I've never really did much coding on *nix but maybe http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-284804.html will point you in the right direction?

Here's the source of disablegss.py if you need it:

Code:

#! /usr/bin/env python
#disablegss.py
#
#  Copyright (c) 2006 crazy___cow@hotmail.com
#
#  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
#  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
#  published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
#  License, or (at your option) any later version.
#
#  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
#  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
#  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
#  GNU General Public License for more details.
#
#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
#  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
#  Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307
#  USA


import dbus
import dbus.glib
import sys
import os
import string
import time
from stat import *

def disable_sleep(myprogram):
    try:
        bus = dbus.Bus(dbus.Bus.TYPE_SESSION)
        devobj = bus.get_object('org.gnome.ScreenSaver',  '/org/gnome/ScreenSaver')
        dev = dbus.Interface(devobj, "org.gnome.ScreenSaver")
        cookie = dev.Inhibit(myprogram, 'Disabled by DisableGSS Daemon')
        print "DisableGSS: gnome screensaver stopped."
        return (dev, cookie)
    except Exception, e:
        print "DisableGSS: could not send the dbus Inhibit signal: %s" % e
        #sys.exit(0)
        return (False, False)


def allow_sleep(dev, cookie):
    try:
        dev.UnInhibit(cookie)
        print "DisableGSS: gnome screensaver enabled."
        return(True)
    except Exception, e:
        print "DisableGSS: could not send the dbus UnInhibit signal: %s" % e
        #sys.exit(0)
        return (False)


def pids(program):
    result = []
    f = os.popen('ps aux', 'r')
    for l in f.readlines():
        fields = string.split(l)
        if fields[10] == program:
            #print fields[1]+"   "+fields[10]
            return(True)

def read_file():
    __psaux = []
    try:
        f=open(homedir+'/.disablegss', 'r')
        for line in f:
            #print line.rstrip('\n')
            __psaux.append(line.rstrip('\n'))
        f.close();
        print "DisableGSS: config file read."
        return __psaux
    except IOError:
        print "DisableGSS: config file ~/.disablegss doesn't exist! Write it by hand. Add applications name that could disable gnome screensaver: one app name for every line of file."
        sys.exit(0)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    homedir = os.getenv('HOME')
    condition = True
    disabled = False
    old_program = ""
    psaux = []
    last_last_time_modified = ""
    last_time_modified = ""

    psaux=read_file()
    last_time_modified= os.stat(homedir+'/.disablegss')[ST_MTIME]
    last_last_time_modified=last_time_modified

    while condition == True:
        found = False
        for i in range(len(psaux)):
            #print "%s->%s" % (i,psaux[i])
            program=psaux[i]
            if pids(program) == True:
                found = True
                if program !=old_program:
                    print "DisableGSS: there is a program ("+program+") in the config list that is currently running."
                    old_program=program
                if disabled==False:
                    (dev, cookie) = disable_sleep(program)
                    disabled=True
                    break

        if found == False and disabled == True:
            print "DisableGSS: there are no more programs that could stop gnome screensaver."
            allow_sleep(dev, cookie)
            disabled = False
        time.sleep(60)
        last_time_modified= os.stat(homedir+'/.disablegss')[ST_MTIME]
        if last_time_modified!=last_last_time_modified:
            print "DisableGSS: config file modified."
            psaux=read_file()
            last_time_modified= os.stat(homedir+'/.disablegss')[ST_MTIME]
            last_last_time_modified=last_time_modified
            old_program = ""
        #condition=False

 

im not a programmer, but i have heard that Xine uses a periodical toggling of the scroll-lock key to prevent the screensaver from activating - could be an old wives tale though.

 

I haven't looked into it at all so this is thinking aloud - but couldn't you change a gconf key to enable/disable the screensaver?

 

man xset

http://www.manpagez.com/man/1/xset/


the dpms and s options may be of interest

 

Is it not a matter of periodically "petting" the clock used for the screensaver?



Edit:

Code:

gnome-screensaver-command --poke

Have the program do this every x seconds.