An Aquatic Desktop - Neat Eye Candy

[poofyhairguy]

I have sat on this into for too long. Its time to tell the tale about some pretty neat eye candy.

I will let the author explain it:

" xdesktopwaves is a cellular automata setting the background of your X Windows desktop under water. Windows and mouse are like ships on the sea. Each movement of these ends up in moving water waves. You can even have rain and/or storm stirring up the water."

Sounds cool huh? Here is some screenshots:

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/show...original=1&c=2

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/show...original=1&c=2

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/show...original=1&c=2


Bonus is that its REALLY stable for me. Downside is that is uses CPU power (you determine how much though).

If you want to try it, pull out the terminal and type in:

sudo apt-get install xdesktopwaves

Now lets try it out. Put this command in the terminal:

xdesktopwaves

There is the effect. Press control and C to stop it. Now to make it better. First I like to improve the quality. This command is an example of how to do that.

xdesktopwaves -quality 8

That is my favorite level of quality. It might make it too slow for you. So replace the "8" with any number from one to nine, with one being the lowest. Keep experimenting with the numbers until you hit the balance of performance and looks for your machine. Its your CPU power at work, so choose wisely.

Next we will play with the color. Here is an example command:

xdesktopwaves -colortheme 3

Now change the "9" to any number one through nine. Each is very different. Fun to try out. One looks like toxic waste, another like blood. I like 3 the best, but 1 is the most blue. 7 and 9 are cool too.

Now for the fun stuff. To add rain use this example command:

xdesktopwaves -rain 2

Cool huh? Again you can change "2" to any number one through nine but I find after "3" it gets too busy for my own tastes.

Now is the worst effect- the storm. It adds wind as an element. To try use this example command:

xdesktopwaves -storm 2

Again replace the "2" with any number one through nine if you wish. I never use this one because I find it makes my desktop too busy.

Now if you REALLY like this trick and you are willing to give up your desktop for it (it does not get deleted, it is just hidden) then try this command:

xdesktopwaves -opaque

Its a safe command, so everyone should try it once.

Now figure out what commands you like and try stacking them. Here is an example and good default:

xdesktopwaves -quality 7 -opaque -rain 1 -colortheme 7

Order does not matter, just put a space in between each. Try it.

Here is the command I use:

xdesktopwaves -quality 8 -rain 1 -colortheme 3

Now armed with your favorite setup (or mine) lets make a launcher on your desktop;

Put this command in the terminal:

gedit toggle_xdesktopwaves.bash

Fill the empty file by copying and pasting this:

#!/bin/bash
a=`ps -aef | grep -i xdesktopwaves | awk ' {if ($8 == "xdesktopwaves"){printf "2"}} '`
if  [[ $a = "" ]]
then
	yourcommand 
else
	kill -9 `ps -aef | grep -i xdesk | awk ' {if ($8 == "xdesktopwaves"){printf $2}} '`
fi

The part I bolded is where to put your custom command. Here is the one I use

#!/bin/bash
a=`ps -aef | grep -i xdesktopwaves | awk ' {if ($8 == "xdesktopwaves"){printf "2"}} '`
if  [[ $a = "" ]]
then
	xdesktopwaves -quality 8 -rain 1 -colortheme 3 
else
	kill -9 `ps -aef | grep -i xdesk | awk ' {if ($8 == "xdesktopwaves"){printf $2}} '`
fi

Now lets move the file:

sudo cp toggle_xdesktopwaves.bash /usr/bin/toggle_xdesktopwaves.bash

And make it work:

sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/toggle_xdesktopwaves.bash

Now right click on your desktop or panel. Choose the " Create (custom) launcher."

For name put "xdesktopwaves" In the "command" blank put:

/usr/bin/toggle_xdesktopwaves.bash

Pick whatever icon you want, I attached the real one to this thread. To use it first download it to you home folder. Then untar it with this command:

tar -zxvf xdesktopwaves.xpm.tar.gz

Then move it to the right place with this command

sudo mv xdesktopwaves.xpm /usr/share/pixmaps/xdesktopwaves.xpm

And then select the icon.

There you go. You now have a on off button for these neat effect. I hope you enjoy, and spread the love to your friends and family.

[frodon]

I love this trick, thanks poofy

[lizardking]

some screen?

[Havoc]

I love it, but it doesn't work without Nautilus drawing the desktop, meaning, no Water with E17...I'm sad.

[ricka]

wow nice stuff
thanks poofyhairguy

[poofyhairguy]

Originally Posted by lizardking some screen?

Added some to first post.

[poofyhairguy]

Originally Posted by Havoc I love it, but it doesn't work without Nautilus drawing the desktop, meaning, no Water with E17...I'm sad.

Hmmm...thanks for telling me. I will make this a Gnome guide then.

[poofyhairguy]

Originally Posted by ricka wow nice stuff thanks poofyhairguy

No problem.

[Mr_J_]

I'm pretty sure i followed everything you said. but i still get permission denied on using the launcher.
I should change the location of the .bash file to my home folder?

Anyway... I love the effects!

[mcduck]

That's a nice one. Thanks.

Have you tried xpenguins too? It's also available in repositories.

I also tried xsnow, but that doesn't seem to work, I suppose it doesn't like nautilus. It's a bit sad as some snow would have looked great on my January desktop