xbiff
Notify user of new email
SYNOPSIS
xbiff [-options ...]
PARAMETERS
-help
Print out a usage message.
-geometry geometry
Specifies the size and position of the xbiff window; see X(7).
-bg color
Specifies the background color. Defaults to "white".
-fg color
Specifies the foreground color. Defaults to "black".
-bw number
Specifies the border width in pixels.
-display host:display.screen
Specifies the X server to use; see X(7).
-file filename
Specifies the mailbox to watch. Defaults to the user's system mailbox.
-full
Specifies that the full mailbox image should be displayed by default.
-nofull
Specifies that the empty mailbox image should be displayed by default.
-interval seconds
Specifies the interval in seconds between checks for new mail. The default is 60 seconds.
-lps
Specifies that the line pointer should be suppressed.
-update
Specifies that the biff image should be updated if the mailbox changes.
DESCRIPTION
xbiff is a simple X Window System client that displays a small window containing an image of a mailbox. When new mail arrives, the image changes to indicate that the mailbox is no longer empty. It periodically checks the mailbox file to see if its length has changed. If it has, then the image is updated. xbiff is designed to be unobtrusive, providing a visual notification of incoming mail without demanding the user's constant attention. It offers basic customization options, such as specifying the mailbox to monitor and the update interval.
CAVEATS
xbiff relies on polling the mailbox file, which can be inefficient. Modern mail systems often provide more sophisticated mechanisms for notification, such as IMAP IDLE or push notifications.
RESOURCES
xbiff uses X resources to customize its appearance. These can be set in the .Xdefaults file or using the xrdb command.
Example: xbiff*background: blue
SIGNALS
xbiff will exit gracefully upon receipt of the SIGTERM signal.
HISTORY
xbiff has been around since the early days of the X Window System. It was a common way to provide visual mail notification before more advanced notification mechanisms became prevalent. It remains a simple and lightweight option for users who prefer a visual indicator over more complex solutions.
SEE ALSO
mail(1), biff(1)