activate-linux(1)

📦 version 1.2.0, in nixos 26.05, nixpkgs unstable

✨ ACTIVATE-LINUX(1) ✨

okay so bestie, gather round because this is the manual page for activate-linux — literally the "Activate Windows" watermark but ported to Linux with cairo in C. no cap, it's giving iconic.

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

activate-linux [-bdGhiKlqvw] [-t message] [-m submessage]
               [-p preset_name] [-f font_name] [-c r-g-b-a] [-x pixels]
               [-y pixels] [-s scale] [-H pixels] [-V pixels]
               [-C config_file]

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

The "Activate Windows" watermark ported to Linux with cairo in C. periodt.

"Science isn't about WHY. It's about WHY NOT. Why is so much of our science dangerous? Why not marry safe science if you love it so much. In fact, why not invent a special safety door that won't hit you on the butt on the way out, because you are fired." — Cave Johnson (Portal 2)

like, the energy is immaculate. 🔥

✨ OPTIONS ✨

📝 Text content

  • -t, --text-title message — sets the main message. the headline. the main character energy. 👑
  • -m, --text-message message — sets the secondary message. the supporting cast, if you will. 💅
  • -p, --text-preset preset_name — pick a text preset. you can list all the presets with the -l option, iykyk.

🎀 Text appearance

  • -f, --text-font font_name — choose your font, bestie.
  • -b, --text-bold — make it bold. thicc text. 💪
  • -i, --text-italic — make it italic. slanted and slaying. ✨
  • -c, --text-color r-g-b-a — text color in r-g-b-a format (red-green-blue-alpha). each component can be 0.0–1.0. default is 1-1-1-0.35 (dimmed white, very demure).

🦋 Overlay size and position

  • -x, --overlay-width — overlay width. default is 340. 📏
  • -y, --overlay-height — overlay height. default is 120. 📐
  • -s, --scale — scale factor. default is 1.5. the Wayland backend supports HiDPI screens natively, but other backends may be fixed with this option. no cap. 🖥️
  • -H, --overlay-offset-left — move overlay horizontally. default is 0. positive values move it to the left, negative values move it to the right. left is right and right is left, don't ask. 🙃
  • -V, --overlay-offset-top — move overlay vertically. default is 0. positive values go lower, negative values go upper. up is down, down is up. 🤸

🌈 Other options

  • -w, --bypass-compositor — works only for compliant compositors. respect the rules or whatever. 🫶
  • -d, --daemonize — run as a daemon in the background. and yes, you can kill the daemon with the -K option. 💀
  • -v, --verbose — each -v cranks up the verbosity level: ERROR (default) → WARN → INFO → DEBUG. stack 'em like bracelets. ✨
  • -q, --quiet — be quiet. don't spam the console. 🤫
  • -l, --text-preset-list — list all the predefined text presets so you can use them with -p. very helpful, very slay. 📋
  • -G, --gamescope — run as an external Gamescope overlay. gamer mode activated. 🎮
  • -C, --config-file — use a configuration file. default is ~/config.cfg (wait, that's what the manpage says, don't come for me). 📁
  • -?, -h, --help — show the colorful embedded help. it's literally colorful. 🌈

🌱 ENVIRONMENT 🌱

activate-linux doesn't use variables. zero env vars. nada. it's independent, it's thriving, it doesn't need them. 💁

🍓 FILES 🍓

activate-linux may use a config file with the -C option. here's an example of what that config looks like, bestie:

text-title = "Example";
text-message = "This is an example configuration file.";
text-font = "Noto Sans";
text-bold = true;
text-italic = true;
bypass-compositor = false;
gamescope = false;
text-color-r = 0.3;
text-color-g = 0.7;
text-color-b = 0.1;
text-color-a = 1;
scale = 1;
overlay-width = 340;
overlay-height = 120;
overlay-offset-top = 0;
overlay-offset-left = 0;
daemonize = false;
verbose = false;
quiet = false;
#text-preset = "unix";

copy it, paste it, tweak it, live your truth. 💖

🧚 SEE ALSO 🧚

peep these for more info:

👑 AUTHORS 👑

activate-linux was started by MrGlockenspiel <mrglockenspiel@protonmail.com>

this manual page is written by AHOHNMYC <https://github.com/AHOHNMYC>

give them their flowers, they earned them. 🌸

Linux · 1 Nov 22 · activate-linux(1)

okay that's the whole thing bestie, go forth and be unactivated (or activated, we don't judge). stay slaying, stay hydrated, and remember: it's giving watermark. 💅✨🦋

📦 where this page comes from