Exploring the Command 'feh' (with examples)

Feh is a lightweight and versatile image viewing utility that offers a variety of features designed to enhance the user experience when dealing with images. Whether you’re looking to view images stored locally or from a URL, create slideshows, or even set wallpapers, Feh can handle these tasks with ease and efficiency. This article explores the different use cases of the Feh command to showcase its capabilities and practical applications.

View images locally or using a URL

Code:

feh path/to/images

Motivation:
This use case is the most basic yet essential functionality of Feh, allowing users to view images directly from their local file system or from a specified URL. Whether you’re browsing through a collection of photos or previewing graphics for a project, this command provides quick and straightforward access.

Explanation:
The command feh path/to/images is used to indicate the directory or URL from which Feh retrieves the images. There are no additional flags in this command, which means it utilizes the default settings of Feh, presenting the images in a standard window with default navigation.

Example Output:
When this command is executed, it launches Feh’s user interface displaying the first image from the specified path or URL. Images within the directory can be navigated using keyboard shortcuts or mouse clicks.

View images recursively

Code:

feh --recursive path/to/images

Motivation:
When dealing with directories that contain subdirectories filled with images, it can be cumbersome to open each individually. This recursive functionality allows users to view all images within a directory and its subdirectories, providing a comprehensive browsing experience.

Explanation:
The --recursive flag enables Feh to search through all subdirectories from the specified path, collecting images to display. This is particularly useful for users managing large collections of categorized images spread across a complex folder hierarchy.

Example Output:
Upon running the command, Feh loads images from the specified directory and its subdirectories, allowing seamless transition between images within the entire hierarchy.

View images without window borders

Code:

feh --borderless path/to/images

Motivation:
For those seeking an immersive viewing experience, eliminating window borders can enhance focus and visual clarity. This mode is ideal for presentations or situations where minimal distraction from the image content is desired.

Explanation:
The --borderless flag removes window decorations, such as borders and title bars, from the Feh interface. This minimalist approach results in a cleaner image presentation and can be especially beneficial when using Feh as a slideshow viewer in full-screen mode.

Example Output:
The command results in an Feh instance that displays images without any additional window frames, providing a streamlined and distraction-free view.

Exit after the last image

Code:

feh --cycle-once path/to/images

Motivation:
In scenarios where images are viewed in a sequence, it might be useful to have the application close automatically after the last image has been shown. This feature is particularly handy during presentations or automated workflows.

Explanation:
The --cycle-once flag instructs Feh to terminate once it finishes displaying all images in the specified directory. This prevents the viewer from cycling back to the first image, which can be crucial for maintaining flow in specific sequences or for direct automation purposes.

Example Output:
After displaying the last image, Feh exits automatically, eliminating the need for manual intervention to close the application.

Use a specific slideshow cycle delay

Code:

feh --slideshow-delay 5 path/to/images

Motivation:
Customizing the delay between images in a slideshow is important for tailoring the viewing pace to suit different audiences or circumstances. Whether speeding through a set of images or lingering on each for increased appreciation, this feature is especially advantageous.

Explanation:
The --slideshow-delay flag followed by a number sets the time (in seconds) that each image remains on screen during a slideshow. In this example, a 5-second interval means that Feh will display each image for 5 seconds before transitioning to the next.

Example Output:
Images from the specified path are displayed sequentially, each pausing for 5 seconds, providing a controlled and timed slideshow experience.

Use a specific wallpaper mode (centered, filled, maximized, scaled or tiled)

Code:

feh --bg-fill path/to/image

Motivation:
Setting images as desktop wallpapers can enhance your computer’s aesthetics, and having control over how these images are applied is useful for optimizing visibility and appearance on different screen sizes and resolutions.

Explanation:
The --bg-fill flag sets the specified image as the background using the ‘fill’ mode, which scales the image to fill the entire screen, potentially cropping parts that don’t fit. Feh offers other modes such as center, max, scale, and tile, which determine how the image is adjusted or repeated across the desktop.

Example Output:
The image specified by the path is applied as the desktop wallpaper, scaled to fill the screen entirely, ensuring no empty spaces.

Create a montage of all images within a directory, outputting as a new image

Code:

feh --montage --thumb-height 150 --thumb-width 150 --index-info "%nn%wx%h" --output path/to/montage_image.png

Motivation:
Creating a montage of images can be useful for visual summaries, contact sheets, or print-outs. This capability allows organizational and presentation efforts to be condensed into a single manageable image.

Explanation:
The --montage flag enables montage mode, and --thumb-height and --thumb-width set the size of each thumbnail in the montage. The --index-info option formats the information displayed for each image in the montage, and --output specifies the file name and location for the final montage image.

Example Output:
A new image file named montage_image.png is created, presenting a grid of thumbnails. Each thumbnail is 150x150 pixels, with the image index and dimensions labeled below each image.

Conclusion:

This article highlights the diverse functionalities of the Feh command, providing insights into how users can leverage its capabilities for image viewing, slideshow creations, wallpaper settings, and montage compilations. With these examples, Feh proves to be a powerful utility for various imaging tasks, simplifying and enhancing the way users interact with photographic content on their systems.