cinnamon-screensaver

cinnamon-screensaver [OPTIONS]
cinnamon-screensaver --lock
cinnamon-screensaver --activate

--lock, --activate
    Immediately locks the screen and activates the screensaver. This is the most common way to manually lock the session.

--no-daemon
    Runs the screensaver process in the foreground, preventing it from detaching as a daemon. This option is primarily useful for debugging or testing purposes.

--debug
    Enables verbose debugging output to the console. This provides detailed information about the screensaver's operations, aiding in troubleshooting.

--status
    Queries and prints the current status of the screensaver (e.g., 'active' or 'inactive').

--disable
    Disables the screensaver, preventing it from activating automatically or manually until re-enabled.

--enable
    Enables the screensaver, allowing it to function normally according to its configuration.

--version
    Displays the version information of the cinnamon-screensaver utility and then exits.

The cinnamon-screensaver command is the official screen locking and screensaver component for the Cinnamon desktop environment.

Its primary function is to secure user sessions when they step away from their computer. It can be configured to automatically activate after a period of inactivity or can be manually triggered. When active, it displays a chosen screensaver or a blank screen, effectively preventing unauthorized access.

To regain control of the session, the user must provide their password, ensuring the integrity and privacy of the system. It plays a crucial role in the overall security posture of a Cinnamon-based system, integrating seamlessly with the desktop's power management and session management features. This utility ensures that sensitive information displayed on the screen is protected from prying eyes when the user is not present.

If not properly configured (e.g., no password set for the user, or an easily guessable password), the screen locker provides minimal security.

In some rare cases, specific graphics driver issues or compositor conflicts can lead to display problems (e.g., blank screens or inability to unlock) when the screensaver activates.

Authentication for unlocking relies on PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules); therefore, any misconfiguration in PAM can directly affect the ability to unlock the screen.

cinnamon-screensaver is deeply integrated with Cinnamon's power management settings. It respects system power-saving configurations, often initiating screen locking or dimming after specific idle periods defined by the user in the system settings or via systemd.

While the command-line offers basic control for immediate actions or debugging, most users configure cinnamon-screensaver's behavior (e.g., lock delay, screensaver theme, password requirement) via the Cinnamon System Settings GUI, typically accessible under the 'Screensaver' or 'Privacy' sections.

cinnamon-screensaver emerged as an integral part of the Cinnamon desktop environment, which itself was created as a fork of GNOME 3 in response to design changes introduced in GNOME Shell. Consequently, cinnamon-screensaver inherited much of its foundational design and functionality from its predecessors, such as gnome-screensaver (or similar components from the GNOME 2 era), adapting it to the specific needs and aesthetics of the Cinnamon desktop.

Its development has consistently focused on providing a stable, secure, and user-friendly screen locking experience that integrates seamlessly with Cinnamon's traditional desktop metaphor and system-wide services.

xscreensaver(1), light-locker(1), gnome-screensaver(1), loginctl(1)