binaryhorizon(6)

📦
version 6.15 · 2 versions
, in alpine 3.24, arch rolling, nixpkgs unstable

okay so bestie, welcome to binaryhorizon(6) — an XScreenSaver manual page, and the whole vibe is particles doing path-tracing evolution like it’s their main character arc. ✨

🌸 NAME 🌸

binaryhorizon — a system of path tracing particles evolves continuously. That’s the name line, fr fr.

🎀 SYNOPSIS 🎀

Here’s the summoning incantation, exactly as written:

       binaryhorizon [--fps] [--install] [--noinstall] [--mono] [--root]
       [--window-id number] [--visual visual] [--window] [--window-id
       window-id] [--color] [--no-color] [--growth-delay delayms]
       [--particle-number particles] [--duration secs] [--bicolor]
       [--monocolor]
tiny heads-up: the synopsis spells it --particle-number, but the option list spells it --particles-number. Keep both exactly as written, bestie — no autocorrect. 💅

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

A system of path tracing particles evolves continuously from an initial horizon, alternating between colors. That’s the whole mood: it starts from a horizon and keeps evolving, swapping between colors as it goes. iconic behavior, honestly.

💖 OPTIONS 💖

binaryhorizon accepts the following options. We do not skip options in this house, so let’s go one by one:

  • --fps — displays the current frame rate and CPU load.
  • --install — installs a private colormap for the window.
  • --mono — if you’re on a color display, this pretends you’re on a monochrome display.
  • --noinstall — doesn’t install a private colormap for the window.
  • --root — draws on the root window.
  • --window-id number — draws on the specified window.
  • --visual visual — specifies which visual to use. Legal values are the name of a visual class or the id number (decimal or hex) of a specific visual.
  • --window — draws on a newly-created window. This is the default.
  • --window-id window-id — specifies which window id to use.
  • --color (Default) — particles have random generated colors that gradually change over time.
  • --no-color — uses the original black and white visualization.
  • --bicolor (Default) — particles have 2 random colors, starting as white and black.
  • --monocolor — particles have 2 colors, one starting as white and gradually changing, and one staying black.
  • --fade (Default) — particles gradually fade between colors over time.
  • --no-fade — every particle is a random color.
  • --growth-delay delayms (Default: 10000) — delay in ms between growth cycles. More delay, slower (but less CPU intensive).
  • --particles-number particles (Default: 5000) — the number of particles in the system. With more particles the fps can also be affected.
  • --duration secs (Default: 30) — how long between full resets.

🌈 ENVIRONMENT 🌈

These env besties are in the mix:

  • DISPLAY — to get the default host and display number.
  • XENVIRONMENT — to get the name of a resource file that overrides the global resources stored in the RESOURCE_MANAGER property.
  • XSCREENSAVER_WINDOW — the window ID to use with --root.

⭐ SEE ALSO ⭐

Go look at these too, iykyk:

Copyright 2020 by Patrick Leiser <patrick27leiser@yahoo.com>.

Based on code © 2003 by J. Tarbell <complex@complexification.net>.

XScreenSaver port: Emilio Del Tessandoro <emilio.deltessa@gmail.com>

🫶 AUTHOR 🫶

  • Patrick Leiser <patrick27leiser@yahoo.org>, Mar 2020.
  • J. Tarbell <complex@complexification.net>, Jun 2003.
  • Emilio Del Tessandoro <emilio.deltessa@gmail.com>, Aug 2014.

that’s the whole page, bestie — xoxo, from X Version 11, 6.15 (30-Mar-2026), and you just finished binaryhorizon(6). 💜

📦 where this page comes from