[Enhancement]: `mixer` function gives different values to `amixer`

[refaelsh]

It seems to be that Conky's mixer function gives logarithmic values. I am comparing it with amixer.

1. When amixer is at 100, Conky is also at 100.
2. When amixer is at 0, Conky is also at 0.
3. For every value in between it seems to be that Conky's output is logarithmic.

Distro: NixOS. Window Manager: i3.

Relevant Conky line: { "full_text": "${mixer Vol} " , "color": "\#ffffff" }

Thanks.

[github-actions[bot]]

This issue is stale because it has been open 365 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment, or this issue will be closed in 30 days.

[bi4k8]

The ${mixer} command uses the OSS /dev/mixer device. Comparing it to the ALSA amixer tool may be exposing an ALSA/OSS difference, or an artifact of the emulation/compatibility layers of one of these systems for the other rather than a Conky bug. I wasn't able to find any documentation on whether OSS uses linear volumes in its programming guide, so I assume OSS programs are not expected to rescale volume before displaying it to users, but I could be missing something.

Probably in the long term Conky should use ALSA or PipeWire rather than the OSS interface.

[github-actions[bot]]

This issue is stale because it has been open 365 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment, or this issue will be closed in 30 days.

[Caellian]

Marking this as enhancement: should use PipeWire