scrot
A simple command-line screenshot utility for X11 that grabs and saves images using imlib2.
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About scrot
scrot (SCReenshOT) takes screenshots from the command line on X11 desktops, using the imlib2 library to grab and save images. Because it is a plain command, it is easy to bind to a key or call from scripts and window manager configurations.
The project is kept alive by the resurrecting-open-source-projects group on GitHub, with a man page, FAQ and changelog in the repository. It suits users of lightweight window managers who want screenshots without a graphical tool.
Strengths
- Lightweight and easy to script
- Simple to bind to a key in any window manager
- Maintained with a man page and FAQ
Limitations
- X11 only, not for Wayland sessions
- No built-in annotation or video recording
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source with no paid tier.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The scrot contributors
- Platforms
- Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Screenshots from scripts or key bindings on an X11 Linux desktop
- Categories
- Screen capture, CLI tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to scrot
Compare allSoftware that can replace scrot for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
maim
A command-line screenshot tool for X11 that captures the whole desktop, a window or a region.
maim is an X11 command-line screenshot tool built as a scrot replacement, relying on slop for interactive selection, and is not listed as open source.
Xfce Screenshooter
The Xfce desktop's screenshot tool for capturing the screen, a window or a region.
Xfce Screenshooter is open source with both a graphical interface and command-line use, adding capture delay and custom action scripts, designed around Xfce.
grim
A command-line tool that grabs screenshots from a Wayland compositor.
grim is an open-source command-line screenshot tool for Wayland compositors, so switching means leaving X11, with slurp used for region selection.
Flameshot
A cross-platform screenshot tool that drops annotation controls right on top of the selection.
Flameshot is open source under GPL-3.0 with a CLI plus in-place annotation, and runs on Linux, Windows and macOS.
wayshot
A native command-line screenshot tool for wlroots-based Wayland compositors, written in Rust.
wayshot is an open-source Rust command-line screenshot tool for wlroots Wayland compositors, including libwayshot for use in other programs.
Shutter
A Linux screenshot program that captures areas, windows, menus or websites and includes an editor.
Shutter is an open-source Linux screenshot program with a graphical editor and capture of menus, tooltips and websites, heavier than a command-line tool.
Spectacle
KDE's screenshot and screen recording application for Linux desktops.
Spectacle is KDE's open-source screenshot and recording app with keyboard shortcuts per capture mode, fitting best on a Plasma desktop.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
slurp
A command-line tool that lets you select a screen region on Wayland and prints its geometry.
swappy
A Wayland native screenshot editing tool for annotating captures, inspired by Snappy on macOS.
Satty
Annotate screenshots in a focused Linux application.
LXImage-Qt
A lightweight image viewer and screenshot tool from the LXQt desktop project.
