The goal of the Screenlets base-classes is to simplify the creation of fully themeable mini-apps that each solve basic desktop-work-related needs and generally improve the usability and eye-candy of the modern composited Linux-desktop. Screenlets strongly follow the UNIX-idea of modularization and having one tool for one purpose. They are in some way the modern evolution of that idea (ported from commandline-tools to desktop-apps). One intention of the screenlets is to encourage creation of visually appealing graphical frontends to common unix-tools to attract the "modern" user while still "keeping it real". They contain a window a menu and (optionally) a theme (of type ScreenletTheme). Screenlets also offer a simple way of handling/changing settings/options (for both – user and developer). Since version 0.0.8 all screenlets can also be controlled over DBus and can easily offer customized services.
