(linux) sleep mode doesn't activate when steam is running

[Nimmy]

With the new version of steam (since two days ago ?), my computer cannot go to sleep mode: the powerdevil applet says:

My SDL application is currently suppressing power management: playing a game

even though I'm not playing a game...

[Nimmy]

I've tried setting the SDL_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER environment variable to 1 and it solves the problem.

So I'd suggest using the line "SDL_EnableScreenSaver();" somewhere in your code.

[Nimmy]

Any news on this ?

[daf]

I'm seeing the same behavior on Gentoo (17.0/plasma and 17.1/plasma profiles). This has been driving me nuts -- every few days my screen's power management won't kick in, and everything I've tried except a reboot doesn't help; until today when this post (and another like it) gave me the idea to just exit steam. And screen-blanking is back!

This is quite important -- I've had it before when my screen was on all night with a static image, which can damage the screen.

The problem with setting SDL_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER is that that will allow the screensaver during other SDL processes, like some native games and media players. So it's not really a solution. It feels like the workaround for now is to run steam when I want to play something, and exit afterwards, which is kind of sucky.

[Defenestrator]

I have a keyboard shortcut that runs the command `xset dpms force off` to turn off my screen. As soon as I joined the beta (the day the new library was released) running this command will turn off the screen only for a few seconds about 4/5 times as long as Steam is open. I'd assume it's the same issue.

[daf]

Yeah, it's the same. The only solution I've found is to not permanently run steam :/ I have to quit when I'm not playing something and start when I want to play, which means that background updates are a bit fuxed >_<

[Kaijin]

I have the exact same problem but I have windows 7 ultimate. I've tried several things, nothing worked, the only thing that works is like you all said, exit steam after playing, which really sucks.
I use a software called process lasso which gives me a lot of control with all processes running and it's a very good program, tons of features, some of them directly related to power usage and even when I force the system to go idle with IdleSaver, sometimes the monitor enters sleep mode for a few seconds (4-5) and then returns to "normal" mode. Just thought I would share my experience since I'm on a different OS.

After searching the forums I found this:

Here is working WA for me:

Start "cmd" as admin, check problem exists
powercfg.exe /requests

Override request:
powercfg /requestsoverride PROCESS steamwebhelper.exe DISPLAY AWAYMODE

and reboot PC.

I don't know if this is of any help but it worked for me, now the pc enters sleep mode with steam on.

[daf]

that _is_ pretty useful for windows hosts -- thanks for sharing. On linux, this suppression call happens to SDL, and I don't know of a way to block it per-process, but perhaps someone can find one? Please?

[Nimmy]

isn't SDL_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER=1 per process ? It should logically work only on processes (and subprocesses) launched with this environment variable, not all of them

[daf]

When the variable is set, the process observing that variable allows screensaver. Environment variables are inherited by child processes by default, so that means games get this variable too, and the screensaver kicks in after a while because the game is stealing all input, so the powersaving system thinks the machine is idle.

[Nimmy]

Yes, I know that (I talked about subprocesses) , but I was confused with your sentence about media player, because I don't launch my media player using steam, so I didn't see the link between setting this variable and media players getting it. I assume you are launching your media player using steam ?

Anyway, what I do when the bug appears (it hasn't for a long time), is put the variable on when I launch steam, and disable the screensaver when I play a game, and reenable it afterwards. Because I prefer to have steam always on (I chat a bit), and it's usually easy with a desktop manager to disable the screensaver.

(Also my experience is that the screensaver only kicks in when I'm playing with a controller. Usually when I'm playing with a mouse, moving the mouse actually disables the screensaver. It might depend on your exact screensaver and on the game though)

[daf]

setting the variable on should allow the screensaver -- so steam and any process it spawns should not stop the screensaver from kicking in; this was the problem I had with the hack-around.

However, you're suggesting that you can set the environment variable per process spawned by steam? If so, I could have steam run with that variable set on (so that it doesn't interfere with my screensaver whilst downloading & stuff, because I'd also like it to be running all the time), and I could set it off when launching a game, so that the game wouldn't be interrupted.

My experience has been that watching a video in steam will also trigger the problem -- it looks like steam inhibits the screensaver so as to not allow the video to be interrupted, but doesn't always revert the setting. I have also had the issue after playing games with a controller -- but I've also had it after playing without a controller )':

It's would be super-neat if the steam devs actually just gave a ♥♥♥♥ and fixed this. It's been an issue for a very long time :/

[daf]

Ah, censorship. S.H.I.T is a werry bad word, aw shucks.

[Nimmy]

By disabling the screensaver when I play a game, I meant disabling it systemwise, not disabling it just for the game. That's what I do before playing a game and after playing a game.

In my desktop manager (kde) it's just two clicks, should be the same on unity/gnome I guess.

[daf]

Yeah, i just know me though -- I'm going to forget to re-enable it.

I'm also using KDE, and, out of interest, would like to know the "two clicks", I can only think of going through systemsettings, which is 4 including launch, assuming I get to the correct submenu first. Is there a faster way that I'm missing?

[Nimmy]

bottom panel near the hour widget should be a "battery and brightness widget"
(If it's not there, you can probably add it)