---
title: FlipClock ASCII Screensaver
url: https://nandomoreira.dev/en/lab/flipclock-screensaver-ascii
collection: lab
tech:
  - Python
  - Shell
  - Hyprland
date: 2026-04-01
---

# FlipClock ASCII Screensaver

Screensaver for Hyprland that draws the time in large ASCII inside a fullscreen terminal, one per monitor, with Terminal Text Effects transitions every minute. It comes in through hypridle when the machine goes idle and leaves on the first movement.

## Problem

Hyprland has no screensaver, only a lock. I wanted something that showed up
when the machine went idle, matched the terminal and did not require another
graphical app running.

## Decisions

A fullscreen terminal per monitor, instead of a graphical window: the clock
is text rendered with pyfiglet, and the transitions come from Terminal Text
Effects, optional. Three small scripts split the responsibilities: detect
monitors and terminal, open a window on each, draw the frame. Integration is
through hypridle, and a state file turns the screensaver off without
uninstalling anything.

## Outcome

Personal use on the desktop, with pytest tests for the renderer and bats
tests for the shell scripts. Supports ghostty, alacritty and kitty.

## Links

- Repo: https://github.com/nandomoreirame/flipclock-screensaver-ascii