HamClock Launcher

A wxPython-based GUI launcher for HamClock on macOS, providing an easy-to-use interface for running and monitoring the HamClock web applications. It is distributed as a self-contained, signed and notarized .app with the HamClock binaries included, so no other software needs to be installed to use HamClock.

Current release: 4.32 (bundles HamClock 4.32). Launcher version numbers match the bundled HamClock version.

Website and downloads: machamclocklauncher.org

In memory of Elwood Downey, WB0OEW (SK), creator of HamClock.

Overview

HamClock Launcher is a macOS desktop application that simplifies launching and managing HamClock instances. It captures and displays HamClock's output in real time, making it easy to monitor the application's status and debug any issues.

HamClock development now continues as the Open HamClock project. The launcher connects to the Open HamClock Backend by default, and also supports hamclock.com and any other OpenHamClock-compatible server.

Features

• Easy Version Selection: Choose from four HamClock display resolutions via a simple radio button interface:
  • 800x480
  • 1600x960
  • 2400x1440
  • 3200x1920
• Backend Server Selection: Choose the Open HamClock Backend (ohb.hamclock.app:80, default), hamclock.com (hamclock.com:80), or a custom OpenHamClock-compatible server (host:port). Your choice is remembered between sessions.
• Real-time Output Monitoring: View HamClock's output as it runs
• Output Management:
  • Automatic line limiting (5000 lines max) to prevent memory issues
  • Clear output button
  • Copy and select all functionality via Edit menu
• Browser Integration: One-click button to open HamClock at http://localhost:8081/live.html
• Process Control: Start and stop HamClock with visual status indicators
• Safe Shutdown: Prompts before closing if HamClock is still running
• Clear HamClock Cache (Tools menu): Deletes downloaded data in ~/.hamclock while preserving your settings (eeprom)
• Help Resources: The bundled HamClock User Guide (HamClockUserGuide.pdf) and release notes are available from the Help menu

Requirements

• macOS 10.14 or higher
• Separate DMGs are provided for Apple Silicon (HamClockLauncher.dmg) and Intel (HamClockLauncherIntel.dmg) Macs

Updating HamClock

The bundled HamClock binaries have HamClock's built-in updater turned off, so HamClock will not try to update itself. Each new HamClock version is delivered as a new HamClock Launcher release. Download the latest DMG from the website or the Releases page and replace the app in your Applications folder. Your HamClock settings are kept.

Building the Bundled HamClock Binaries

The launcher runs the HamClock web binaries (hamclock-web-800x480, hamclock-web-1600x960, hamclock-web-2400x1440, hamclock-web-3200x1920) from the hamclock_bin directory inside the app bundle.

They are built from the Open HamClock source with two compile-time options defined:

Define	Effect
NO_UPGRADE	Disables HamClock's in-app updater. The updater downloads the source and rebuilds HamClock in place, which would modify the signed app bundle, invalidate its code signature, and require developer tools most users don't have.
NO_SYSTEM_CONTROLS	Removes the "Reboot computer" and "Shutdown computer" items from HamClock's shutdown menu. They call /sbin/reboot and /sbin/poweroff, are intended for dedicated devices such as a Raspberry Pi, and need root on macOS.

Add them to the macOS block of the HamClock Makefile:

ifeq ($(shell uname -s), Darwin)
    CXXFLAGS += -I/opt/X11/include -I/opt/local/include
    CXXFLAGS += -DNO_UPGRADE -DNO_SYSTEM_CONTROLS
    LDXXFLAGS += -L/opt/X11/lib -L/opt/local/lib
endif

Then do a clean build of each web target, for example:

make clean
make hamclock-web-1600x960

Don't pass CXXFLAGS=... on the make command line; it replaces the Makefile's own include paths and the build will fail.

To confirm the defines took effect, start HamClock from the launcher (which passes -o, sending the diagnostic log to stdout). The output window should show #define NO_UPGRADE and #define NO_SYSTEM_CONTROLS near the top.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Copyright (c) 2025-2026 Hubert Hickman

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

About HamClock

HamClock was originally developed by Elwood Charles Downey (WB0OEW, SK) and is now maintained by Dave Koberstein as the Open HamClock project.

HamClock is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file in the hamclock_bin directory for details.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Elwood Downey for creating the HamClock software and making it available to the amateur radio community. 73, Elwood.
• Thanks to Dave Koberstein and the Open HamClock contributors for continuing HamClock's development.
• HamClockLauncher uses the cross-platform GUI library wxPython