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

# glknots(6)

generates some twisting 3d knot patterns

## NAME

glknots - generates some twisting 3d knot patterns

## SYNOPSIS

**glknots** \[--display *host:display.screen*\] \[--visual *visual*\] \[--window\] \[--root\] \[--window-id *number*\] \[--delay *number*\] \[--speed *float*\] \[--segments *int*\] \[--thickness *float*\] \[--duration *seconds*\] \[--no-wander\] \[--spin *XYZ*\] \[--wireframe\] \[--fps\]

## DESCRIPTION

Generates some twisting 3d knot patterns.  Spins 'em around.

## OPTIONS

- **--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.

- **--delay *number***

  Per-frame delay, in microseconds.  Default: 30000 (0.03 seconds.).

- **--speed *number***

  Larger numbers mean run faster.  Default: 1.0.

- **--segments *number***

  Number of segments in each path.  Default 800.  Larger numbers make the curves smoother, at the expense of a higher polygon count.

- **--thickness *float***

  How thick the tubes should be.  Default 0.3.

- **--duration *seconds***

  How long to leave each knot up.  Default 8 seconds.

- **--wander \| --no-wander**

  Whether the cubes should wander around the screen.

- **--spin \[XYZ\] \| --no-spin**

  Which axes, if any, to spin around on.

- **--wireframe \| --no-wireframe**

  Render in wireframe instead of solid.

- **--fps**

  Display the current frame rate, CPU load, and polygon count.

## 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 © 2003 by Jamie Zawinski.  Permission to use, copy, modify,  distribute, and sell this software and its documentation for any purpose is  hereby granted without fee, provided that the above copyright notice appear  in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation.  No representations are made about the  suitability of this software for any purpose.  It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.

## AUTHOR

Jamie Zawinski.