How to programmatically prevent linux computer from sleeping or turning on screensaver?

Question

While developing a small cross-platform game on C++, I got stuck with following issue: when players are playing with a USB gamepad without touching a keyboard or mouse, the comp

Answer 1

From a quick look at how mplayer and SDL do it, there are two things you can do to prevent the screensaver from firing up:

• Disable it for the duration of the program:
  • Using XScreenSaverSuspend
  • Using DBus, calling org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver.Inhibit
• Ping it periodically:
  • Using XResetScreenSaver
  • Using DBus, calling org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver.SimulateUserActivity