Hsetroot

Hsetroot: Lightweight Linux Command Line Tool

A lightweight Linux command line tool for changing the root window background in X11, allowing solid color or image file settings

What is Hsetroot?

Hsetroot is a simple command line utility for X11 that allows changing the root window background and pattern. The root window is the background display for the entire screen in the X Window System.

Some key features of hsetroot include:

• Setting a solid color as the background
• Tiling an image file as the background pattern
• Centering an image in the middle of the screen
• Scaling an image to fit the entire screen

Hsetroot is very lightweight and easy to use from a script or command line. It does not require any window manager extensions or special desktop environment support. This makes it well-suited for minimalist Linux/Unix X11 setups where you want control over the basic look of the display background.

Since hsetroot only affects the root window background, any open application windows will appear over it. So it can be used to set a customized background without overriding the normal GUI desktop environment if one is present.

Some examples of using hsetroot:

• hsetroot -solid midnightblue
• hsetroot -tile image.png
• hsetroot -fullscreen image.jpg

As a simple background setter for X11 without extra dependencies, hsetroot provides unique functionality and flexibility over the system visual style.

Hsetroot Features

Official Links