                                   Tux Paint
                                version 0.9.35
                      Environment Variables Documentation

        Copyright © 2021-2025 by various contributors; see AUTHORS.txt.
                             https://tuxpaint.org/

                                  May 2, 2025

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Tux Paint understands a number of environment variables, either directly, or
indirectly by the libraries that it utilizes.

                 ### Storage-related environment variables ###

→ HOME ←

    Specifies the user's "home directory", which is used to locate numerous
    other files or directories. In some cases, it is utilized as part of a
    fall-back location, when other environment variables (elsewhere in this
    documentation) are not set. Sometimes, the location to use can be
    overridden by options provided on the command-line or via Tux Paint's
    configuration file. See the "OPTIONS" documentation for details.

    A few examples of where "$HOME" is used include:

      o The location of Tux Paint's configuration file
      o The basis of where Tux Paint saves and loads users' drawings
      o The location of a user's private collection of data files — stamps,
        brushes, etc. — (versus those available system wide)

     
→ XDG_CONFIG_HOME ←

    On Linux and other platforms where the X Desktop Group standards are used,
    the location of the user's configuration files. Specifically, where to find
    "user-dirs.dirs", where the "XDG_PICTURES_DIR" might be defined. It is used
    for exporting drawings and animated GIFs. Generally it's set to something
    like "$HOME/Pictures/". If not specified, Tux Paint checks in the directory
    "$HOME/.config/". If the configuration cannot be found, Tux Paint simply
    exports drawings and GIFs to "$HOME".


     
→ XDG_DATA_HOME ←

    On Linux and other platforms where the X Desktop Group standards are used,
    the location of the user's data directories. Specifically, where to find
    the "Trash" directory. It is used when deleting images from Tux Paint's
    "Open" dialog. If not set, the location "$HOME/.local/share/Trash/" is
    used, if available. If not, images are simply deleted, rather than moved
    anywhere.


     
→ TEMP ←

    Specifies the location where temporary files may be created. Only used by
    Tux Paint on Microsoft Windows OSes. Uses "userdata" if not set.

                ### Language-related environment variables ###

→ LANG ←
→ LANGUAGE ←
→ LC_ALL ←
→ LC_MESSAGES ←

    Specify the language Tux Paint should utilize in its user interface.
    Overridden by the "--lang" and "--locale" command-line options or their
    configuration file counterparts. The "LANGUAGE" environment variable is
    used, if set. If not, "LC_ALL" is used as a fallback. Then "LC_MESSAGES",
    and finally "LANG".


     

                 ### Display-related environment variables ###

The following are a few of the environment variables supported by Simple
DirectMedia Layer (libSDL) — which Tux Paint utilizes for displaying graphics,
playing sounds, and receiving mouse, keyboard, and joystick input — and which
may be useful to users of Tux Paint.
→ SDL_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER ←

    Specifies whether Tux Paint should allow a screensaver to run. Can be set
    to '1' (true) by Tux Paint itself by issuing the command-line option
    "--allowscreensaver" or its configuration file counterpart.


     
→ SDL_VIDEO_WINDOW_POS ←

    Requests where to position Tux Paint's window, and can be used to specify
    what display to place a fullscreen Tux Paint in a multi-monitor
    configuration. If not set, or set to "nopref" (meaning "no preference"),
    Simple DirectMedia Layer (libSDL) decides. Can be set to an X,Y coordinate
    (e.g. 200,100), or "center" (meaning "center").


     
