Beyond Linux® From Scratch (systemd Edition) - Version 12.1

Chapter 41. Other X-based Programs

XScreenSaver-6.08

Introduction to XScreenSaver

The XScreenSaver package is a modular screen saver and locker for the X Window System. It is highly customizable and allows the use of any program that can draw on the root window as a display mode. The purpose of XScreenSaver is to display pretty pictures on your screen when it is not in use, in keeping with the philosophy that unattended monitors should always be doing something interesting, just like they do in the movies. However, XScreenSaver can also be used as a screen locker, to prevent others from using your terminal while you are away.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS 12.1 platform.

Package Information

XScreenSaver Dependencies

Required

GTK+-3.24.41 and Xorg Applications

Recommended

GLU-9.0.3

Optional

GDM-45.0.1, FFmpeg-6.1.1, Linux-PAM-1.6.0, MIT Kerberos V5-1.21.2, and GLE

Installation of XScreenSaver

Install XScreenSaver by running the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Command Explanations

--with-setuid-hacks: This switch allows some demos to be installed setuid root which is needed in order to ping other hosts.

Configuring XScreenSaver

Config Files

/etc/X11/app-defaults/XScreenSaver and ~/.xscreensaver

Linux PAM Configuration

If XScreenSaver has been built with Linux PAM support, you need to create a PAM configuration file, to get it working correctly with BLFS.

Issue the following commands as the root user to create the configuration file for Linux PAM: 

cat > /etc/pam.d/xscreensaver << "EOF"
# Begin /etc/pam.d/xscreensaver

auth    include system-auth
account include system-account

# End /etc/pam.d/xscreensaver
EOF

Contents

Installed Programs: xscreensaver, xscreensaver-command, xscreensaver-demo, and xscreensaver-settings
Installed Libraries: None
Installed Directories: /usr/libexec/xscreensaver and /usr/share/xscreensaver

Short Descriptions

xscreensaver

is a screen saver and locker daemon

xscreensaver-command

controls a running xscreensaver process by sending it client messages

xscreensaver-demo

is a symlink to xscreensaver-settings

xscreensaver-settings

is a graphical front-end for setting the parameters used by the background xscreensaver daemon