I hadn't been able to run the screensaver, because I didn't run boinc on a "desktop" machine before today.

I installed Boinc on my windows laptop for the first time.

The screensaver is actually kinda cool I guess, I'm sure I'll get bored with it but it's new to me for now. :-)

I ran boinc/seti in a couple Windows virtual boxes, but the screensaver failed due to video limitations within my virtual desktop setup.



Now, I'm back stuck on the question of why we cannot have a screensaver in Linux? Surely there must be an appropriate lineup of libraries to make it work...

It's available for Mac, so that right there is proof of concept for a Linux(Unix) screensaver...

If but I knew more about software.

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#resist

The screensaver uses a lot of clock cycles that could be processing seti instead of making a pretty picture.

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I think the main problem is getting one that works on all flavors of Linux. This is a bit more difficult than with versions of Windoze since each version is just an update to previous versions. Linux differs in that there are at last count around 50 different Linux version and not one is particularly build like another. This would make a screensaver a time consuming project when very few of us actually use Linux

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

I hope we're both here in ten years so I can see you (try to) say that again. :-)

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#resist

The screensaver uses a lot of clock cycles that could be processing seti instead of making a pretty picture.

Perhaps that's why all the optimisation effort has gone into the optimised apps for the optimisations for speedups rather than a pretty slow-down?

;-)

Happy fast crunchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

I think the main problem is getting one that works on all flavors of Linux. This is a bit more difficult than with versions of Windoze since each version is just an update to previous versions. Linux differs in that there are at last count around 50 different Linux version and not one is particularly build like another. This would make a screensaver a time consuming project when very few of us actually use Linux

...And there is a lot of very good robust standardisation across the hundreds of Linux distros that are in use.

Most distros use either X11 or xorg for graphical grunt, so that's just two, which would cover most distros. (There's a third, Hyland coming on the scene but that will include an X11/xorg compatible add-on.)

Or you could work at a higher level with such as Qt or GTK or any of various high level graphics packages which are already supported by all mainstream distros. Hence you develop for just one interface to then cover all distros, simply.

Just take a look at the Einstein or CPDN screensavers for Linux for example.


So... Actually easier than working around the various Windows versions specific funkiness!


Perhaps the s@h optimisers are not interested in such graphical frivolity for the s@h optimised apps...

Next for the Mythbusting?

Happy fast crunchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

I am running SuSE Linux 11.1.I don't see any graphics in CPDN,SETI@home (I am using optimized apps).In Einstein@home I can see graphics on the app seeking binary pulsars, non on the others apps. But only if I click on the show graphics tab, it is not a screensaver. Some volunteer is building a screensaver in Einstein@home, but I won't use it.
Tullio

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