grwlf/xscreensaver-run

Run the screensaver from XScreenSaver collection synchronousely in the fullscreen

Xscreensaver-run

This tiny program may be used to run screensavers from XScreenSaver collection synchronously, in fullscreen and without additional effects like screen locks or timers.

See also https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/290698/how-to-manually-start-an-xscreensaver-application-in-root-window-full-screen

Build

Just make install

$ make install

NixOS users may use the following commands to install the application in the current user's profile:

$ nix-build
$ nix-env -i ./result

Usage

Run any screensaver from Xscreensaver collection by typing xscreensaver-run SCREENSAVER_APP_ARGS. For example:

$ ./xscreensaver-run /usr/libexec/xscreensaver/apple2 -text -program 'uname -a'

Enjoy!

Development notes

Environment

To test the application in Nix:

1. $ nix-shell
2. (shell) $ nix-build '<nixpkgs>' -A pkgs.xscreensaver
3. (shell) $ make
4. (shell) $ ./xscreensaver-run ./result/libexec/xscreensaver/apple2 -text

Hints

• To reset root window's cursor (just in case): xsetroot -cursor_name left_ptr

References

• X Event definitions
• X Event documentation
• https://linux.die.net/man/3/xwindowevent
• https://linux.die.net/man/3/xgrabkeyboard

Bugs?

Yes! Check FIXMEs in the source code. Feel free to fix them and file PRs!

xscreensaver-run's Issues

problems with window id's

xscreensaver-run /usr/lib/xscreensaver/webcollage
webcollage: 16:54:26: init: unparsable window id: ��*�

xscreensaver-run /usr/lib/xscreensaver/glhanoi
glhanoi: windowID must be an integer, not ��+�.

Also webcollage just produces a black screen, but the other ones I have tested seem to work no problem, but they still produce the windowID errors.

Fatal error during make install

gcc -l X11 src/xscreensaver-run.c -o xscreensaver-run
src/xscreensaver-run.c:1:10: fatal error: X11/X.h: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden
1 | #include <X11/X.h>
| ^~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make: *** [Makefile:7: xscreensaver-run] Fehler 1

OS: Linux Mint Mate