A cross-platform Go application to set the desktop background to be a slideshow of images

I use Pop!_OS+GNOME, Windows, and Mac. I wanted to set my backgrounds as a slideshow of photos that I have taken.

• Pop!_OS doesn't appear to have an option to set the desktop background as a slideshow of images.
• Windows allows slideshows but sets a different image on multiple displays - I wanted the same image on both displays.
• I use Mac for work and firgured why not make it compatible with all 3 🙃
• I wanted an excuse to practice Go.

• Linux
  • GNOME Desktop Environments
• Windows
• Mac (working but ensure that Mac settings for automatically changing picture are disabled)

go build && go install

Build with flags so Windows doesn't open a terminal window when running the binary.

go build -ldflags -H=windowsgui

go install -ldflags -H=windowsgui

go build && go install

The -dir flag will default to the Pictures folder in your home directory if the environment variable HOME or USERPROFILE exists on your system.

Usage of ./bgslide:
  -dir string
        The directory containing the wallpapers. (default "/home/karan/Pictures")
  -interval duration
        The interval for changing wallpaper. E.g. 300s, 5m, 1h. Minimum of 5m (default 30m0s)

1. Create a bgslide.service file in /etc/systemd/user containing:

[Unit]
Description=A service to set the desktop background to be a slideshow of images.

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=%h/go/bin/bgslide

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

2. systemctl --user daemon-reload
3. systemctl --user enable bgslide.service
4. systemctl --user start bgslide

N.B. Windows may flag the application as unsafe and quarantine it.

1. Win+R, type shell:startup
2. Create a shortcut to the bgslide.exe in your GOPATH adding flags if you want to change the defaults.
3. Run the shortcut to start immediately, otherwise it'll run on the next startup.

1. Create a bgslide.plist file in ~/Library/LaunchAgents replacing paths as necessary:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>bgslide</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
      <string>/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/go/bin/bgslide</string>
      <!-- uncomment args if needed -->
      <!-- <string>-dir</string>
      <string>/path/to/pictures</string> -->
      <!-- <string>-interval</string>
      <string>5m</string> -->
    </array>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
    <key>StandardErrorPath</key>
    <string>/tmp/bglist.log</string>
    <key>StandardOutPath</key>
    <string>/tmp/bglist.log</string>
  </dict>
</plist>

2. Add to services - launchctl enable gui/$UID/bgslide
3. Start service - launchctl bootstrap gui/$UID ~/Library/LaunchAgents/bgslide.plist
4. Stop service - launchctl bootout gui/$UID ~/Library/LaunchAgents/bgslide.plist
5. Remove from services - launchctl disable gui/$UID/bgslide