TermSaver: Terminal Based Screensaver

TermSaver is a  cool screensaver that can run from the command-line interface or terminal in Ubuntu/Linux. TermSaver isn’t supposed replace other screensavers that come with your desktop such as GnomeShell, Unity, KDE, or other Desktop Environment.

And it also might not be able to carry out the actual purpose of a screesaver since it lacks a lot of pixel movements (screen animations), which otherwise helps to prevent “screen burns” on display devices.

But if you are using command-line as your primary interface or, if you’re a desktop user who usually uses the Terminal emulator and looking for a screensaver that’s quite fun to use, then you might wanna try “TermSaver”.

Installing TermSaver in Ubuntu

Install pip a tool for installing and managing Python packages

• $  sudo apt-get install python-pip python-dev build-essential

Now you are ready to install TermSaver on your machine, issue the following command at the terminal.

• $ sudo pip install termsaver

Using TermSaver

Issue the following command in the terminal,

• $ termsaver --help
  

This will list out the arguments to be used with termsaver command to display the text based screensavers.

Usage: termsaver [screen] [options]

Screens:

 clock                     displays a digital clock on screen
 randtxt                displays word in random places on screen
 dot                        displays a random running dot
 asciiartfarts       displays ascii images from asciiartfarts.com (NSFW)
 rfc                         randomly displays RFC contents
 quotes4all          displays recent quotes from quotes4all.net
 programmer     displays source code in typing animation
 urlfetcher          displays url contents with typing animation
 jokes4all             displays recent jokes from jokes4all.net (NSFW)
 rssfeed                displays rss feed information

For example if I use the asciiartfarts as the screen for termsaver

• $ termsaver asciiartfarts

this will show the random ascii art from asciiartfarts.com unless I terminate it using Ctrl + C

 Enjoy!