How to Autostart Apps in Fluxbox?

Lucinda · 06-20-2004, 09:52 AM

I'm just learning to use Fluxbox 0.1.14 and I'm wondering how to start autostart apps? I'm running Slackware -current and my /etc/X11/xinit/Xinitrc.fluxbox file is as follows:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
# $XConsortium: xinitrc.cpp,v 1.4 91/08/22 11:41:34 rws Exp $

userresources=$HOME/.Xresources
usermodmap=$HOME/.Xmodmap
sysresources=/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xinit/.Xresources
sysmodmap=/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xinit/.Xmodmap

# merge in defaults and keymaps

if [ -f $sysresources ]; then
    xrdb -merge $sysresources
fi

if [ -f $sysmodmap ]; then
    xmodmap $sysmodmap
fi

if [ -f $userresources ]; then
    xrdb -merge $userresources
fi

if [ -f $usermodmap ]; then
    xmodmap $usermodmap
fi

gkrellm -w
gdesklets &
wmxmms &
wmdrawer &
wmpop &


# Start the window manager:
exec /usr/X11R6/bin/fluxbox

I can't get the file to automatically execute, but strangely enough, if I open rox-filer and then click once on this file when it is displayed in the directory list, I get gkrellm to run (but none of the subsequent apps are appearing on my desktop -- just gkrellm). How can I get the apps to automatically execute?

Thanks.

isl01jbe · 06-20-2004, 09:59 AM

put the contents of Xinitrc.fluxbox into the .xinitrc file located in your home directory. if it doesn't exist, create it. that should solve the problem

Lucinda · 06-20-2004, 10:06 AM

Yeah, good point. I just did that and then rebooted and it still didn't work. However, I can get the file to work if I run /home/lucinda/.xinitrc in a command line. So how do I get it to run automatically?

Maybe the problem is that I am running at runlevel 4, so I get a graphical interface from which I choose my desktop (in this case, fluxbox). Maybe .xinitrc only works at run level 3? Is there someway to invoke the file after I log in to fluxbox via the graphical log in?

Aeiri · 06-20-2004, 10:17 AM

Add this to the top of your ~/.fluxbox/apps file:

Quote:

[startup] {gkrellm -w}
[startup] {gdesklets}
[startup] {~/.slit}

And make a file ~/.slit that contains:

Quote:

#!/bin/sh
wmxmms &
wmdrawer &
wmpop &

And run "chmod +x ~/.slit".

You don't have to make the slit file if you don't want to, and put it in the apps file as well, but I like to do that for organization

Lucinda · 06-20-2004, 10:34 AM

Thanks, I tried your suggestion but couldn't get it to work. Maybe flux only recognizes the app file in newer versions of flux? I'm using 0.1.14. How does flux know to look in that file?

slakmagik · 06-20-2004, 01:59 PM

AFAIK 'apps' only works in the devel flux and xinitrc only works with 'startx' in runlevel 3. I *think* '~/.Xsessions' is the file you want for runlevel 4 but, really, 3 is better. Makes it easier to deal with if you encounter problems with X, makes it easier to install X-related drivers (like nVidia), makes it easier to do a lot. Such as initializing apps with .xinitrc. Plus you see the command line every time you boot up. All this for the low, low price of typing 'startx'.

-- Oh, and maybe most importantly, no 'display manager' structure getting in the way of things. That's a whole 'nother app/subsytem that can be chucked.

mikshaw · 06-20-2004, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lucinda
if I open rox-filer and then click once on this file when it is displayed in the directory list, I get gkrellm to run (but none of the subsequent apps are appearing on my desktop -- just gkrellm). How can I get the apps to automatically execute?

gkrellm -w
gdesklets &
wmxmms &
wmdrawer &
wmpop &

Notice the ampersand after each of the other apps. Gkrellm should have one as well...this runs it as a background process and allows the xinit script to continue.

slakmagik · 06-20-2004, 02:17 PM

I'm glad absent ampersands aren't snakes. Geez.