---
name: "abstractile"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "xscreensaver"
version: "6.15-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/abstractile"
---

# abstractile(6)

draw abstract mosaic patterns of interlocking tiles

## NAME

abstractile - draw abstract mosaic patterns of interlocking tiles

## SYNOPSIS

**abstractile** \[--sleep *seconds*\] \[--speed *int*\] \[--tile *tile\_mode*\] \[--visual *visual*\] \[--window\] \[--root\] \[--window-id *number*\] \[--fps\]

## DESCRIPTION

The *abstractile* program draws chaotic grids of randomly colored and shaped interlocking tiles.

## OPTIONS

*abstractile* accepts the following options:

- **--sleep *seconds***

  Specify the number of seconds to sleep between screens (0-60).

- **--speed *int***

  A value between 0 and 5 used to specify the speed at which each screen is drawn.

- **--tile *tile\_mode***

  The type of tile that is drawn on each screen.  Legal values are *random*, *flat*, *thin*, *outline*,  *block*, *neon*, and *tiled*

- **--fps**

  Display the current frame rate and CPU load.

- **--visual *visual***

  Specify which visual to use.  Legal values are the name of a visual class, or the id number (decimal or hex) of a specific visual.

- **--window**

  Draw on a newly-created window.  This is the default.

- **--root**

  Draw on the root window.

- **--window-id *number***

  Draw on the specified window.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **DISPLAY**

  to get the default host and display number.

- **XENVIRONMENT**

  to get the name of a resource file that overrides the global resources stored in the RESOURCE\_MANAGER property.

- **XSCREENSAVER\_WINDOW**

  The window ID to use with *--root*.

## SEE ALSO

**X**(1), [**xscreensaver**(1)](/xscreensaver/1.md)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2004 by Steve Sundstrom.  Based on examples from the hacks directory of xscreensaver, Copyright (c) 1997, 1998, 2002 Jamie Zawinski \<jwz@jwz.org\>

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation.

## AUTHOR

Steve Sundstrom