HowTo capture screen to animated GIF using Linux

Tools used

• xdotool
• byzanz-record

Environments tested

• Ubuntu 14.04/Linux Mint Rosa 17.3

Installation

$ sudo apt-get install byzanz xdotool

Usage

1. Get the position and size of the window you want to capture

$ sleep 3s && xdotool getwindowgeometry $(xdotool getactivewindow)

Window 56627781
Position: 470,79 (screen: 0)
Geometry: 439x673

In this example you have 3 seconds to open or focus window you want to capture.

2.  Set options like Position(X,Y), Windows size (W,H), Delay and where to save the animated GIF

$ byzanz-record --delay=3 -x 470 -y 79 -w 439 -h 673 ~/Pictures/sample.gif

You may need to ajust -w -h options a little