XSNOW(6)

NAME
xsnow - Snow and Santa on your desktop

SYNOPSIS
xsnow [OPTION]...

DESCRIPTION
Xsnow shows an animation of Santa and snow on your desktop. Xsnow can also run in one or more windows, see options -xwininfo, -id . (These options only work satisfactorily in an X11 environment.) Xsnow depends on an X11 environment. This is forced by setting the environment variable GDK_BACKEND=x11 before initializing the GTK. Hopefully, this will ensure that xsnow also runs in a Wayland environment for some time.

If xsnow is misbehaving, try to remove the file $HOME/.xsnowrc.

  General options:
Below:
<n> denotes an unsigned decimal (e.g 123) or octal (e.g. 017) or hex (e.g. 0x50009) number.
<c> denotes a string like "red" or "#123456".
<f> denotes a file name, like "/home/rick/Pictures/background.jpg".

-h, -help
    print this text.

-H, -manpage
    print man page.

-v, -version
    prints version of xsnow.

-changelog
    prints ChangeLog.

-selfrep
    put tar ball on stdout, so you can do:
    xsnow -selfrep > xsnow.tar.gz

-display <c>
    Drop the snowflakes on the given display. Make sure the display is nearby, so you can hear them enjoy...

-screen <n>
    If you have multiple monitors: snow in monitor n.
    -1: use all monitors (default: -1)
    Note: for this to work, Xinerama has to be functional.

-outline <n>
    1: draw outline around snow window. 0: no outline.
    Default: 0.

-vintage
    Run xsnow in vintage settings.

-defaults
    Do not read config file (see FILES).

-noconfig
    Do not read or write config file (see FILES).

-hidemenu
    Start with hidden interactive menu.

-nomenu
    Do not show interactive menu.

-lang <c>
    Set language, example: -lang it, see LANGUAGES below. Default: sys.

-scale <n>
    Apply scalefactor (default: 100).

-doublebuffer <n>
    1: use double buffering; 0: do not use double buffering (default: 1). Only effective with '-root' or '-id' or '-xwininfo'.

-transparency <n>
    Transparency in % (default: 0)

-theme <n>
    1: use xsnow theme for menu; 0: use system theme (default: 1)

-checkgtk <n>
    0: Do not check gtk version before starting the user interface. 1: Check gtk version before starting the user interface. (default: 1).

-id <n>, -window-id <n>
    Snow in window with id (for example from xwininfo).

--window-id <n>
    see -id.

-desktop
    Act as if window is a desktop.

-allworkspaces <n>
    0: use one desktop for snow, 1: use all desktops (default: 1).

-above
    Snow above your windows. Default is to snow below your windows. NOTE: in some environments this results in an un-clickable desktop.

-xwininfo
    Use a cursor to point at the window you want the snow to be fallen in.

-stopafter <n>
    Stop xsnow after so many seconds.

-root, --root
    Force to paint on (virtual) root window.
    Use this for xscreensaver:
    Make sure xscreensaver is running, either as a start-up application
    or from the command line, e.g:
       nohup xscreensaver &
    or
        nohup xscreensaver -no-capture-stderr &
    Run the program xscreensaver-demo to create the file ~/.xscreensaver
    In the file ~.xscreensaver add after the line 'programs:' this line:
        xsnow -root
    Use the program xscreensaver-demo to select xsnow as screensaver.
    You probably want to select: Mode: Only One Screen Saver.

-bg <f>
    file to be used as background when running under xscreensaver.

-noisy
    Write extra info about some mouse clicks, X errors etc, to stdout.

-cpuload <n>
    How busy is your system with xsnow: the higher, the more load on the system (default: 100).

  Snow options:

-snowflakes <n>
    The higher, the more snowflakes are generated per second. Default: 100.

-blowsnow
    (Default) Animate blow-off snow.

-noblowsnow
    Do not animate blowing snow from trees or windows

-sc <c>
    Use the given string as color for the flakes (default: #fffafa).

-sc2 <c>
    Use the given string as second color for the flakes (default: #87ceff).

-enablesc2 <n>
    1: enable usage of second color for the flakes (default: 0).

-snowspeedfactor <n>
    Multiply the speed of snow with this number/100 (default: 100).

-snowsize <n>
    Set size of (non-vintage) snow flakes (default: 8).

-snow
    (Default) Show snow.

-nosnow -nosnowflakes
    Do not show snow.

-flakecountmax <n>
    Maximum number of active flakes (default: 300).

-blowofffactor <n>
    The higher, the more snow is generated in blow-off scenarios (default: 40).

  Tree options:

-treetype <n>[,<n> ...]
    Choose tree types: minimum 0, maximum 8 (default: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,). Thanks to Carla Vermin for numbers >=3! Credits: Image by b0red on Pixabay.

-treetype all
    (Default) Use all non-vintage available tree types.

-tc <c>
    Use the given string as the color for the vintage tree (default: #7fff00). Works only for treetype 0.

-notrees
    Do not display the trees.

-showtrees
    (Default) Display the trees.

-trees <n>
    Desired number of trees. Default 10.

-treefill <n>
    Region in percents of the height of the window where trees grow (default: 30).

-treescale <n>
    Scale scenery (default: 100).

-treeoverlap
    Allow scenery items to overlap each other (default).

-notreeoverlap
    Do not allow scenery items to overlap each other.

  Santa options:

-showsanta
    (Default) Display Santa running all over the screen.

-nosanta
    Do not display Santa running all over the screen.

-showrudolph
    (Default) With Rudolph.

-norudolph
    No Rudolph.

-santa <n>
    The minimum size of Santa is 0, the maximum size is 4. Default is 3. Thanks to Thomas Linder for the (big) Santa 2! Santa 3 is derived from Santa 2, and shows the required eight reindeer. The appearance of Santa 4 may be a surprise, thanks to Carla Vermin for this one.

-santaspeedfactor <n>
    The speed Santa should not be excessive if he doesn't want to get fined. The appropriate speed for the Santa chosen will be multiplied by santaspeedfactor/100 (default: 100).

-santascale <n>
    The scale to be used when drawing Santa (default: 100).

  Celestial options:

-wind
    (Default) It will get windy now and then.

-nowind
    By default it gets windy now and then. If you prefer quiet weather specify -nowind.

-whirlfactor <n>
    This sets the whirl factor, i.e. the maximum adjustment of the horizontal speed. The default value is 100.

-windtimer <n>
    With -windtimer you can specify how often it gets windy. It's sort of a period in seconds, default value is 30.

-stars <n>
    The number of stars (default: 40).

-meteors
    (Default) Show meteors.

-nometeors
    Do not show meteors.

-meteorfrequency
    Frequency of falling of meteors, 0..100 (default: 40).

-moon <n>
    1: show moon, 0: do not show moon (default: 1).
    Picture of moon thanks to Pedro Lasta on Unsplash.
    https://unsplash.com/photos/wCujVcf0JDw

-moonspeed <n>
    Speed of moon in pixels/minute (default: 120).

-moonsize <n>
    Relative size of moon (default: 100).

-mooncolor <n>
    Color of moon 0: yellow-ish; 1: white-ish (default: 0).

-halo <n>
    1: show halo around moon, 0: do not show halo (default: 1).

-halobrightness <n>
    Brightness of halo (default: 25).

-aurora <n>
    To show (1) or not to show(0) aurora (default: 1).
      On most desktops aurora works, but not on all. Try!

-auroraleft
    Place aurora in top left of screen.

-auroramiddle
    Place aurora in top middle of screen.

-auroraright
    Place aurora in top right of screen (default).

-aurorawidth <n>
    Width of aurora in percentage of screen width (default: 60).

-aurorabase <n>
    Height of aurora's base line in percentage of screen height (default: 50).

-auroraheight <n>
    Height of aurora (default: 30).

-auroraspeed <n>
    Animation speed of aurora (default: 50).
       10: about real value, 100: timelapse.

-aurorabrightness <n>
    Brightness of aurora (default: 15).

  Fallen snow options:

-wsnowdepth <n>
    Maximum thickness of snow on top of windows (default: 30).

-ssnowdepth <n>
    Maximum thickness of snow at the bottom of the screen (default: 50).

-maxontrees <n>
    Maximum number of flakes on trees. Default 200.

-keepsnowonwindows
    (Default) Keep snow on top of the windows.

-nokeepsnowonwindows
    Do not keep snow on top of the windows.

-keepsnowonscreen
    (Default) Keep snow at the bottom of the screen.

-nokeepsnowonscreen
    Do not keep snow at the bottom of the screen.

-keepsnowontrees
    (Default) Keep snow on trees.

-nokeepsnowontrees
    Do not keep snow on trees.

-keepsnow
    (Default) Have snow sticking anywhere.

-nokeepsnow
    Do not have snow sticking anywhere.

-fluffy
    (Default) Create fluff on fallen snow.

-nofluffy
    Do not create fluff on fallen snow.

-offsetx <n>
    Correction for window-manager provided x-coordinate of window. Default 4.

-offsety <n>
    Correction for window-manager provided y-coordinate of window. Default 0.

-offsetw <n>
    Correction for window-manager provided width of window. Default -8.

-offsets <n>
    Correction for bottom coordinate of your screen. A negative value lifts the xsnow screen up. Default 0.

-ignoretop <n>
    Do not collect snow on window > 0.8*width of screen and closer than <n> pixels from the top. Sometimes an hidden window is sitting there, but treated as a normal window by xsnow. Default 0.

-ignorebottom <n>
    Analog to -ignoretop, but now for the bottom. Default 0.

  Birds options:

-anarchy <n>
    Anarchy factor ( 0..100 default: 50).

-birdscolor <c>
    Use the given string as color for the birds (default: #361A07).

-birdsonly <n>
    Show only birds ( 0/1 default: 0).

-birdsspeed <n>
    Speed of birds ( 0..300 default: 100).

-disweight <n>
    Eagerness to keep desired distance ( 0..100 default: 20).

-focuscentre <n>
    Eagerness to fly to the focus ( 0..300 default: 100).

-followneighbours <n>
    Eagerness to follow neighbours ( 0..100 default: 30).

-nbirds <n>
    Number of birds ( 0..400 default: 20).

-neighbours <n>
    Number of neighbours to watch ( 0..20 default: 7).

-prefdistance <n>
    Preferred distance to neighbours ( 0..100 default: 40).

-showbirds <n>
    Show birds ( 0/1 default: 1).

-showattr <n>
    Show attraction point ( 0/1 default: 0).

-attrspace <n>
    Vertical space to be used by the attraction point (default: 40).

-followsanta <n>
    Birds like Santa ( 0/1 default: 0).

-viewingdistance <n>
    Viewing distance ( 0..95 default: 40).

-birdsscale <n>
    Scalefactor used painting the birds (default: 100).

  LANGUAGES
Xsnow comes with some translations to non-english languages.
The translations are done with the aid of translate.google.com (implemented in package 'trans'), so there will be room for improvement. Any suggestions are welcome: contact@ratrabbit.nl .

  FILES

$HOME/.xsnowrc
    Settings are read from and written to this file. See flags -noconfig and -defaults how to influence this behaviour.
        NOTE: the following settings are not read or written:
              -above -defaults -desktop -fullscreen -noconfig -id
              -nomenu -stopafter -xwininfo -display -noisy -checkgtk
        NOTE: the file also contains the screen locations of a number of buttons,
              which can be used for testing purposes.

$HOME/.xsnowstop
    Xsnow checks regularly the existence of this file. If present, xsnow will remove the file and stop.

$HOME/xsnow/pixmaps/tree.xpm
    If present, xsnow will try this file for displaying the trees. The format must be xpm (X PixMap) format, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_PixMap .

$HOME/xsnow/pixmaps/santa<n>.xpm
    where <n> = 1,2,3,4. If present, xsnow will try this files (4 of them) for displaying Santa. The format must be xpm (X PixMap) format, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_PixMap .
        NOTE: To show: activate the first Santa in the menu.

  SIGNALS
On receiving the SIGUSR1 signal, xsnow writes the file ~/.xsnowrc.

  EXAMPLES
    $ xsnow -defaults # run with defaults.
    $ xsnow # run using values from the config file.
    $ xsnow -treetype 1,2 # use tree types 1 and 2.

  WINDOW MANAGER ISSUES
In general, xsnow works better when using a compositing window manager like xcompmgr, compton or picom. However, with some window managers (FVWM for example), the xsnow-window is transparent, but not click-through. Flags to be tried in this case include: -root, -doublebuffer, -xwininfo, -id.
Here follow some window managers with their issues:

Tiling window managers
    Here you need to float windows with class=Xsnow.

AWESOME
    Without compositor: no issues.
    With compositor: no click-through xsnow window, and issues with multi-monitor setup.

BSPWM
    No issues if you add to your bspwmrc (the bspwm configuration file):
        bspc rule -a Xsnow state=floating border=off

CINNAMON
    No issues.

DWM No issues, except the "Below Windows" setting in the "settings" panel.

ENLIGHTENMENT
    With one monitor: no issuses.
    With more montors: probems with showing in 'all monitors'

FLUXBOX
    Without compositor: no issues.
    With compositor: no click-through xsnow window

FVWM
    Without compositor: no issues.
    With compositor: no click-through xsnow window

GNOME on Xorg
    No issues.

GNOME on Wayland
    Most windows don't catch snow.

HERBSTLUFTWM
    No issues.

I3  Without compositor: windows don't catch snow, use the next line in "config":
        for_window [class="Xsnow"] floating enable;border none
    With compositor: unworkable.

JVM No issues.

LXDE
    With compositor: no issues.
    Without compositor: icons in snow window disappear.

LXQT
    Without compositor: unworkable. With compositor: no issues.

MATE
    No issues.

OPENBOX
    No issues.

PLASMA (KDE)
    No issues.

SPECTRWM
    Various issues. In any case you need in spectrwm.conf:
        quirk[Xsnow] = FLOAT

TWM Without compositor: no issues.
    With compositor: no click-through xsnow window and
    you need to tweak settings->lift snow on windows.

WINDOW MAKER
    Without compositor: no issues. With compositor: no click-through xsnow window

XFCE
    No issues when compositing is on, unworkable when compositing is off.
    See settings -> Window Manager Tweaks -> Compositor

XMONAD
    No issues if you add to your xmonad.hs:
     import XMonad.Hooks.EwmhDesktops
     xmonad $ ewmh $ defaultConfig
     in the ManageHook section:
        className = ? "Xsnow" --> doFloat

  BUGS
- Xsnow needs a complete rewrite: the code is a mess.
- The flags are not consistent, caused by trying to be
    compatible with older versions.
- Xsnow stresses the Xserver too much.
- Xsnow does run in Wayland, but will not snow on all windows.
- Xsnow tries to create a click-through window. This is not successful
  in for example FVWM/xcompmgr. In that case, xsnow tries to keep
  the snow window below all others, resulting in a transient effect
  when you click on the desktop. Sadly, no FVWM menu will appear...
- Xsnow tries to adapt its snowing window if the display
    settings are changed while xsnow is running.
    This does not function always well.
- Xsnow does not play well with 'xcompmgr -a'. In some environments
    (Raspberry 64 bit) xcompmgr is started with the flag '-a',
    resulting in a black snow window. Remedy:
    In a terminal window type:
      killall xcompmgr
      nohup xcompmgr -n &
    and try again.
- In XFCE, compositing must be enabled for xsnow.
    Settings -> Window Manager Tweaks -> Compositor -> Enable display compositing
- Depending on the window manager, snowing in 'all monitors' results in snowing
    in one of the monitors. This happens for example in KDE.
- In multi-screen environments, it depends on the display settings
    if it is snowing on all screens. Experiment!
- No snow on windows with 'desktop' or 'Desktop' in the name.
- In multi-screen environments, it depends on the window manager
    if panels remain visible when running on 'all monitors'.
Please report your comments via:
   https://ratrabbit.nl/ratrabbit/contact .

HOMEPAGE
https://ratrabbit.nl/ratrabbit/xsnow

COPYRIGHT
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.