.bin file in linux. How to stop and how to create executable icon for use in GUI.

Tsuga · 07-31-2020, 12:51 PM

I downloaded Zotero, an app for document management. I downloaded the standalone version for linux. The download supplies a folder and the folder has shell script, zotero, and an executable, zotero-bin. I searched and found that I can start the executable with

Code:

./zotero-bin

. When I execute that command in the terminal, the app runs fine and the terminal keeps a blank line after

Code:

./zotero-bin

It won't let me type anything in that blank line. And more importantly, I don't know what to type to get Zotero to close when I'm done with it. I know I can use CTL-C or or -Z or something to stop the zotero-bin, but I don't know if that's the correct way to stop the program's execution. What should I do to stop/close an executable when I started that executable in the terminal?

Also, is there a way to create GUI icon so that I can click on that icon/shortcut like I do for most of the other apps I use, like clicking on the Firefox icon or OpenOffice icon to start those respective programs?

I'm working with Slackware 14.2, but this question is relevant to any newb on a linux distro.

scasey · 07-31-2020, 03:23 PM

Anytime you run a command from the command line, it will "busy out" the terminal until the command completes.

Does running the command start a gui application? Exiting the gui application from within it will end the program. Alt+F4 if there's not a File --> Exit menu command

If you run the command in the background:

Code:

./zotero-bin &

You'll get control of the terminal, but the program will still run. Use

Code:

fg

to bring the command into the foreground.