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

powerprofilesctl is a utility that facilitates power profile management over D-Bus, providing users with the ability to view and modify power profiles on compatible Linux systems. These profiles allow for the adjustment of system power settings, optimizing for either performance, battery life, or a balanced approach depending on user needs. The utility focuses on user-friendliness and speed, making adjustments instantaneously upon user requests.

Use case 1: List available power profiles

Code:

powerprofilesctl list

Motivation:

Think of a situation where you’re working between different environments and needing to frequently switch between power settings focused on maximizing performance during tasks like video editing or gaming, and conserving battery life during lighter workloads or when on-the-go. Before making any adjustments, it’s essential to know which power profiles are available on your specific system. Listing these profiles gives an overview of the potential adjustments you can make, enabling more informed decisions regarding power management.

Explanation:

In this use case, the command powerprofilesctl is followed by the subcommand list, which directs the tool to output all supported power profiles currently available on your system. This is a straightforward command with no additional arguments, designed to give the user immediate insight into the available power configurations.

Example output:

Available power profiles:
  * balanced
  - performance
  - power-saver

In the above output, the list of profiles is shown, with the current active profile marked by an asterisk (*). This provides the user with a clear, immediate understanding of their system’s power settings.

Use case 2: Set a specific power profile

Code:

powerprofilesctl set performance

Motivation:

There are times when you want to push your system to its fullest capacity—for instance, during resource-intensive activities like gaming or rendering videos, where every bit of performance enhancement is beneficial. By setting the power profile to “performance,” the system will prioritize maximizing computational power, possibly at the expense of power consumption efficiency. This capability allows users to tailor their system’s energy use according to situational needs, ensuring optimal conditions without manual configuration of individual parameters.

Explanation:

This command utilizes the main tool powerprofilesctl followed by the subcommand set and an argument indicating the desired power profile, in this case, performance. The set subcommand modifies the current power profile to the one specified, allowing the user to quickly switch between modes like “balanced,” “performance,” and “power-saver” depending on the user’s current power requirements and preferences.

Example output:

Setting the power profile to “performance”...
Profile switched to performance mode.

The output confirms that the power profile has been successfully switched to “performance.” This feedback is crucial as it ensures that the user’s request was executed accurately, providing assurance that the system is now configured to optimize for high performance.

Conclusion:

The powerprofilesctl command serves as a versatile tool for managing power settings on Linux systems, giving users the ability to check available power profiles and dynamically switch between them as needed. By understanding these use cases, users can gain better control over their device’s energy consumption and performance, tailoring it to their specific activity requirements. Whether choosing to list available profiles or setting your system to maximize performance, these capabilities enhance system efficiency and user experience significantly.