Redshift (software)

Redshift is an application that adjusts the computer display's color temperature based upon the time of day. The program is free software, and is intended to reduce eye strain as well as insomnia.[3]

For the astronomy software, see Redshift (planetarium software).

Redshift
Redshift 1.11 on Ubuntu MATE 17.10 Alpha 2
Developer(s)Jon Lund Steffensen
Initial release4 November 2009 (2009-11-04)[1]
Stable release
1.12 / 20 May 2018 (2018-05-20)[2]
Repository
Written inC, Python
Operating systemBSD, Linux, Windows
Available inEnglish
LicenseGPLv3
Websitehttp://jonls.dk/redshift/

Redshift transitions the computer display's color temperature evenly between daytime and night temperatures to allow the user's eyes to slowly adapt. At night, the color temperature is low and is typically 3000–4000 K, preferably matching the room's lighting temperature. Typical color temperature during the daytime is 5500–6500 K.

Features

Redshift is primarily distributed for and used on the Linux operating system.

Redshift can be used to set a single color temperature and brightness ("one shot mode") or can adjust the temperature and brightness continuously to follow the sun's elevation, in which case it will transition to the night color temperature settings near twilight. The temperature and brightness settings for daytime and night can be user-configured.

To determine the Sun's elevation the software requires the user's location in form of latitude and longitude.[3]

On Linux and BSD operating systems, Redshift supports multiple monitors through the X extensions RandR (preferred) or VidMode, or through the Direct Rendering Manager. Because Redshift can only be configured to use the same gamma correction on all monitors it controls, it is usually desirable to run one instance of the program per monitor.

Interfaces

Redshift originally possessed only a command-line interface, but now has graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that support most Linux desktop environments. Those GUIs include redshift-gtk, redshift-plasmoid, and nightshift.

redshift-gtk is included in Redshift's source tree. In addition to a windowed interface, it provides a tray status icon that can enable or disable Redshift or adjust the screen's color temperature automatically.

Redshift can be opened with the use of terminal, panel launchers or startup commands: the command 'redshift -O #TEMP' (#TEMP being a number from 1000-25000) will set the temperature and the command 'redshift -x' to exit Redshift.

A simple script can be made and called upon to set the colour temp manually via a shortcut or panel launcher:

  1. Create a new file and copy in the following:
    #!/bin/bash
shouldloop=true;
while $shouldloop; do
    read -p "What temp would you like? 1000-25000K: " scale

    if "$scale" -ge 1000 && "$scale" -le 25000; then
        redshift -O $scale
        shouldloop=false;
    elif $scale = "x"; then
        exit
    elif $scale = "X"; then
        exit
    else
        echo "Invalid value or outside range. x to exit..."
    fi
done
  2. Save the file in your /home/$user directory.
  3. Change the properties of the file so it can be executed (using chmod or context menu permissions).
  4. Create a new launcher ("set temp") referring to the file you have named above and select "Open in Terminal".
  5. Create a new launcher ("exit redshift") with the command redshift -x (no need to open this in terminal).
  6. Use the launcher to set temperature or exit Redshift.

Reviews

Redshift has been positively reviewed by Linux users,[4][5][6] who note that Redshift has some installation and user interface advantages compared to the f.lux Linux port xflux. However, f.lux's systems have since been updated to enhance its dimmed display.[4]

Ubuntu MATE plans to provide Redshift as an application installed by default in their upcoming release 17.10.[7]

Linux Mint Cinnamon provides Redshift installed by default since their 18.3 release.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Redshift 0.1". 4 November 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  2. "Redshift releases". 7 March 2019.
  3. Github release 1.9
  4. Gordon, Whitson. "RedShift Makes Your Screen Easier on the Eyes at Night". LifeHacker. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. Popov, Dmitri. "Improve Your Night Sleep with Redshift and F.lux". Linux Magazine. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  6. Pot, Justin. "Redshift Keeps Your Eyes Sharp & Helps You Sleep [Linux]". MakeUseOf. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  7. Wimpress, Martin (28 July 2017). "Ubuntu MATE 17.10 Alpha 2". Ubuntu MATE. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  8. "New features in Linux Mint 18.3 Cinnamon". Linux Mint. Retrieved 1 December 2017.


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