Animated Desktop Wallpapers in Linux: Presenting XWinWrap
I am probably writing this post too late. To many out there this could be an old news. But, since it was long since I wrote on Sathya Says, (been searching for something to write about) and also this post is worth featuring here, I decided to write this. 
Recent times has given birth to many ideas in beautifying one’s desktop. Windows+Linux and related people contribute much towards this. Like Stardock, for example, is a company that offers variety of products to customise your Windows desktop. WinCustomize.com is also another website worth mentioning.
On the other hand, websites like Gnome-Look.org , KDE-Look.org or XFCE-Look.org provide excellent customisation for linux desktops.
Of many ways to customise desktop Animated Wallapers (think Dreamscenes in Vista) are one cooool way to beautify the desktop. Many out there may know about and/or how to do this on Windows desktops. However, I want to throw light on doing this in a linux desktop.
Now all you need to do is download a software called XWinWrap. The link for deb file is here. You can compile from source, by downloading the source from here. openSUSE users can install via zypper or YaST, more info here. After installing run with “xwinwrap” command. For a list of command-line parameters for the command go here.
To use the GLMatrix screensaver use:
xwinwrap -ov -fs -- /usr/lib/xscreensaver/glmatrix -root -window-id WID
To use a video as wallpaper using MPlayer:
xwinwrap -ov -fs -- mplayer -wid WID -quiet -loop 0 video.ogg
Whenever you want to return to your normal desktop just kill XWinWrap:
killall xwinwrap
The animated wallpaper appears at the top of the desktop though. So the desktop icons may not be visible. So you will have to access your programs from links at other places (like I arranged them in my top panel). And also this makes the system slow, especially with compiz on, unless you got a moderately fast PC. Plus, if you like you can also add this to the start-up programs so that it is on every time you login.
And here’s my own Desktop 
I like this idea and I hope you will too. ENJOY!!!!
Thanks to Tom for this post and pic. If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed! Possibly Related posts:
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Blogged: Animated Desktop Wallpapers in Linux:
I am probably writing this post too late. To many out .. http://tinyurl.com/d9ttd7
Nice and simple explanation Bharath.
Don’t use this package unless you are ready to compromise your system’s performance. The concept of Animated wallpaper is not yet stable [almost all of them take a very high CPU usage].. I prefer keeping my wallpaper as simple as possible [it helps you concentrate on the work you do], anyway, that es a subjective opinion.
****************UBUNTU FOREVER*********************
@Bharath: Just wanted to let you know that the location mentioned for the source code of xwinwrap is for the older version. The newer version (done by me), from which the deb files linked to from your post are made from, is hosted on launchpad. Moreover, the commands given above will work only with newer version not with the old one.
@Ranjith: There is not much of a performance hit with these. I have a very old laptop and still it takes only a few percent of the CPU.
Thanks Shanthanu for providing the information
[...] ???? : http://sathyasays.com/2009/01/31/animated-desktop-wallpapers-in-linux/ [...]
“To use the GLMatrix screensaver….”
So could I do a picture slideshow as my animated background instead? Or…any screensaver?
That’s one of the few features I’m interested in from Windows 7, but apparently I can ONLY do it with a picture slideshow, yet you’re saying I can do it with far more forms of animation.
That alone might tip the balance so I get Linux. (I need a new computer, anyway.)
Page is bookmarked. Or it will be once I can convince my computer to do what I tell it to.