xbiff

xbiff [-options ...]

-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.

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.

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.

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

xbiff will exit gracefully upon receipt of the SIGTERM signal.

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.

mail(1), biff(1)