---
name: "swirl"
section: "6x"
platform: "linux"
package: "xscreensaver-data"
version: "6.09+dfsg1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/swirl/6x"
---

# swirl(6x)

draws swirly color-cycling patterns

## NAME

swirl - draws swirly color-cycling patterns

## SYNOPSIS

**swirl** \[--display *host:display.screen*\] \[--foreground *color*\] \[--background *color*\] \[--window\] \[--root\] \[--window-id *number*\]\[--mono\] \[--install\] \[--visual *visual*\] \[--ncolors *integer*\] \[--delay *microseconds*\] \[--count *integer*\]

\[--fps\]

## DESCRIPTION

The *swirl* program draws swirly color-cycling patterns.

## OPTIONS

*swirl* accepts the following options:

- **--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.

- **--mono**

  If on a color display, pretend we're on a monochrome display.

- **--install**

  Install a private colormap for the window.

- **--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.

- **--ncolors *integer***

  How many colors should be used (if possible).  Default 200.

- **--count *integer***

  - **--fps**

  Display the current frame rate and CPU load.

## 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), [**xlock**(1)](/xlock/1.md)

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 1994 M. Dobie.

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

M.Dobie \<mrd@ecs.soton.ac.uk\>, 1994.

Ability to run standalone or with *xscreensaver* added by  Jamie Zawinski \<jwz@jwz.org\>, 13-May-97.