“Sxiv” is a lightweight and efficient image viewer for X window systems, designed to work well with minimalistic window managers like dwm and i3. It’s an open-source, free-to-use software that supports a wide range of image formats, including JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF.
Sxiv provides a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to navigate through your image collection with ease. It supports features like zooming, panning, and rotating images, and you can customize the keyboard shortcuts to suit your preferences. Sxiv also has a thumbnail mode that lets you quickly browse through a large number of images.
One of the unique features of Sxiv is its ability to handle multiple windows. You can open several images in separate windows and switch between them using the keyboard. This feature can be especially useful for comparing images side by side or for creating image montages.
Sxiv is also highly customizable, and you can modify its behavior and appearance by editing its configuration file. For example, you can change the default image viewer or editor, set the thumbnail size, and configure the keyboard shortcuts.
If you encounter the below error while running the command sxiv:
sxiv: command not found
you may try installing the below package as per your choice of distribution:
| Distribution | Command |
|---|---|
| Debian | apt-get install sxiv |
| Ubuntu | apt-get install sxiv |
| Alpine | apk add sxiv |
| Arch Linux | pacman -S sxiv |
| Kali Linux | apt-get install sxiv |
| Fedora | dnf install sxiv |
| OS X | brew install sxiv |
| Raspbian | apt-get install sxiv |
sxiv Command Examples
1. Open an image:
# sxiv path/to/file
2. Open an image in fullscreen mode:
# sxiv -f path/to/file
3. Open a newline-separated list of images, reading filenames from standard input:
# echo path/to/file | sxiv -i
4. Open a space-separated list of images as a slideshow:
# sxiv -S seconds path/to/file
5. Open a space-separated list of images in thumbnail mode:
# sxiv -t path/to/file
Summary
Overall, Sxiv is a simple yet powerful image viewer that’s perfect for users who want a lightweight and fast application that doesn’t consume a lot of system resources. It’s easy to use, highly customizable, and supports a wide range of image formats.