Wallpaper-Changer

This Ruby script fetches a random wallpaper from Unsplash and sets it as your desktop wallpaper periodically.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Ruby installed on your system
• Internet connection

Installation

1. Clone the repository (or download the script directly):
2. Install required Ruby gems:

gem install json fiddle open-uri net-http

Unsplash API Access

To use the Unsplash API, you need to obtain a client_id. Follow these steps:

1. Sign Up/Login to Unsplash:

• If you don't already have an account, go to Unsplash and sign up.
• If you already have an account, log in.

2. Register as a Developer:

• Go to the Unsplash Developer section at Unsplash Developers.

3. Create a New Application:

• Click on "Your Apps" in the top-right menu.
• Click the "New Application" button.
• Fill out the required information for your new application. This includes the application name, description, and your usage plan.
• Agree to the terms and create the application.

4. Get the client_id:

• Once the application is created, you'll be redirected to the application details page.
• On this page, you'll find your Access Key and Secret Key. The Access Key is your client_id.

Configuration

Replace 'your_actual_access_key' in the script with your actual Access Key from Unsplash.

Running the Script

Run the script using Ruby:

ruby background.rb

Script Overview

The provided Ruby script performs the following tasks:

1. Fetch a random wallpaper URL from Unsplash using the provided client_id.
2. Download the wallpaper to a local directory (~/Pictures/).
3. Set the downloaded image as the desktop wallpaper using Windows API.
4. Repeat the process every 45 minutes (configurable).

Key Components

Fetching Wallpaper URL:

def fetch_wallpaper_url(client_id)
  url = "https://api.unsplash.com/photos/random/?client_id=#{client_id}"
  response = Net::HTTP.get_response(URI.parse(url))

  if response.is_a?(Net::HTTPSuccess)
    data = JSON.parse(response.body)
    return data['urls']['raw']
  else
    raise "Failed to fetch wallpaper: #{response.message}"
  end
end

Downloading the Image:

def download_image(url, path)
  open(path, 'wb') do |file|
    file << open(url).read
  end
end

Setting the Wallpaper:

def set_wallpaper(image_path)
  User32::SystemParametersInfoA(SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER, 0, image_path, SPIF_UPDATEINIFILE | SPIF_SENDWININICHANGE)
end

Changing Wallpaper Periodically:

def change_wallpaper_periodically(client_id, interval)
  loop do
    begin
      wallpaper_url = fetch_wallpaper_url(client_id)
      wallpaper_path = File.join(ENV['HOME'], 'Pictures', 'wallpaper.jpg')
      download_image(wallpaper_url, wallpaper_path)
      set_wallpaper(wallpaper_path)
      puts 'Wallpaper changed successfully!'
    rescue => e
      puts "Error: #{e.message}"
    end

    sleep(interval)
  end
end

Running the Script

The script starts by calling change_wallpaper_periodically with the specified client_id and interval (default is 45 minutes):

client_id = 'your_actual_access_key' # Replace with your actual Access Key from Unsplash
interval_in_seconds = 45 * 60
change_wallpaper_periodically(client_id, interval_in_seconds)