qlip

Lightweight screenshot utility for X11 and Wayland Linux desktops. Auto-detects display server at runtime.

Dependencies

X11: python3, maim, slop, xdotool, xrandr, python3-tkinter. Optional: wmctrl
Wayland: python3, grim, slurp, python3-tkinter. Plus one of: swaymsg (sway), hyprctl (Hyprland), or wlr-randr (generic wlroots)

Install

sudo make install              # /usr/local
sudo make PREFIX=/usr install  # /usr

Usage

qlip -a              # all monitors (separate file per display)
qlip -a -m           # active monitor only
qlip -a -m 13        # monitors 1 and 3 only
qlip -p              # select a region
qlip -w              # pick a window from a list
qlip -w -c           # capture active window
qlip -a -s           # capture all, prompt for save location
qlip gui             # open settings/capture GUI

Configuration

Stored in ~/.config/qlip/config.json:

Key	Default	Description
save_dir	~/Pictures/Screenshots	Default save directory
ask_save_location	false	Prompt on every capture
filetype	png	png, jpg, jpeg, or bmp
filename_template	screenshot-%Y-%m-%d_%H%M%S	strftime format codes

Filename codes

Code	Output
%Y	2025
%m	03
%B	March
%d	09
%H	14
%M	30
%S	05

Wayland support

qlip detects Wayland via $WAYLAND_DISPLAY and switches backends automatically. Compositor-specific features (active monitor, window listing, active window capture) work on Sway and Hyprland. Other wlroots compositors get monitor enumeration via wlr-randr but may lack window-level features.

Packaging

Build files for AUR, Debian (.deb), and RPM are in packaging/.

License

GPL-3.0-or-later

---