# slock

> screen locker

**Wikidata**: [Q112159511](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112159511)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/slock

## Summary
slock is a screen locker utility designed for Unix-like operating systems. It provides a simple and minimal way to lock a computer screen when a user steps away, requiring authentication to unlock.

## Key Facts
- slock is licensed under the Expat license
- Current stable version is 1.4, released on 2016-11-20
- It is classified as both free software and utility software
- slock runs on BSD operating systems including FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD
- Official website: https://tools.suckless.org/slock/
- Source code repository: https://git.suckless.org/slock/files.html
- Available as FreeBSD port: x11/slock
- Available as OpenBSD port: x11/slock
- Available as Gentoo package: x11-misc/slock
- Has an Arch Wiki article titled "Slock"

## FAQs
### Q: What is slock?
A: slock is a screen locker utility designed for Unix-like operating systems. It provides a simple and minimal way to lock a computer screen when a user steps away, requiring authentication to unlock.

### Q: What license is slock released under?
A: slock is licensed under the Expat license, which is a permissive free software license that allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.

### Q: What operating systems does slock run on?
A: slock runs on BSD operating systems including FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD. It is also available as packages for Gentoo and Arch Linux.

### Q: Where can I find the source code for slock?
A: The source code for slock is available at https://git.suckless.org/slock/files.html, which is the official source code repository.

## Why It Matters
slock matters because it provides a simple, lightweight solution for screen locking on Unix-like systems. In an era where security is increasingly important, having a reliable screen locker is essential for protecting user data and privacy. slock stands out for its minimalism and efficiency, focusing solely on the core functionality of screen locking without unnecessary features or dependencies. This makes it an ideal choice for users who value simplicity and resource efficiency in their system utilities. As part of the suckless.org software collection, slock embodies the philosophy of creating small, focused tools that do one thing well.

## Notable For
- Being a minimal screen locker utility with no unnecessary features
- Part of the suckless.org software collection known for minimalist design
- Available across multiple BSD distributions (FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD)
- Having a stable version (1.4) that has remained unchanged since 2016-11-20
- Being written in C (programming language Q15777)

## Body
### Overview
slock is a screen locker utility designed for Unix-like operating systems. It provides a simple and minimal way to lock a computer screen when a user steps away, requiring authentication to unlock.

### Licensing and Version
- slock is licensed under the Expat license
- Current stable version is 1.4, released on 2016-11-20
- Copyright status: copyrighted

### Availability
- FreeBSD port: x11/slock
- OpenBSD port: x11/slock
- Gentoo package: x11-misc/slock
- NetBSD package: x11/slock
- Arch Wiki article: Slock

### Technical Details
- Programming language: C (Q15777)
- Operating systems: BSD (Q3251801)
- Website: https://tools.suckless.org/slock/
- Source code repository: https://git.suckless.org/slock/files.html
- Free software directory entry: Slock

### Classification
- Instance of: free software, utility software
- Related to: free software [class]
- Runs on/Requires: BSD [class]

## References

1. Free Software Directory
2. [Source](https://suckless.org/)