what do I write in xinitrc to specify default desktop?

newbiesforever · 04-05-2013, 10:57 AM

I understand I can specify my default desktop manager by editing xinitrc. What's the syntax? My user account didn't seem to have its own xinitrc, so I just copied the one in /etc/X11/xinit to my account. All it says is:

Quote:

#!/bin/sh

# /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
#
# global xinitrc file, used by all X sessions started by xinit (startx)

# invoke global X session script
. /etc/X11/Xsession

My system currently starts with Xfce by default, despite that this xinit doesn't specify a desktop. Is that because Xfce was the most recent one I installed?

JWJones · 04-05-2013, 11:55 AM

Here's what mine looks like (Slackware 14):

Code:

#!/bin/sh
#  xinitrc.xfce - modified to work around xfce4session bug
#                 https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8841


########################################################################
##  Merge in defaults and keymaps                                     ##
########################################################################

userresources=$HOME/.Xresources
usermodmap=$HOME/.Xmodmap
sysresources=/etc/X11/xinit/.Xresources
sysmodmap=/etc/X11/xinit/.Xmodmap

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

if [ -f $sysmodmap ]; then
    /usr/bin/xmodmap $sysmodmap
fi

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

if [ -f $usermodmap ]; then
    /usr/bin/xmodmap $usermodmap
fi

########################################################################
##  Start xfce Desktop Environment                                    ##
########################################################################

if [ -z "$DESKTOP_SESSION" -a -x /usr/bin/ck-launch-session ]; then
  exec ck-launch-session dbus-launch --exit-with-session /usr/bin/startxfce4
else
  exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session /usr/bin/startxfce4
fi

And a screenshot of the directory, with the other WMs.

newbiesforever · 04-05-2013, 12:05 PM

Okay. So I guess the xinitrc.xfce line at the top means the file is called xinitrc.xfce instead of xinitrc? And the system will use it instead of xinitrc? Or does the xinitrc need to contain an instruction to use xintrc.xfce?

JWJones · 04-05-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbiesforever

Okay. So I guess the xinitrc.xfce line at the top means the file is called xinitrc.xfce instead of xinitrc? And the system will use it instead of xinitrc? Or does the xinitrc need to contain an instruction to use xintrc.xfce?

That filename is actually "xinitrc". But it's specifying using xfce. You will notice the separate files for each WM/DE in the screenshot.

Most distros will give you a (GUI) method to start one or another at the login manager. In Slackware, I choose by typing in the terminal:

Code:

$ xwmconfig

And then choosing from the available options, which would then change "xinitrc" to reflect that choice.

teckk · 04-05-2013, 02:18 PM

User .xinitrc is hidden

Code:

ls -a | grep xinit
.xinitrc

~/.xinitrc can be as simple as

Code:

exec fluxbox

Start your X session with startx or xinit

Or if you want a diplay mgr, point ~/.xinitrc to it.

http://wiki.xfce.org/tips
http://forum.manjaro.org/index.php?topic=651.0
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xfce
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xfce-config.xml

newbiesforever · 04-05-2013, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teckk

~/.xinitrc can be as simple as

Code:

exec fluxbox

Okay, thanks. I haven't tried restarting X yet, but my own .xinitrc now says:

Code:

#!/bin/sh

# /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
#
# global xinitrc file, used by all X sessions started by xinit (startx)

# invoke global X session script
. /etc/X11/Xsession
exec icewm

...but that doesn't work. It only does nothing for about 30 seconds, then starts Xfce.

teckk · 04-06-2013, 09:20 AM

Your ~/.xinitrc should not be a sh script.

If you want icewm when you run xinit then something like

Code:

exec icewm

That's it. You may need to use the whole path

Code:

exec /usr/bin/icewm

What flavor of Linux are you using? That will help a member zero in on it for you.

http://www.icewm.org/manual/icewm-3.html
http://celettu.wordpress.com/icewm-guide/
http://www.icewm.org/FAQ/

Captain Pinkeye · 04-06-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

My system currently starts with Xfce by default, despite that this xinit doesn't specify a desktop.

AFAIK .xinitrc work only with startx command. What distro do you have? What init level do you use (do you boot into some X or plain terminal)?

Archwiki has very good info on this matter.

newbiesforever · 04-06-2013, 08:47 PM

I'm using antiX.

frankbell · 04-06-2013, 09:20 PM

If you are using a graphical login manager, such as GDM, it normally will allow you to select your session.

If you want to control sessions through .xinitrc, you commonly need to disable to graphical display manager.

That's what I did on my Debian box. Here's my .xinitrc:

Code:

# gkrellm &
# /home/frankbell/scripts/wallpaper.sh &
# exec fvwm-themes-start
exec startfluxbox
# exec fvwm-crystal

Not that "fluxbox" did not work. I went to the Fluxbox site and learned that I needed to use "startfluxbox." The rest of Fluxbox's startup is handled by Fluxbox's own ~/.fluxbox/startup and ~/.fluxbox/init files. (All the other lines are there to start FVWM, which I played with for a few months out of curiosity.)

My Debian .xinitrc file is much simpler than Slackware's .xinitrc, I think because Slackware's must be prepared to understand choices made with Slackware's xwmconfig script.

The Arch wiki, always a great reference, has a good article on .xinitrc.