know it wouldn't be a guaranteed fix, and I'm certainly not expecting you to rush on it, but just let me know and I'll PM you. I'm a bit obsessive over small details like this, so I'd love to see it working on Win8!

I'm sorry to hear your sister is having liver trouble, here's hoping the operation went well!

 

[jykelly]

The operation went as well as could be expected, VoraciousGhost, thanks for asking. My sister (and the whole family) is taking it day by day now.

I tried this out on 8.1, but the process appears to just run for a few seconds and then die, without ever giving me a UI or error. (...) I'd love to see it working on Win8!

I'm sorry to hear your sister is having liver trouble, here's hoping the operation went well!

I am currently working two jobs (to help with the medical bills) but I am personally interested in seeing if my program will work on 8.1. So yes, with the understanding that the wait may be a long time, please PM me.

 

[VoraciousGhost]

Hi jykelly,

Spent a good 20 minutes trying to find the Private Message button, and it turns out I don't have permission to PM. I assume it's a minimum post count thing?

This copy of 8.1 is just sitting around, and I don't see myself using it anytime soon, so hopefully someone gets something out of it.

 

[Cris1]

Thanks!
Works fine !

 

[MMFG]

How's it going buddy?

 

[jykelly]

Going as well as can be expected, I guess... thanks for asking.

 

[MMFG]

No problem. You still working on this by chance? I don't want to bother you if you're not.

 

[jykelly]

For the benefit of everyone who visits this page:

1) Have I abandoned this project?

• No.
  

2) Am I actively developing ShyBar?

• For personal reasons, no, but I am investigating if Windows 8 compatibility can be added to ShyBar upon request of VoraciousGhost.

3) Is version 2.02 the final version?

• No. On my computer I am using 2.03 (only difference is ShyBar is removed from the ALT-Tab List) and I have 3.0experimental (Windows 8 version) that I work on from time to time. I haven't released 2.03 because hiding from the Tab list occasionally makes some virus scanners flag the program as malware.

4) Am I accepting feature requests?

• I consider ShyBar to be feature complete right now unless you can provide a really compelling argument as to why a new feature would be useful and should be added. An exception is if you have donated to the project (see points 2 and 3) in which case I will try to add the feature you requested.

5) What about bug reports?

• I do still investigate any bug reports I receive.

 

[MMFG]

That's great news. Hiding from the Alt+Tab list would be a nice addition, and also hiding it from the "applications" tab in the task manager would also be cool, but it's not really that big of a deal to me. I'll take 2.03's features and be completely happy. Looking forward to the release soon.

And I'd like to say thank you for developing this program and continuing support for it.

P.S. Editing your first post to include your last reply would make it much more helpful

 

[guygizmo]

I just wanted to drop in here and say, thank for you making ShyBar! I've been busy setting up a gaming + media HTPC, and somehow the Windows task bar would keep managing to make itself visible, even when it's set to auto-hide, even when an app is running full screen and always-on-top, even when it's just that one line of pixels. Your app fixed that all instantly. I really appreciate it when a piece of software does exactly what it's supposed to do and fixes an annoying problem I'm having. I'm not usually one to donate, but I felt this was worth some dollars. So much so that I even went and made a second donation because my first one didn't feel big enough.

Also, I installed in Windows 8.1, and everything seems to work great.

 

[jykelly]

I just wanted to drop in here and say, thank for you making ShyBar! (...) Also, I installed in Windows 8.1, and everything seems to work great.

guygizmo,

Thanks for the kind words and the donation/s. I really appreciate it. As far as running in Windows 8.1, it has been my experience that if Windows Explorer (actually, the shell) crashes and restarts itself it will take down ShyBar and the taskbar may not become visible even if you then restart ShyBar. You can still access the Start Menu via the keyboard but it will take a reboot of the computer to get the taskbar back. I am working on it but I don't have a solution just yet.

 

[guygizmo]

Thanks for the kind words and the donation/s. I really appreciate it. As far as running in Windows 8.1, it has been my experience that if Windows Explorer (actually, the shell) crashes and restarts itself it will take down ShyBar and the taskbar may not become visible even if you then restart ShyBar. You can still access the Start Menu via the keyboard but it will take a reboot of the computer to get the taskbar back. I am working on it but I don't have a solution just yet.

Well fortunately for me the task bar becoming permanently hidden wouldn't be a big deal, because 99% of the time on my HTPC I don't need to access it and don't want it there. But if you release a version with better Windows 8 compatibility I'll definitely make use of it.