libKi is an integrated multi-platform kiosk management system. libKi is ideally suited for use in locations where a controlled computing environment is paramount such as public access systems, libraries, school computer laboratories and more!

The project is available at SourceForge.

The administration system is web-based for easy use from any operating system, install once and use it anywhere on your network. The client runs on any operating system that has Gtk2 support, including Linux, *BSD, and Microsoft Windows.

libKi is written entirely in PHP. Though it is unusual to write an application of this nature in such a language, it is an ideal solution. PHP5 has a great object oriented interface, and it is easy to write clean, easy to modify code.

The client is written in PHP5/Gtk. It has been tested on Debian-based distributions using the KDE window managers. It should run on any OS that has Gtk support, though it does require disabling keyboard shortcuts such as alt-tab and ctrl-alt-delete. This is very easy to do using KDE.

The administration interface is written using the CakePHP web framework, making it very easy to set up and install.

Screen Shots:

Client Timer Window

Client Login Screen

Web-based Administration Interface

Installation

Client

Windows

I will assume you use Fortres101 or another program that will restrict deleting of Windows files or restore them upon logout. We are currently using CleanSlate. If not, you will have to figure out how to make LibKi run at startup in a way that users can’t disable. Otherwise, a user could disable it from running at startup, and use the computer without a time limit.

1. If you are using a limited account for public user’s, temporarily upgrade it to an Admin account.
2. Grab the latest copy of the LibKi client from the Sourceforge subversion repository, located at https://libki.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/libki/trunk/client/src . On Windows, I use TortoiseSVN .
3. In the ‘windows’ directory of the LibKi sources is a copy of the Gnope installer, go ahead an install Gnope. Next copy the php_pgsql.dll file from this same directory to C:\PHP-Gtk2\ext.
4. Edit C:\PHP-Gtk2\php.ini and add the line ‘extension=php_pgsql.dll’ under ‘Dynamic Extensions’.
5. Create the folder C:\etc\libki
6. Copy the files libki.ini, strings, and logo.png to C:\etc\libki
7. Edit the libki.ini and put in your LibKi server information. Also finish the line ‘machine =’ with the name you would like to show up in the LibKi web admin for that computer.
   1. You can also edit the ’strings’ text file to change the language LibKi displays to user’s.
   2. If you have your own custom logo you can replace logo.png with it.
8. Create a shortcut to KioskClient.phpw and name it LibKi.
9. Create a shortcut to disable_alt-tab.exe in the LibKi ‘windows’ directory, and name it ‘dat’.
10. Move these two shortcuts to the Windows startup folder.
11. Log out, change the account back to a limited account, and log in. When you log in, you should see the LibKi login screen.