Python app to run on KDE startup

mpmackenna · 07-17-2008, 10:44 PM

I am trying to get gmail notifier to run at startup. I went to my /home/mike/.kde/autostart folder and created a new test file called notifier.py. Then in that file I typed the following lines.

Code:

#!/usr/bin/env python
/usr/share/gmail-notify/notifier.py

When I login instead of the script running it just opens the text file. I googled for the answer to this undeniably simple question, but so far I can't find it. Would someone please point me in the direction? Thanks so much for any assistance.
Mike
Note: I am running Mandriva Linux 2008.1 with KDE. Thanks!
Oh, one more thing, is /usr/share an appropriate place to put the gmail-notify folder? I don't know I am a newb.

bigrigdriver · 07-18-2008, 12:09 AM

Is notifier.py executable? Just because it's a python script doesn't make it executable. You have to set the executable bit: as root,
chmod u+x /usr/share/gmail-notify/notifier.py

mpmackenna · 07-18-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigrigdriver

Is notifier.py executable? Just because it's a python script doesn't make it executable. You have to set the executable bit: as root,
chmod u+x /usr/share/gmail-notify/notifier.py

Still no dice... I think it was set as executable already. User mike has rwx rights to begin with and I ran that command as well. Still cant double click on my notifier.py shortcut and have the program launch.
Thanks for the response.

knudfl · 07-18-2008, 12:22 PM

The safe way : make a script (in e.g. /usr/local/bin)
and make the "script.sh" an entry in Autostart.

Quote:

#! /bin/sh
cd /usr/share/gmail-notify/
exec python notifier.py

Regards

mpmackenna · 07-18-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knudfl

The safe way : make a script (in e.g. /usr/local/bin)
and make the "script.sh" an entry in Autostart.

Regards

Same issue, I put a text file named notify.sh in ~/.kde/Autostart/ and when I login it just opens KWrite with the text of the script instead of running the commands.
I used your script with the following statements.

Code:

#!/bin/sh
cd /usr/share/gmail-notify/
exec python notifier.py

Thanks for responding.

arizonagroovejet · 07-18-2008, 05:30 PM

In my experience stuff in ~/.kde/Autostart has to be a .desktop entry. You can just stick scripts in to ~/.kde/shutdown though which strikes me as rather inconsistent, but there you go.

Anyway, try this: In ~/.kde/Autostart make a file called gmailnotifyer.desktop that contains the following:

Code:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=GMailNotifier
Exec=python /usr/share/gmail-notify/notifier.py

mpmackenna · 07-18-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arizonagroovejet

In my experience stuff in ~/.kde/Autostart has to be a .desktop entry. You can just stick scripts in to ~/.kde/shutdown though which strikes me as rather inconsistent, but there you go.

Anyway, try this: In ~/.kde/Autostart make a file called gmailnotifyer.desktop that contains the following:

Code:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=GMailNotifier
Exec=python /usr/share/gmail-notify/notifier.py

That worked! Thanks so much for the help.

jiml8 · 07-18-2008, 08:30 PM

I think the problem with your script was your shebang was wrong.

You had it like this:

#!/usr/bin/env python

which has you invoking the env command. You should have had this:

$!/usr/bin/python

then your script would work.

mpmackenna · 07-18-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiml8

I think the problem with your script was your shebang was wrong.

You had it like this:

#!/usr/bin/env python

which has you invoking the env command. You should have had this:

$!/usr/bin/python

then your script would work.

I tried your suggestion just to see if it would help. It still didn't work.

The only thing that has been successful so far is the suggestion made by Arizonagroovejet.

Thanks for the response.

jiml8 · 07-18-2008, 09:00 PM

Well, I did have a typo.

I put in $!/usr/bin/python, which should have been #!/usr/bin/python

I run some bash scripts in my autostart; I do not think it HAS to be a .desktop file.

mpmackenna · 07-18-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiml8

Well, I did have a typo.

I put in $!/usr/bin/python, which should have been #!/usr/bin/python

I run some bash scripts in my autostart; I do not think it HAS to be a .desktop file.

Yeah I caught your typo and corrected it for the test. It seems odd to me too that it would need to be a .desktop file, but that is the only thing that seems to be working for me at the moment. Thanks.

knudfl · 07-19-2008, 06:00 AM

Sorry, I didn't express the issue clearly.
Suggest : script in /usr/local/bin/"script"
..and a link (or Desktop entry) in Autostart :
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Autostart_Programs

Regards

vlxvbaxeqoff · 04-08-2019, 04:10 PM

Time has passed. On Kde5 one can do:
Start -> Search: autostart
In the 'Script File' section click on 'Add Script...' -> 'Shell script path:' -> OK -> 'Run On': default is 'Startup'.
That's it.

vlxvbaxeqoff · 04-08-2019, 04:11 PM

Since that was my first post and wasn't allowed to fill in external links, I provide it below:

More documentation at:
https://docs.kde.org/trunk5/en/kde-w...art/index.html