chirpw

chirpw [OPTIONS]

-f, --frequency
    Sets the frequency of the chirp in Hertz (Hz). Defaults to a predefined value.

-d, --duration
    Specifies the duration of the chirp in milliseconds (ms). Defaults to a short burst (e.g., 50ms).

-v, --volume <0-100>
    Adjusts the playback volume, where 0 is mute and 100 is maximum. This option might require appropriate permissions or audio system configuration.

-o, --output
    Directs the chirp output to a specific audio device (e.g., /dev/dsp) or a WAV file path (e.g., output.wav).

-q, --quiet
    Suppresses all informational and warning messages from the command, playing only the chirp sound.

--help
    Displays a help message and exits.

--version
    Shows version information and exits.

Please note: The chirpw command is not a standard, widely recognized Linux utility. This analysis is based on a hypothetical command designed to emit a short, distinct auditory signal or 'chirp'. If it were to exist, chirpw would likely provide a simple way to generate an audible notification or alert from the command line. This could be useful for shell scripts to signal completion, errors, or other events without requiring complex audio playback tools. Users could potentially customize the frequency, duration, and volume of the chirp, making it adaptable for various notification purposes or even basic debugging scenarios where an audio cue is preferred over visual output.

The command would abstract away the complexities of direct audio device interaction, offering a straightforward interface for triggering a quick sound event. Its design would prioritize simplicity and efficiency, ideal for integration into automated tasks or for immediate, transient feedback.

The chirpw command is not a standard component of most Linux distributions. This description is hypothetical. If such a command were implemented, it would likely require appropriate audio drivers (e.g., ALSA or PulseAudio) and permissions to access audio devices. Its availability and exact behavior would depend entirely on a specific implementation or user-defined script.

1. Basic Chirp:
chirpw
Plays a short chirp with default settings.

2. Custom Frequency and Duration:
chirpw --frequency 1000 --duration 200
Plays a 1000 Hz chirp for 200 milliseconds.

3. High Volume Alert:
chirpw -v 90 -f 2000 -d 150
Emits a loud, high-pitched, short alert.

4. Chirp in a Script for Notification:
#!/bin/bash
echo "Starting long task..."
# Hypothetical long_running_script execution
if long_running_script; then
  chirpw -f 500 -d 100 -v 80
  echo "Task completed successfully!"
else
  chirpw -f 1500 -d 300 -v 100
  echo "Task failed! Check logs."
fi

As chirpw is not a standard or widely recognized Linux command, there is no documented development history or significant usage evolution within the public Linux ecosystem. Any existing instance of chirpw would be a custom script, alias, or part of a very specialized, non-mainstream package. Its conceptual origin would likely stem from the need for simple, direct audible feedback in terminal environments, similar to the functionality provided by the beep command for PC speakers, but potentially with more modern audio system integration.

aplay(1): A simple command-line sound file player from ALSA utilities, capable of playing various audio formats., beep(1): A program that makes the PC speaker beep. Often used for simple audible notifications in scripts., play(1): Part of the SoX (Sound eXchange) utility, a highly versatile command-line audio player and recorder., mplayer(1): A general-purpose media player that can also play audio files and streams, often used for simple audio playback in scripts.