BoincTasks++

Manage BOINC across every computer you run, from one window.

Installing on Windows

Run BoincTasksPP-0.9.4-setup.exe and accept the elevation prompt — it installs into Program Files. There is no runtime to install first and no DLLs to copy: everything is linked into the one executable.

Because the installer is not code signed, SmartScreen warns the first time. Choose More info then Run anyway, or verify the SHA256 on the download page first.

The last page offers to start the program. It deliberately starts it without administrator rights: a computer added while running elevated would write its settings into the administrator's profile, and they would seem to vanish next time you started normally.

Settings and task history live in %APPDATA%\BoincTasksPP\. Uninstalling asks whether to remove them and leaves them alone unless you say yes, so reinstalling does not cost you your computer list.

Running the AppImage (Linux)

No installation, no root, no package manager.

chmod +x BoincTasksPP-0.9.4-x86_64.AppImage
./BoincTasksPP-0.9.4-x86_64.AppImage

Keep it wherever you like. To get it into your application menu, most desktops will offer to integrate it the first time you run it, or you can use a tool such as AppImageLauncher.

Installing the .deb (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt install ./boinctasks-pp_0.9.4_amd64.deb

Use apt rather than dpkg -i so the few dependencies are pulled in automatically. It then appears in your application menu, or run boinctasks-pp from a terminal.

To remove it:

sudo apt remove boinctasks-pp

Adding your computers

BOINC clients only accept remote connections when told to. On each machine you want to monitor other than the one you are sitting at, edit cc_config.xml:

<cc_config>
  <options>
    <allow_remote_gui_rpc>1</allow_remote_gui_rpc>
  </options>
</cc_config>

and set a password in gui_rpc_auth.cfg (a single line, the password itself). Restart the client, then in BoincTasks use Computer → Add computer with that host's address, port 31416 and the password.

Computer → Find computers will sweep a range of addresses and ports for you, which is quicker if you run many clients. Hosts running several BOINC instances on consecutive ports are found the same way.

The Computers tab listing seven configured BOINC clients, all connected
Computers, once they are added. Fields edit in place; untick one to hide it without losing its settings.

The local client needs no password: leave the field empty and the application reads the client's own auth file.

Where settings live

Files it creates
~/.config/boinctasks-pp.conf computers, columns, colours, rules and every preference
~/.config/boinctasks-pp-history.db completed task history (SQLite)

Nothing else is written, and nothing outside your home directory.