---
name: "spinner"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "spinner"
version: "1.2.4-6"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/spinner"
---

# spinner(1)

Sends small packets over a idle link

## NAME

spinner - Sends small packets over a idle link

## SYNOPSIS

**spinner** *\[options\]*

## DESCRIPTION

Spinner is an anti-idle program that displays a little "spinning" ASCII character in the top left corner of your terminal. **spinner** is useful for keeping telnet and ssh links from dropping due to inactivity. Many firewalls, and some ISPs drop connections when they are perceived as idle. By having  **spinner** running the server is constantly sending a tiny amount of data over the link, preserving the connection.

## OPTIONS

- **-f \<path\>**

  Set pid file path (default ~/.spinner.pid)

- **-F**

  Do \*NOT\* create a pid file

- **-I**

  Do \*NOT\* use inverse video for spinner

- **-l \<path\>**

  Set log file path (for debugging). Off by default.

- **-L**

  Display the license

- **-n**

  Send null characters (no visible output)

- **-p \<priority\>**

  Specifies process priority to use

- **-P**

  Do \*NOT\* change process priority (default is to make nice)

- **-r**

  Reset term on quit (use if you get left in inverse a lot)

- **-R**

  Reset the term and Quit immediately.

- **-t \<tty path\>**

  Specify path of TTY to which to write

- **-T**

  Ignore incompatible TERM environment variable setting

- **-u**

  Delay is in microseconds instead of seconds

- **-v**

  Verbose mode (lots of output)

## AUTHOR

Joe Laffey

## DEBIAN MAINTAINER

This man page was created for Debian by Jesus Climent