You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
#1 2017-09-16 10:48:49
- zappathustra
- Member
- Registered: 2014-06-15
- Posts: 32
[solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
Hello there,
I'm using xscreensaver with i3. My problem is that it never kicks in, unless I suspend my laptop by closing the lid.
Also, when it's running (e.g. with `xscreensaver-command -activate`) its stops by itself after 20 or 30 seconds.
Those two problems may have a common cause: something frequently prevents the computer from being idle. What this something may be, though, I have absolutely no idea. Using `xscreensaver-command -watch` doesn't return anything interesting. I've tried xev to see if events appeared without my input (e.g. if the touchpad was malfunctioning), but nothing registers here. Admittedly, I'm not so competent in that area.
I start xscreensaver from i3's config file, but doing so from .xinitrc doesn't change anything.
Any idea?
Best,
Paul
Last edited by zappathustra (2017-09-17 15:28:48)
Offline
#2 2017-09-17 05:01:31
- x33a
- Forum Fellow
- Registered: 2009-08-15
- Posts: 4,587
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
To confirm if something is causing the screen to wake up, try to reproduce the issue with dpms. That is, first kill all existing xscreensaver processes, then run
xset dpms force offThen see if the screen wakes up by itself shortly.
Offline
#3 2017-09-17 07:38:45
- zappathustra
- Member
- Registered: 2014-06-15
- Posts: 32
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
To confirm if something is causing the screen to wake up, try to reproduce the issue with dpms. That is, first kill all existing xscreensaver processes, then run
xset dpms force offThen see if the screen wakes up by itself shortly.
It doesn't. At least we know that for sure, thank you. So xscreensaver unblanks by itself. Unfortunately I can't find anything related to that.
Offline
#4 2017-09-17 09:34:08
- seth
- Member
- From: Won't reply 2 private help req
- Registered: 2012-09-03
- Posts: 78,876
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
it probably crashes and leaves behind a notion in the journal or the shell or maybe even a coredump?
Offline
#5 2017-09-17 12:50:21
- zappathustra
- Member
- Registered: 2014-06-15
- Posts: 32
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
it probably crashes and leaves behind a notion in the journal or the shell or maybe even a coredump?
True I haven't run xscreensaver in a shell to see if it signals anything. Now I've done it, and it remains silent even after launching the screensaver and seeing it stop by itself.
Nothing in the journal, no coredump.
So it doesn't even crash.
Now, that test has proven that xscreensaver doesn't crash, and the previous that nothing causes the screen to wake up. Another possibility is that xscreensaver runs normally, and intentionally stops after a few seconds to half a minute, as if you could configure it to do that. I don't think you can, but to be thorough, I've reviewed the .xscreensaver config file, and I've noticed nothing there. I post it here just in case, if anybody is interested.
# XScreenSaver Preferences File
# Written by xscreensaver-demo 5.37 for zappathustra on Sun Sep 17 10:07:16 2017.
# https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/
timeout: 0:01:00
cycle: 0:01:00
lock: False
lockTimeout: 0:04:00
passwdTimeout: 0:00:30
visualID: default
installColormap: True
verbose: False
timestamp: True
splash: True
splashDuration: 0:00:02
demoCommand: xscreensaver-demo
prefsCommand: xscreensaver-demo -prefs
nice: 10
memoryLimit: 0
fade: True
unfade: True
fadeSeconds: 0:00:01
fadeTicks: 20
captureStderr: True
ignoreUninstalledPrograms:False
font: *-medium-r-*-140-*-m-*
dpmsEnabled: True
dpmsQuickOff: False
dpmsStandby: 0:10:00
dpmsSuspend: 0:21:00
dpmsOff: 0:00:00
grabDesktopImages: True
grabVideoFrames: False
chooseRandomImages: True
imageDirectory: /home/zappathustra/Images
mode: random
selected: 63
textMode: program
textLiteral: Hello, monde!
textFile:
textProgram: /home/zappathustra/bin/mpd.rb text
textURL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:NewPages&feed=rss
programs: \
maze -root \n\
electricsheep --root 1 \n\
GL: superquadrics -root \n\
attraction -root \n\
blitspin -root \n\
greynetic -root \n\
helix -root \n\
hopalong -root \n\
imsmap -root \n\
- noseguy -root \n\
- pyro -root \n\
qix -root \n\
- rocks -root \n\
rorschach -root \n\
decayscreen -root \n\
flame -root \n\
halo -root \n\
slidescreen -root \n\
pedal -root \n\
bouboule -root \n\
- braid -root \n\
coral -root \n\
deco -root \n\
drift -root \n\
- fadeplot -root \n\
galaxy -root \n\
goop -root \n\
grav -root \n\
ifs -root \n\
GL: jigsaw -root \n\
julia -root \n\
- kaleidescope -root \n\
GL: moebius -root \n\
moire -root \n\
GL: morph3d -root \n\
mountain -root \n\
munch -root \n\
penrose -root \n\
GL: pipes -root \n\
rd-bomb -root \n\
GL: rubik -root \n\
- sierpinski -root \n\
slip -root \n\
GL: sproingies -root \n\
starfish -root \n\
strange -root \n\
swirl -root \n\
triangle -root \n\
xjack -root \n\
xlyap -root \n\
GL: atlantis -root \n\
bsod -root \n\
GL: bubble3d -root \n\
GL: cage -root \n\
- crystal -root \n\
cynosure -root \n\
discrete -root \n\
distort -root \n\
epicycle -root \n\
flow -root \n\
GL: glplanet -root \n\
interference -root \n\
kumppa -root \n\
GL: lament -root -delay 0 \n\
moire2 -root \n\
GL: sonar -root \n\
GL: stairs -root \n\
truchet -root \n\
- vidwhacker -root \n\
blaster -root \n\
bumps -root \n\
ccurve -root \n\
compass -root \n\
deluxe -root \n\
- demon -root \n\
- GL: extrusion -root \n\
- loop -root \n\
penetrate -root \n\
petri -root \n\
phosphor -root \n\
GL: pulsar -root \n\
ripples -root \n\
shadebobs -root \n\
GL: sierpinski3d -root \n\
spotlight -root \n\
squiral -root \n\
wander -root \n\
- webcollage -root \n\
xflame -root \n\
xmatrix -root -density 16 \n\
GL: gflux -root \n\
- nerverot -root \n\
xrayswarm -root \n\
xspirograph -root \n\
GL: circuit -root \n\
GL: dangerball -root \n\
- GL: dnalogo -root \n\
GL: engine -root \n\
GL: flipscreen3d -root \n\
GL: gltext -root -text '%A%n%d %b %Y%n%r' \n\
GL: menger -root \n\
GL: molecule -root \n\
rotzoomer -root \n\
speedmine -root \n\
GL: starwars -root \n\
GL: stonerview -root \n\
vermiculate -root \n\
whirlwindwarp -root \n\
zoom -root \n\
anemone -root \n\
apollonian -root \n\
GL: boxed -root \n\
GL: cubenetic -root \n\
GL: endgame -root \n\
euler2d -root \n\
fluidballs -root \n\
GL: flurry -root \n\
- GL: glblur -root \n\
GL: glsnake -root \n\
halftone -root \n\
GL: juggler3d -root \n\
GL: lavalite -root \n\
- polyominoes -root \n\
GL: queens -root \n\
- GL: sballs -root \n\
GL: spheremonics -root \n\
- thornbird -root \n\
twang -root \n\
- GL: antspotlight -root -delay 0 -fps \n\
apple2 -root \n\
GL: atunnel -root \n\
barcode -root \n\
GL: blinkbox -root \n\
GL: blocktube -root \n\
GL: bouncingcow -root -count 4 \n\
cloudlife -root \n\
GL: cubestorm -root \n\
eruption -root \n\
GL: flipflop -root \n\
GL: flyingtoasters -root \n\
fontglide -root \n\
GL: gleidescope -root \n\
GL: glknots -root \n\
GL: glmatrix -root \n\
- GL: glslideshow -root \n\
GL: hypertorus -root \n\
- GL: jigglypuff -root \n\
metaballs -root \n\
GL: mirrorblob -root \n\
piecewise -root \n\
GL: polytopes -root \n\
pong -root -speed 1 \n\
popsquares -root \n\
GL: surfaces -root \n\
xanalogtv -root \n\
abstractile -root \n\
anemotaxis -root \n\
- GL: antinspect -root \n\
fireworkx -root \n\
fuzzyflakes -root \n\
interaggregate -root \n\
intermomentary -root \n\
memscroller -root \n\
GL: noof -root \n\
pacman -root \n\
GL: pinion -root \n\
GL: polyhedra -root \n\
- GL: providence -root \n\
substrate -root \n\
wormhole -root \n\
- GL: antmaze -root \n\
GL: boing -root \n\
boxfit -root \n\
GL: carousel -root \n\
celtic -root \n\
GL: crackberg -root \n\
GL: cube21 -root \n\
fiberlamp -root \n\
GL: fliptext -root \n\
GL: glhanoi -root \n\
GL: tangram -root \n\
GL: timetunnel -root \n\
GL: glschool -root \n\
GL: topblock -root \n\
GL: cubicgrid -root \n\
cwaves -root \n\
GL: gears -root \n\
GL: glcells -root \n\
GL: lockward -root \n\
m6502 -root \n\
GL: moebiusgears -root \n\
GL: voronoi -root \n\
GL: hypnowheel -root \n\
GL: klein -root \n\
- lcdscrub -root \n\
GL: photopile -root \n\
GL: skytentacles -root \n\
GL: rubikblocks -root \n\
GL: companioncube -root \n\
GL: hilbert -root \n\
GL: tronbit -root \n\
GL: geodesic -root \n\
hexadrop -root \n\
GL: kaleidocycle -root \n\
GL: quasicrystal -root \n\
GL: unknownpleasures -root \n\
binaryring -root \n\
GL: cityflow -root \n\
GL: geodesicgears -root \n\
GL: projectiveplane -root \n\
GL: romanboy -root \n\
tessellimage -root \n\
GL: winduprobot -root -count 57 \n\
GL: splitflap -root \n\
GL: cubestack -root -delay 1667 -speed 4 \
-wireframe \n\
GL: cubetwist -root \n\
GL: discoball -root \n\
GL: dymaxionmap -root \n\
GL: energystream -root \n\
GL: hexstrut -root \n\
GL: hydrostat -root \n\
GL: raverhoop -root \n\
GL: splodesic -root \n\
GL: unicrud -root \n\
GL: vigilance -root \n\
pointerPollTime: 0:00:05
pointerHysteresis: 10
windowCreationTimeout:0:00:30
initialDelay: 0:00:00
GetViewPortIsFullOfLies:False
procInterrupts: True
xinputExtensionDev: False
overlayStderr: True
authWarningSlack: 20Offline
#6 2017-09-17 12:56:30
- seth
- Member
- From: Won't reply 2 private help req
- Registered: 2012-09-03
- Posts: 78,876
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
Does it correlate to the passwdTimeout value?
I'm also unsure whether the dpms times are incremental or absolute - if they're absolute, you go off before standby.
Random guesses: do you use a screensaver hack (fancy animation) and does that matter?
What if you increase these values?
pointerPollTime: 0:00:05
pointerHysteresis: 10Offline
#7 2017-09-17 13:52:08
- zappathustra
- Member
- Registered: 2014-06-15
- Posts: 32
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
Does it correlate to the passwdTimeout value?
I've changed that to 20 minutes and the problem remains, so no.
I'm also unsure whether the dpms times are incremental or absolute - if they're absolute, you go off before standby.
I've no idea what dpms is or are, but I've set dpmsOff to 30 minutes, so it's after dpmsStandby. The problem remains.
Random guesses: do you use a screensaver hack (fancy animation) and does that matter?
I don't know what a screensaver hack is; I only use the animations shipped with xscreensaver; so I guess it doesn't matter...?
What if you increase these values?
pointerPollTime: 0:00:05 pointerHysteresis: 10
I've set the first to 10 minutes, the second to 1000, both separately and together, and I don't know what it's supposed to do, but it didn't solve the problem.
If we don't solve the problem (but why shouldn't we?), at least I'll have learned that there is so much more in .xscreensaver than what xscreensaver-demo will show you. Thanks!
Offline
#8 2017-09-17 13:58:38
- seth
- Member
- From: Won't reply 2 private help req
- Registered: 2012-09-03
- Posts: 78,876
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
the screensaver "hacks" are those fancy but useless animations, try disabling them.
Since you don't "lock", i'd test whether the issue is simply that such hack doesn't work - so also try to enable locking and see whether you get this at some point.
Offline
#9 2017-09-17 14:27:15
- zappathustra
- Member
- Registered: 2014-06-15
- Posts: 32
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
the screensaver "hacks" are those fancy but useless animations, try disabling them.
I've checked "Blank screen only" in xscreensaver-demo, so no animation is run, but the screen still unblanks randomly.
Since you don't "lock", i'd test whether the issue is simply that such hack doesn't work - so also try to enable locking and see whether you get this at some point.
I've tried locking instead of simply activating; now the login window appears under the same circumstances, so again it's like xscreensaver thinks something has woken up the screen.
Last edited by zappathustra (2017-09-17 14:31:08)
Offline
#10 2017-09-17 14:34:34
- seth
- Member
- From: Won't reply 2 private help req
- Registered: 2012-09-03
- Posts: 78,876
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
Sounds as if something™ is causing input, but ignored by dpms and caught by xscreensaver.
Output of "xinput"?
Also, do you use the libinput or evdev driver and does it matter?
Offline
#11 2017-09-17 15:28:30
- zappathustra
- Member
- Registered: 2014-06-15
- Posts: 32
Re: [solved] xscreensaver doesn't start, or stops randomly.
Sounds as if something™ is causing input, but ignored by dpms and caught by xscreensaver.
Output of "xinput"?
Also, do you use the libinput or evdev driver and does it matter?
Well, we can skip all that because I've found the culprit: xfce4-power-manager. I thought I'd tried killing it to run xscreensaver, but either I didn't, or I did but it still had engaged something™ that conflicted with xscreensaver.
So I've stopped launching it in the i3 config file, and I'll try to find another way to manage my power (I'm an ex-Xfce-ist that only recently converted to i3). Now xscreensaver does start when it must, changes animation (even fancy stupid ones) every minute, and wakes up the screen only when some input happens.
I have no idea whether it should be considered a bug of either program, but I'd report it if necessary.
Thanks for your help, Seth.
EDIT:
Stupid me, the problem was actually addressed in the xscreensaver FAQ: https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/faq.html#no-blank
I was sure I had browsed it seriously, but apparently not. Sorry for the noise, then.
Last edited by zappathustra (2017-09-18 04:45:17)
Offline