Is there a way to run an OpenGL shader as my desktop background?

tabularasa1992 · 02-19-2016, 11:07 PM

The title says it all. I want to run a custom shader written in glsl as my background. Does anyone know if this is even possible?

ondoho · 02-20-2016, 03:39 PM

i have no hard info to back this claim, but i'm pretty sure (99%%) that the X server stores the root window background as a pixmap, so literally the answer shouldbe no.
but maybe an opengl shader (whatever that is) can paint to the root window directly or indirectly?
maybe a program exists to do that, or is easily created?

John VV · 02-20-2016, 03:52 PM

you can always turn it into a xsreensaver

tabularasa1992 · 02-20-2016, 06:04 PM

Hmm making it a screensaver is an option. I ideally want it to be time-reactive throughout the day and respond to real life day length though. I've been trying to get it to work with mplayer --rootwin, but no luck so far.

ondoho · 02-21-2016, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabularasa1992

mplayer --rootwin

omg! it works! i actually tried it with "mpv -wid=0 ..."