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.

-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).

-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: 20).

-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: 70).

-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

$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.

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: works with one monitor.
Maybe you need to run with the flag -xwininfo

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...
- Remnants of fluffy snow can persist after removing the
fallen snow. These will gradually disappear, so no big deal.
- Remnants of meteors can persist after passage of Santa.
These will eventually be wiped out by snow or Santa.
- 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
- In multi-screen environments, it depends on the display settings
if it is snowing on all screens. Experiment!

Please report your comments via:
https://ratrabbit.nl/ratrabbit/contact .