Wallpaperctl

A light weight script to automatically set and rotate through computer desktop wallpaper. Desktop wallpaper rotation is based upon a set duration (default, 1 minute). Wallpaper is randomly selected and defaults to look for wallpaper from the user's home directory under "Pictures/wallpaper/" (e.g. "/home/adam/Pictures/wallpaper").

• Installation
  • Assumptions
  • Dependency Requirements
  • Setup
• Configuration
• Custom Settings
  • Change Wallpaper Directory
  • Change Wallpaper Duration
• Reference
  • Available picture-options
• External Links

Note: Verified to work on Arch Linux with GNOME v3.14 to v42.

Installation

Assumptions

• Have experienced working knowledge within a CLI (command-line interface)
• Understanding of Linux operating system
• Installed all required dependencies as stated in Dependency Requirements section
• Installation is done via Linux CLI
• Steps prefixed with a "$" (dollar sign) represents the CLI prompt
• Steps prefixed with a "#" (number sign) represents the CLI prompt with elevated user permissions (e.g. root)
• The text after the "$" or "#" is to be entered at the CLI
• The installation instructions are an example of installation and configuration

Dependency Requirements

• BASH v5+
• Git v2+
• GNOME v3.14+

Setup

1. Clone the project.

$ git clone https://gitlab.com/adouglas/wallpaperctl.git

1. Change to project directory.

$ cd wallpaperctl

1. Install Systemd unit files.

# cp etc/systemd/user/wallpaperctl.* /etc/systemd/user/

1. Install script file.

# cp usr/local/bin/wallpaperctl /usr/local/bin/

1. Reload the systemd configuration.

# systemctl daemon-reload

1. Set execute permission.

# chmod +x /usr/local/bin/wallpaperctl

Configuration

1. Enable the Systemd timer.

$ systemctl --user enable wallpaperctl.timer

1. Verify the timer is enabled.

$ systemctl --user list-unit-files
wallpaperctl.service disabled
wallpaperctl.timer   enabled
2 unit files listed.

1. Start the Systemd timer.

$ systemctl --user start wallpaperctl.timer

1. Verify the timer has been started.

$ systemctl --user list-timers
NEXT                         LEFT    LAST                        PASSED UNIT               ACTIVATES
Thu 2016-03-10 18:49:00 CST  1s left Thu 2016-03-10 18:48:56 CST 1s ago wallpaperctl.timer wallpaperctl.service
1 timers listed.
Pass --all to see loaded but inactive timers, too.

Custom Settings

Change Wallpaper Directory

This alteration will set the location of where wallpapers are stored.

1. Create the required directories.

$ mkdir  ~/.config/systemd ~/.config/systemd/user

2. Create the configuration file. Replace "username" with applicable value.

$ nano ~/.config/systemd/user/wallpaperctl.conf

WALLPAPER_DIR=/home/username/Pictures/wallpaper

Change Wallpaper Duration

This alteration will set the duration of how long the wallpaper is displayed for until a new wallpaper is set.

1. Create the required directories.

$ mkdir  -p ~/.config/systemd/user

1. Create the configuration file.

$ nano ~/.config/systemd/user/wallpaperctl.timer

1. Change the OnCalendar value as desired.

   Refer to ArchLinux: systemd/Timers for further details. The below example changes the duration interval from 1 minute to 5 minutes.

[Unit]
Description=Wallpaperctl - Systemd GNOME wallpaper changer

[Timer]
OnCalendar=*:0/5
Persistent=true
Unit=wallpaperctl.service

[Install]
WantedBy=wallpaperctl.service

Reference

Not applicable at this time. Here for future use.

Available picture-options

• none
• wallpaper
• centered
• scaled
• stretched
• zoom
• spanned

External Links

• https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Systemd/User
• https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Systemd/Timers
• https://major.io/2015/02/11/rotate-gnome-3s-wallpaper-systemd-user-units-timers/
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10374520/gsettings-with-cron