How to use the command 'envycontrol' (with examples)

This article will guide you through the various use cases of the ’envycontrol’ command, which is a GPU switching utility designed specifically for Nvidia Optimus laptops. It allows users to switch between different GPU modes, specify the display manager manually, check the current GPU mode, reset settings, display version information, and provides help.

Use case 1: Switch between different GPU modes

Code:

sudo envycontrol -s nvidia|integrated|hybrid

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to easily switch between different GPU modes on Nvidia Optimus laptops. This can be useful when you want to use the discrete GPU (nvidia) for more demanding applications, or switch to the integrated GPU (integrated) for power saving.

Explanation:

• sudo: This command is used to execute the following command with administrative privileges.
• envycontrol: The name of the command itself.
• -s: This option is used to specify the GPU mode to switch to.
• nvidia|integrated|hybrid: The available GPU modes that can be switched to. It can be either ’nvidia’, ‘integrated’, or ‘hybrid’.

Example output:

Switching to nvidia GPU mode...

Use case 2: Specify your display manager manually

Code:

envycontrol --dm

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to manually specify the display manager for the envycontrol command. This can be useful when you have multiple display managers installed on your system and want to choose a specific one.

Explanation:

• envycontrol: The name of the command itself.
• --dm: This option is used to manually specify the display manager to use.

Example output:

Specifying display manager: gdm3

Use case 3: Check current GPU mode

Code:

sudo envycontrol --query

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to check the current GPU mode on your Nvidia Optimus laptop. This can be useful when you want to verify the current GPU configuration and ensure that the desired GPU mode is being used.

Explanation:

• sudo: This command is used to execute the following command with administrative privileges.
• envycontrol: The name of the command itself.
• --query: This option is used to query the current GPU mode.

Example output:

Current GPU mode: nvidia

Use case 4: Reset settings

Code:

sudo envycontrol --reset

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to reset the settings of the envycontrol command. This can be useful when you want to revert back to the default settings or fix any configuration issues.

Explanation:

• sudo: This command is used to execute the following command with administrative privileges.
• envycontrol: The name of the command itself.
• --reset: This option is used to reset the settings.

Example output:

Resetting settings...

Use case 5: Display version

Code:

envycontrol --version

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to display the version information of the envycontrol command. This can be useful when you want to check the installed version or verify if you have the latest version.

Explanation:

• envycontrol: The name of the command itself.
• --version: This option is used to display the version information.

Example output:

envycontrol version 1.2.3

Use case 6: Display help

Code:

envycontrol --help

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to display the help information of the envycontrol command. This can be useful when you want to get more details about the available options and how to use the command effectively.

Explanation:

• envycontrol: The name of the command itself.
• --help: This option is used to display the help information.

Example output:

Usage: envycontrol [options]
Options:
  -s, --switch <mode>  Switch between different GPU modes
  --dm                 Specify your display manager manually
  --query              Check current GPU mode
  --reset              Reset settings
  --version            Display version information
  --help               Display help information

Conclusion:

The ’envycontrol’ command is a flexible GPU switching utility for Nvidia Optimus laptops. It provides various options to switch between different GPU modes, specify the display manager, check the current GPU mode, reset settings, display version information, and get help. These use cases cater to different needs of users and offer convenience and control over the GPU usage on Nvidia Optimus laptops.