problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

graysky · 2009-03-07 15:26:19

I am using a mplayer I compiled from svn and the xscreensaver from the arch repo. I'd like to have mplayer disable xscreensaver.

Under debian, I only needed to add the following to my ~/.mplayer/config to stop xscreensaver when mplayer plays:

heartbeat-cmd="xscreensaver-command -deactivate > /dev/null"

When I have this in my config under Arch, it does indeed keep xscreensaver from starting during playback BUT video playback literally hangs for 5 sec or so every 20 seconds! As well, when I initially load the video file, it too kinda hangs for 5 sec or so.

I get the following in my mplayer output if I launch it from a shell:

xscreensaver-command: no response to command.
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.

Any thoughts on this?

I did find a sort of related post, but no solution there.

graysky · 2009-03-07 16:44:28

Here is an update - this problem has NOTHING to do with mplayer at all. If I try the following from a shell, I get the same thing! Also, I know that xscreensaver is running because I see it in my ps aux command and I also see the splash screen load when X comes up. Finally, I know it's running because it turns on after 10 min

Thanks for your thoughts!

$ xscreensaver-command -deactivate
<<<there is a 10-15 sec pause>>>
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.

Last edited by graysky (2009-03-07 16:44:35)

realaaa · 2009-03-07 16:49:10

I have the same problem on Gentoo, it looks like some not fixed bug in xscreensaver - http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=486603

for me"xscreensaver-command -deactivate" works intermittently, like 1 out of 10 or 20 times it works OK. And when it doesn't work properly, it outputs "xscreensaver-command: no response to command" and has this annoying lag for about 10 seconds.

what I did - I added & to the end of the command - so now the command goes to background and doesn't cause the movie to pause:

$ cat .mplayer/config 
#as per http://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/faq.html#dvd
heartbeat-cmd="xscreensaver-command -deactivate &"
$

So far it seem to work, some attempts work out, some not, but in general it's enough, here's the cut from mplayer output:

    xscreensaver-command: not active: idle timer reset.% ??% ??,?% 0 0 
    xscreensaver-command: no response to command.253  3%  2%  0.5% 0 0 
    xscreensaver-command: no response to command./1003  3%  1%  0.5% 0 0 
    xscreensaver-command: no response to command./1754  2%  1%  0.5% 0 0 
    xscreensaver-command: no response to command./2505  3%  1%  0.5% 0 0 
    xscreensaver-command: not active: idle timer reset. 3%  1%  0.5% 0 0

realaaa · 2009-03-07 18:47:08

just checked it some more - it seems that most of commands do not work, but anyway they prevent screensaver from running, looks ugly, but "works":

...
Starting playback...
VDec: vo config request - 668 x 278 (preferred colorspace: Planar YV12)
VDec: using Planar YV12 as output csp (no 0)
Movie-Aspect is 2.40:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
VO: [xv] 668x278 => 668x278 Planar YV12  [fs]
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.256  4%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./1009  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./1757  2%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: not active: idle timer reset. 2%  0%  0.5% 1 0 

xscreensaver-command: no response to command./3259  2%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./4010  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./4761  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./5511  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./6262  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./7012  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./7763  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./8513  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command./9265  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.5/10015  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.6/10766  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.6/11516  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.7/12267  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.8/13018  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.8/13768  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.9/14519  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.0/15270  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.0/16020  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.1/16771  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.2/17522  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.3/18273  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
xscreensaver-command: no response to command.3/19023  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
A: 763.8 V: 763.8 A-V:  0.000 ct:  0.001 19097/19097  3%  0%  0.5% 1 0 
  =====  PAUSE  =====
Exiting... (Quit)

Last edited by realaaa (2009-03-07 18:52:55)

graysky · 2009-03-07 20:16:12

@realaaa - you're right, it does indeed work. Thank you for the suggestion! I emailed the author of xscreensaver and will update this thread when I hear back.

realaaa · 2009-03-08 06:38:46

did you ask him to fix the bug or the FAQ? I guess FAQ should be corrected at first:

http://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/faq.html#dvd
heartbeat-cmd="xscreensaver-command -deactivate" -> heartbeat-cmd="xscreensaver-command -deactivate &"

graysky · 2009-03-08 09:01:12

Good point, I will email him this as well.
Thanks again dude!

Arch Linux

#1 2009-03-07 15:26:19

problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

#2 2009-03-07 16:44:28

Re: problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

#3 2009-03-07 16:49:10

Re: problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

#4 2009-03-07 18:47:08

Re: problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

#5 2009-03-07 20:16:12

Re: problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

#6 2009-03-08 06:38:46

Re: problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

#7 2009-03-08 09:01:12

Re: problem with xscreensaver package in the repo?

Board footer