auto-locking screensaver

[Subito Piano]

Puppy packages are tiny and surprisingly well designed. One example of this is Xlock. However, for years I wanted a screensaver to automatically lock the screen after a few minutes of inactivity. I tried xscreensaver (won't work as root user) and slock (too erratic), and i didn't want all the bloat of Gnome or KDE screensavers. This post showed me how to adapt Xlock to do this, with no bloat:

• 1. First, run xlock and set your password
  2. Download xautolock from Puppy Package Manager (61KB!)
  3. Create a script as follows (i.e., copy and paste the following into a text editor):

  Code: Select all

  #!/bin/bash
  xautolock -locker xlock -time 5

  (5 = 5 minutes inactivity before xlock starts and locks the screen; use whatever number you please)
  4 Save your new script as "autolock" or whatever, and place it in an appropriate directory such as /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin
  5. Make it executable
  6. Symlink your new "autolock" script to ~/Startup
  7. That's it! It will start working after restarting X.

Similarly, while you can't require a login password in Puppy, you can achieve the same result by symlinking xlock to your startup folder. As soon as X starts, the xlock screensaver kicks in, requiring you to enter the password to unlock the screen.

Comments/critiques welcome. Hope this helps someone!

[slavvo67]

Thank you, Subito Piano. I've wanted to do something like this for a while. I suppose one can still get in my alt-control-backspace and play in terminal.

[Subito Piano]

I tried it out...you are right! BUT if you symlink xlock to your startup folder, the problem is solved. Anyone smart enough to use ctrl+alt+backspace to get to the commandline and type "xwin" at the prompt simply restarts the x server....and xlock kicks right back in, locking the would-be hacker into an endless loop.

Of course, for total security, one must also encrypt his/her pupsave file.

[slavvo67]

Actually, the alt control backspace froze my Quirky April so it looks like a pretty safe screen lock.

Confirmed your instructions work in Quirky April. - Thanks

Slavvo67

[Subito Piano]

Ahh, yes....i meant to mention i'm using TahrPup 6. Glad it works for you.

[PetRose]

I made a Symlink to Xlock, in Startup folder, did not work.
Tried a ROX file to symlink copy, by dragging, did not work

Neither way (they were noted as executables), nothing happened after Restart (tried X restart, and also full Puppy restart)

I did not find the Puppy Package xautolock, so I tried the tip using the Xlock app alone.

Cheers

[musher0]

Hello subito_piano.

About your title : "auto-locking screensaver".

Yeah, that is e-x-a-c-t-l-y what screen savers are supposed to do :
lock your screen automatically after x minutes of inactivity.

You got a problem with that?

Why you would need an extra script to do that, I do not understand.
Puppies already have one.

BFN.

[Subito Piano]

PetRose: Not sure which Puppy you are using -- slackware-based or ubuntu-based? I've got ubuntu-based Tahr-Pup. That might make a difference. Anyway, i found xautolock just by using the Puppy Package Manager and choosing to search all repositories. You might have to update the database, though. Lemmeknow if you can't find it, i can upload it and post the link.

As far as symlinking Xlock, i first set up xlock by clicking on it and setting a password, then i symlinked it. I'd try clicking on it now to set a password, then restarting X to see if it kicks in when X starts. Again, post your results...

musher0 - Xlock is a manual screenlocking device -- it doesn't run automatically after a delay. The screensaver in Puppy kicks in automatically but it's not a screenlocking device.

[musher0]

Yes it is. You need a proper password, that's all.

[Subito Piano]

interesting -- it's never worked for me, but i checked just before replying...hit xlock, set up a password, entered the password a second time, set time to 60 seconds, the screen went blank, i moved the mouse...and i was back in X-land, no password required.

I'd be interested to find out if i've been needlessly frustrated all these years.

[ebisu]

[musher0]

Hi.

I use the run-of-the-mill XLock at /usr/local/apps/Xlock, and it does indeed accept
and implement a password. It will most certainly shut you out of your own computer
if you forget your d... password!

BFN.

[ebisu]

[musher0]

You're right, ebizu. My apologies.

Where is that xautolock, exactly? Would you or SubitoPiano have an URL for it?
It doesn't show in the PPM for the WheezyPup I'm on. Thanks in advance.

[ebisu]

[musher0]

Got it, thanks.