Feh Autostarting under Fluxbox on Ubuntu MATE

frankbell · 04-26-2019, 08:45 PM

When I log into Fluxbox on Ubuntu MATE 18.04 LTS, feh autostarts (and displays a truly hideous wallpaper with the Ubuntu logo).

I have my own wallpaper script running just fine (it picks a random wallpaper from my library and displays it), then this feh thing appears on top. With a right-click, it displays a menu and I can exit the program. The startup programs that I specified are starting up just fine also.

I verified that feh was the culprit by doing a ps and killing the feh process, which made the beastly thing go away.

I cannot find what's calling feh. It's not referenced in any of the Fluxbox config files (init, startup, etc). A web search for "feh+unbuntu+fluxbox" was not helpful.

Any ideas as to what new rocks I should look under would be most appreciated.

Afterthought: I did install Fluxbox from the repos, and it has some *buntu customizations, such as a couple of Ubuntu themes (or styles).

individual · 04-26-2019, 09:41 PM

Could you post the output of

Code:

cat ~/.fluxbox/init

I'm specifically looking for the line that starts with "session.styleFile."

EDIT: Nevermind posting the fluxbox init file. It looks like there is a hidden file called ".fehbg" in the home directory which contains the following line:

Code:

feh --bg-scale '/usr/share/images/fluxbox/ubuntu-light.png'

It appears that the background image listed in that file is specified in /usr/share/fluxbox/styles/ubuntu-light. At least, that's where it is located on my Ubuntu VM. The style file is referenced in ~/.fluxbox/init.

EDIT2: I have a solution, although I'm not sure if it is a proper one.
First, uncomment the following line in ~/.fluxbox/overlay:

Code:

background: none

Log out and back in.
I don't know that .fehbg is actually used for anything. I rm'd it and just changed the background image using ~/.fluxbox/lastwallpaper. Here's an example:

Code:

$full $full|/home/user/Pictures/fluxbox.png||:0.0

Just an FYI, lastwallpaper is what fbsetbg writes to.

EDIT3: If you rm .fehbg and set the wallpaper in lastwallpaper, then log out and back in, fluxbox will write .fehbg with the image file referenced in lastwallpaper.

frankbell · 04-29-2019, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll take a look at them and get back to you tomorrow.

frankbell · 04-30-2019, 12:19 PM

First I want to thank you for spending some time digging into this!

Here are the results of my testing today:

Code:

$ cat ~/.fluxbox/init | grep session.style
session.styleOverlay:   /home/frankbell/.fluxbox/overlay
session.styleFile:      /usr/share/fluxbox/styles/Operation

I've used a couple of other styles since setting Fluxbox up on this machine. I think the issue is unrelated to the style itself. Plus I've not encountered it on any other machine that I've used Fluxbox on.

I grabbed a screenshot showing the feh thing in operation: http://pineviewfarm.net/weblog/wp-co...4/flux_feh.jpg

One think I've noticed in the lastwallpaper file: I start Fluxbox and my wallpaper script sets a random background from my library, then this feh thingee runs and overwrites the setting in lastwallpaper. For example.

Code:

$ cat .fluxbox/lastwallpaper
! $full|/usr/share/images/fluxbox/ubuntu-light.png|style|:0.0

This does not change even after my wallpaper script sets another random background after unit time. For what it's worth:

Code:

$ ls -l .fluxbox/lastwallpaper
-rw-rw-r-- 1 frankbell frankbell 62 Apr 30 12:45 .fluxbox/lastwallpaper

This is hardly a serious issue, as I can make feh go away by exiting it via its menu, but I sure would like to solve this puzzle!

sevendogsbsd · 04-30-2019, 12:46 PM

OP - is there a file named ".fehbg" that is marked executable in the root of your user's home directory? Under your user's home, there is a .config directory under which there is an "autostart" directory (might be another sub). Does feh have a .desktop file in the autostart directory?

frankbell · 05-07-2019, 09:01 PM

Yes.

I just did a chmod -x on it. I'm using that computer right now, but I will log out and back in tomorrow and let you know what happens.

Thanks.

frankbell · 05-07-2019, 09:44 PM

I was able to test it tonight.

No change.

Drat.

Patrick59 · 05-08-2019, 12:51 PM

Hi,

Did you have a look in your .xinitrc ?

hth,

hazel · 05-08-2019, 03:55 PM

Check in the .fluxbox theme file. It often sets a wallpaper which is different from the one set by startup or .xinitrc. The .fehbg file then gets reset to that wallpaper each time you run fluxbox.

ondoho · 05-09-2019, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

Yes.

I just did a chmod -x on it.

why not just delete it?

hazel · 05-09-2019, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

why not just delete it?

I think if it is in the theme as "background image", .fehbg gets recreated. I had a similar problem a few months ago.

sevendogsbsd · 05-09-2019, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

Yes.

I just did a chmod -x on it. I'm using that computer right now, but I will log out and back in tomorrow and let you know what happens.

Thanks.

So, the executable .fehbg file tells feh what the last wallpaper was and when it starts, to use that wallpaper. It doesn't start feh though, you have to do that via .xinitrc or some other method.

hazel · 05-09-2019, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevendogsbsd

So, the executable .fehbg file tells feh what the last wallpaper was and when it starts, to use that wallpaper. It doesn't start feh though, you have to do that via .xinitrc or some other method.

It does start feh. Here is the content of the file on my system:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
feh --bg-scale '/home/hazel/.fluxbox/backgrounds/wallpaper.jpg'

sevendogsbsd · 05-09-2019, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazel

It does start feh. Here is the content of the file on my system:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
feh --bg-scale '/home/hazel/.fluxbox/backgrounds/wallpaper.jpg'

Right, I was going off memory, which in my advanced age

may or may not be reliable...

frankbell · 05-09-2019, 07:57 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll look into them tomorrow and let you know what I find.