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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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a fun post. what are your favourite hacks that you've found or created for extremely unique use cases? (self.linux)

submitted 1 year ago by reallychris to c/[email protected]

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

right, so as the title suggests...

i like linux based OSes because you can pretty much mould your operating system to the shape of your brain. i call it cognitive ergonomy. and i'd like it to catch on. even on a relatively play-it-safe distro like the one i'm currently using, the repos are full of handy little applications to make life immeasurably easier for you, if they aren't installed already. thanks to xdotool, xdo, wmctrl, and sxhkd, pretty much any action can easily be bound to a shortcut key. for eg, i have xdotool search --name vimnote windowactivate || kitty --title=vimnote nvim -c "norm 13j" ~/notes/index.md bound to mod+n. it's so simple, and i was so proud of myself when i got it to work (i'm not really a scripty person). i just wanted to make something easy. then i wanted to make it a bit easier. then i was feeling like "idk this is still way too many key presses" so i found a way of making it even easier.

i've got a bunch of little hacks like this. before i found qmmp, i set up global keys for mpv so i could listen to podcasts on another workspace. i have ranger set up to give specific info from mediainfo as a preview for audio and video files. (which windows does easily in gui file browser but THAT'S NOT THE POINT OK)

anyway, the ubuntu forums and arch wiki are full of tricks that a lot of people want to set up, i'm curious as to the ones you had to set up for yourself.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Are clicking games destroying your mouse?

#!/bin/bash
export LC_ALL=C
if [[ $(xset -q | grep -o "Scroll Lock: off") == "Scroll Lock: off" ]]
  then xdotool key Scroll_Lock
  fi
ScrollStatus=$"Scroll Lock: on"
while [[ $(xset -q | grep -o "Scroll Lock: on") == "Scroll Lock: on" ]]
  do xdotool click --delay 40 1
  done

Save it as whatever.sh, then create some convenient shortcut for it (I use Ctrl+Print Screen). Use the shortcut to make it click once each 40ms, indefinitely. Press Scroll Lock to turn it off.

I have a more complex version of that using grabc (to detect pixel colour) and a bunch of if/while/until loops to literally bot some games.

[–] Secret300 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

would this work on wayland if I just replace xdotool with ydotool?

[–] reallychris 3 points 1 year ago

ahh good to know that wayland has a dotool in case i ever end up on a distro that uses it. i'm so scared of leaving x.

[–] dotancohen 2 points 1 year ago

Wait, what? That's x-do as in "x do something"? I never realized that. Thanks.

[–] reallychris 2 points 1 year ago

ahh i like that one. i don't really game any more but there are a bunch of old mmos where i could have made good use of this.