What you see above is how my desktop looks now. You need to be using gnome to get this working.
Nautilus draws the desktop (including the icons) for you in gnome by default. We have to tell it to stop doing that, so we can do the matrix animation in its place. Nautilus can be configured using gconf.
gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false
Now that we have the desktop to ourselves, let us ask xscreensaver ‘glmatrix’ to start drawing itself in the desktop window (’root’ window).
/usr/lib/xscreensaver/glmatrix -root
If you want the animation every time you log in, open “~/.config/autostart/glmatrix.desktop” in your text editor and paste the following.
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=No name
Name[en_IN]=Desktop matrix
Exec=/usr/lib/xscreensaver/glmatrix -root
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
(suggested by ElecBoy) After playing around, if you want to get back to your default desktop, do
gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop true && nautilus
Tags: desktop, gnome, linux, programming, python
Mohammed Berdai wrote,
Haha !! That was cool. Thanks
For those who want to try it they have to pay attention to the dash in gconftool line.
They should replace that dash with double dash. like
gconftool-2 –type bool –set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false
Link | August 23rd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
prashanthellina wrote,
Thanks. I fixed it now. Wordpress was rendering double dash as a single dash when inside a strong tag.
Link | August 23rd, 2007 at 3:33 pm
srikar wrote,
For OSX there is a cool tool called DVDesktop which does what you just mentioned (but in a oh so elegant Apple fashion). But apart from animating your desktop with any image file or a gif file, this does even more. You can play a movie and then configure DVDesktop to put the running movie as your desktop background. The movie keeps playing right on your desktop ! Cool aint it ?
Link | August 24th, 2007 at 1:04 am
prashanthellina wrote,
DVDesktop costs $19.95. On Linux “
” will do the same. for free
Link | August 24th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Linux Tip: Use a Screensaver as Desktop Wallpaper · TechBlogger wrote,
[...] like the Matrix look, you can substitute any listed screensaver instead of “glmatrix.” Matrix Desktop [Prashanth [...]
Link | September 13th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
codedmind wrote,
Don’t work with compiz :S
Link | September 13th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Joe A wrote,
How do I get nautilus to redraw my desktop?
‘gconftool-2 –type bool –set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop true’ didn’t work. Other than that nice trick
Link | September 13th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
prashanthellina wrote,
Joe, try running ‘nautilus’. That worked for me.
Link | September 13th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Linux Tip: Use a Screensaver as Desktop Wallpaper | Redslush.com wrote,
[...] like the Matrix look, you can substitute any listed screensaver instead of “glmatrix.” Matrix Desktop [Prashanth [...]
Link | September 13th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
123 wrote,
neither “gconftool-2 –type bool –set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop true” nor “just running “nautilus” got my desktop back. help?
Link | September 13th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
ElecBoy wrote,
Yes it to gave me problems when I wanted my desktop back but after searching I did found how to remove it, to bad it was not included in the Instructions
To Remove the Matrix Desktop type this in the Terminal (Shell):
gconftool-2 -s /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop -t bool true && nautilus
Link | September 13th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
» Linux Tip: Use a Screensaver as Desktop Wallpaper wrote,
[...] like the Matrix look, you can substitute any listed screensaver instead of “glmatrix.” Matrix Desktop [Prashanth [...]
Link | September 14th, 2007 at 12:35 am
123 wrote,
Thanks ElecBoy, that did it!
Link | September 14th, 2007 at 12:39 am
prashanthellina wrote,
codedmind, These links might help you get it working under compiz.
http://swik.net/xwinwrap
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=146533
Link | September 14th, 2007 at 6:47 am
ElecBoy’s World » Blog Archive wrote,
[...] Source: http://blog.prashanthellina.com/2007/08/22/matrix-desktop/ [...]
Link | September 14th, 2007 at 8:31 am
AWN & Matrix: Oder wie beeindruckt man seinen Nachbarn? » Blog Archive » AWN & Matrix: Oder wie beeindruckt man seinen Nachbarn? wrote,
[...] Oder wie legt man einen Screensaver unter Gnome in den Desktophintergrund bzw. bindet ihn als Wallpaper ein? Genau wird hier beschrieben: Prashanth Ellina [...]
Link | September 14th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
» Use a screensaver as a Desktop Wallpaper! InsanityWeTrust: Insanity is a frame of mind. wrote,
[...] as a Desktop Wallpaper! September 14th, 2007 Posted by Raghunath Linux Don’t believe me? Prashanth Ellina tells you [...]
Link | September 14th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Screensaver as a Desktop Wallpaper | GeekHacks.com wrote,
[...] Via Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
Link | September 15th, 2007 at 2:14 am
Rotten Apple wrote,
Take that dreamscene!
Link | September 16th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Usar screensaver como wallpaper « Fernando Fussuma’s weblog wrote,
[...] –type bool –set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop true && nautilus Original em:http://blog.prashanthellina.com/2007/08/22/matrix-desktop/ Como o berly não roda no meu note dá pra brinca um pouco mas eu prefiro meu icones ainda… [...]
Link | September 20th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Animate your background « 0ddn1x: tricks with *nix wrote,
[...] Animate your background Filed under: Linux — 0ddn1x @ 2007-09-20 18:58:53 +0000 http://blog.prashanthellina.com/2007/08/22/matrix-desktop/ [...]
Link | September 21st, 2007 at 12:17 am
revchris wrote,
Does this work for KDE also?
Link | October 10th, 2007 at 12:24 am
spy wrote,
what if am KDE setup centOS how to configure or fixed it??? please help… thank
Link | October 15th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
prashanthellina wrote,
I found this comment by JAMEYC on this lifehacker article. I haven’t tried this as I do not have KDE installed.
The method outlined here will work sometimes with some other wm’s but not as well and is fairly Gnome-centric. With most other wm’s you’ll run whichever xscreensaver program you use with the -root option, something like this:
/usr/lib/xscreensaver/glmatrix -root
You may have to disable desktop managment in the wm as well, depending on which you use (for example, this works with Gnome after disabling it, but you’ll no longer see desktop icons.)
Kde has it’s own options for doing this, which can be found in “Appearance & Themes | Background” -> “Advanced Options”. Just tell it to let a program manage drawing the desktop background and pick the program of your choice.
Link | October 15th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
revchris wrote,
Thanks
Link | October 15th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
k3bab wrote,
How can I disable the matrix desktop from running at startup and rather show the standard desktop? I found out it takes about 80% of my CPU to make it run in the desktop. xP
Link | October 20th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
prashanthellina wrote,
try
Link | October 20th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Proteção de Tela como Papel de Parede no Linux | VidaGeek.net wrote,
[...] Fonte: Prashanth Ellina Blog – Matrix Desktop [...]
Link | January 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Merrell wrote,
Okay, so I’m running Ubuntu 7.10 with the standard compiz that was included.
I ran the 1st command : gconftool-2 –type bool –set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false
and that was the last time my compiz was working. None of the other commands on this page can bring it back to life.
ccsm doesn’t run. I’ve tried rebooting, logging off, etc.
Please help.
Link | February 20th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
coz_ wrote,
hey guys,
There is no need to disable nautilus to have a screensaver as yuur desktop background!!
I have read this on several sites and it is incorrect!
all you need is xwinwrap and coobg.
Xwinwrap , written by Dave Raveman also creator of compiz and coolbg created by cyberor one of the compiz fusion developers.
No need to stop nautilus writing the desktop!
honest!
i do support for compiz fusion and I use this combination when I want animated desktop
coz_
Link | March 5th, 2008 at 11:02 am
coz_ wrote,
sorry that is xwinwrap and coolbg
Link | March 5th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Peacepunk wrote,
… Could even be simpler … If you are _not_ using gnome …
As I found the other day, a good ‘ole transparent terminal is a rather fun background too:
http://www.bhor-allarts.org/LDR/TermBack.jpg
Now for the Matrix one, I favor the non-gl one, called xmatrix,
The recipe here is to use the Enlightenment DR16 window manager: just fire up
/usr/libexec/xscreensaver/xmatrix [+any option you'd like, see man xmatrix]
[Yes, the location of xscreensaver seems to be different on Fedora7...]
You can link xmatrix from “main” /usr/bin folder:
cd /usr/bin
sudo ln /usr/libexec/xscreensaver/xmatrix xmatrix
Now, get it FullScreen, Borderless, StackedToBelow & use the “remember” feature so that it stays as such… And there you go…
http://www.bhor-allarts.org/LDR/MatTermBack.jpg
As stated before, it’s not the first time Enlightenment allows me to do in two clicks what seems to require bits of hacking (how useable is Gnome with the –no-desktop option?) In E DR16, the WM is still there, doesn’t suffer or miss any feature. And no need for added software of course. And windows doesn’t wobble in E: They FLY!
For GL fans: http://www.bhor-allarts.org/LDR/GLMatTermBack.jpg
One step further: the Matrix has you, its obscuring your screen: http://www.bhor-allarts.org/LDR/GLMatTermBackTRSP.jpg
Cheers. Sorry if I made a show of myself. Congrats for the original idea!
http://www.enlightenment.org 
Link | April 4th, 2008 at 9:26 am
prashanthellina wrote,
Peacepunk, I don’t use Enligtenment myself, but many thanks for sharing the writeup!
Link | April 4th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
bpd1069 wrote,
try electricsheep with -root 1 -zoom 1
spectacular, especially if you have a large cache of sheep already…
Link | May 29th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
prashanthellina wrote,
Spectacular! Thanks for the tip.
Link | June 1st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Michael wrote,
Very good article. Thanks for the good information!.
Link | June 4th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Karina wrote,
Prashant…
Is there anyway I can get a step-by step instruction on how to install this cool desktop for a window vista 64bit?
*for a non-techie person like myself?
Please help me.. thank you so much!
Link | December 7th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Catatan Afiadi » Screensaver di Desktop Ubuntu 9.04 wrote,
[...] mulai mencari digoogle dengan kata kunci “Screensaver di Ubuntu desktop” dari link ini kemudian ke link ini dan akhirnya sampai ke link [...]
Link | September 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 am
Nebojša wrote,
On XFCE you can use:
/usr/lib/misc/xscreensaver/xmatrix -window-id `xprop -root XFCE_DESKTOP_WINDOW | cut -d’ ‘ -f5`
or
mplayer -wid `xprop -root XFCE_DESKTOP_WINDOW | cut -d’ ‘ -f5` movie.avi
Link | September 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Pablo wrote,
Hi
I need to play a Video as a Screensaver. The idea is to start Linux with autologin, startx (NO Window Manager) and an one specific application. This is done and working (.bash_profile and .xinitrc)
I put the line “vlc” vlc -Idummy -f $HOME/video.mpg \n\ under Sections Programs in the .xscreensaver and the video only play about 30 seconds and quit. After one minute start over and quit, etc.
Can any one help me to resolv this problem?
Link | September 23rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
Jean-Philippe wrote,
I suggest you try mplayer; it’s more versatile on command-line arguments. See
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/DOCS/man/en/mplayer.1.html
Cheers
Link | September 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am