cinnamon-screensaver-command

cinnamon-screensaver-command [OPTIONS]

-l, --lock
    Locks the screen immediately.

-a, --activate
    Activates the screensaver.

-d, --deactivate
    Deactivates the screensaver. This might require authentication.

-q, --query
    Queries the screensaver's state. Returns 0 if active, 1 if inactive.

-v, --version
    Displays the version of the cinnamon-screensaver.

-h, --help
    Displays help information.

The `cinnamon-screensaver-command` utility provides a command-line interface to control the Cinnamon desktop screensaver. It allows you to lock the screen, activate the screensaver, deactivate the screensaver, query the screensaver's status, and otherwise interact with the screensaver process.

This tool is essential for scripting environments, keyboard shortcuts, and other automated tasks that require control over screen locking and power management under the Cinnamon desktop environment. It is crucial to remember that this command only works under Cinnamon.

This command is specific to the Cinnamon desktop environment. It will not function correctly under other desktop environments such as GNOME, KDE, or Xfce.

Some options, like deactivating the screensaver, may require proper user permissions and could be affected by system security settings.

The `cinnamon-screensaver-command -q` option returns specific exit codes to indicate the screensaver's state:
0: The screensaver is active (locked or active).
1: The screensaver is inactive (unlocked).

The `cinnamon-screensaver-command` utility was developed as part of the Cinnamon desktop environment, a fork of GNOME 3. It was introduced to provide users with a more customizable and traditional desktop experience. Its development mirrored the ongoing evolution of Cinnamon and its components.

The command has been actively maintained alongside the Cinnamon desktop environment, with updates addressing bug fixes, security vulnerabilities, and enhancements to functionality.

cinnamon-screensaver(1), xset(1)