2.6.0-test7 + X11 + screen savers vs. user

2.6.0-test7 + X11 + screen savers vs. user

[Norman Diamond]

In 2.6.0-test1 through test7, when running X11, the screen saver kicks in
about every 5 minutes.  I haven't checked the configuration but have
confidence that it's obeying the timing correctly.  The problem is that it
doesn't care whether the keyboard and mouse have been used during that time.
When the screen saver is running, any keyboard or mouse activity will
restore the screen.  Also when the screen saver isn't running, the focused
window gets the input.  But it's irritating to be in the middle of typing or
mousing and suddenly lose a character or click because the screen saver
kicked in and gobbled up the next event.

Re: 2.6.0-test7 + X11 + screen savers vs. user

[Valdis.Kletnieks]

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On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 18:00:45 +0900, Norman Diamond <ndiamond@wta.att.ne.jp>  said:
> In 2.6.0-test1 through test7, when running X11, the screen saver kicks in
> about every 5 minutes.  I haven't checked the configuration but have
> confidence that it's obeying the timing correctly.  The problem is that it
> doesn't care whether the keyboard and mouse have been used during that time.

Which screen saver is this?

jwz's xscreensaver 4.13 mostly works for me with XFree86 4.3.0, and notices
keyboard activity and mouse cursor movement, but fails to detect mouse button
events - so if you're in a mail program and reading a lot of mail and hitting 'delete'
over and over, the screensaver can kick in anyhow.

I have to admit I've not tracked down if this is xscreensaver's fault, or the
X server's fault, or the kernel's fault.

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Re: 2.6.0-test7 + X11 + screen savers vs. user

[Norman Diamond]

Valdis Kletnieks replied to me:

>> In 2.6.0-test1 through test7, when running X11, the screen saver kicks in
>> about every 5 minutes.  I haven't checked the configuration but have
>> confidence that it's obeying the timing correctly.  The problem is that
>> it doesn't care whether the keyboard and mouse have been used during
>> that time.
>
> Which screen saver is this?

In SuSE 8.2, KDE's configuration panel, it is "random".  It was installed
that way by default during installation (at least when X11 and KDE defaults
are installed by default).  The list of possible screen savers is too long
to copy by hand, but anyway it doesn't seem to matter which one gets
randomly selected.  Under kernel 2.6.0-test1 through test7, the portion of
KDE or X11 that is supposed to be informed of keyboard or mouse activity
doesn't seem to be informed.  The screen saver kicks in every 4 minutes
according to KDE's configuration panel, which was also the default, and my
estimate of 5 minutes was before looking at the settings.

> jwz's xscreensaver 4.13 mostly works for me with XFree86 4.3.0, and
> notices keyboard activity and mouse cursor movement, but fails to detect
> mouse button events - so if you're in a mail program and reading a lot of
> mail and hitting 'delete' over and over, the screensaver can kick in
> anyhow.

Originally I thought I was observing something like this, but then watched
more closely and it is broader.  Mouse cursor movement is indeed being
ignored.  I'm almost certain that keyboard input is also being ignored, but
maybe should conduct another test while watch watching.

> I have to admit I've not tracked down if this is xscreensaver's fault, or
> the X server's fault, or the kernel's fault.

Under kernels 2.4.20, 2.4.19, and 2.4.18, I did not observe such a problem.
The screen saver only kicked in after a period of inactivity.  However, the
communication failure among the kernel, X11, KDE, etc., might not
necessarily be the kernel's fault, if other components were depending on
some characteristic of the 2.4 series which was undocumented or deprecated
in 2.4 and/or intentionally removed in 2.6.

2.6.0-test7 + X11 + screen savers vs. user

[tconnors+linuxkernel1066023352]

"Norman Diamond" <ndiamond@wta.att.ne.jp> said on Sat, 11 Oct 2003 18:00:45 +0900:
> In 2.6.0-test1 through test7, when running X11, the screen saver kicks in
> about every 5 minutes.  I haven't checked the configuration but have
> confidence that it's obeying the timing correctly.  The problem is that it
> doesn't care whether the keyboard and mouse have been used during that time.
> When the screen saver is running, any keyboard or mouse activity will
> restore the screen.  Also when the screen saver isn't running, the focused
> window gets the input.  But it's irritating to be in the middle of typing or
> mousing and suddenly lose a character or click because the screen saver
> kicked in and gobbled up the next event.

What was this about time jumping backwards for some people?

Follow this thread:
http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0310.1/0056.html

Could trigger the screensaver if it thinks MAXINT time has elapsed :)

-- 
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
When some other esteemed editor reposts this, it'll be the Periodic 
Periodic Table Table story, and I will be even happier. ;^)
           --  Emil Brink on /., about the periodic table table.