LinuxQuestions.org - Automatic start of programs?

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Automatic start of programs?

Hi,

Im using debian dist. and gnome. I want to gaim to start up when i log in, but how? Can someone please help me with this?

Regards

Do you boot into a graphical login, or do you login at a text prompt and have to type startx to get into the GUI?

If it is the latter (text login), then you should edit a file in your home directory called .xinitrc (yes, the dot is important). This is a script that is run (sort-of) when you type startx and instructs your computer to run your applications, including your Window Manager or Desktop Environment. An example would be like this:

Code:

# xinitrc file

# runs when I load X

exec gaim&

exec startgnome

Note the & symbol after gaim, and more equally as important, notice that there isn't an & symbol after startgnome.

Hope this helps.

I log in using the graphical interface. Should I proceed like you stated in your post??

:newbie:

The process for loginging from a GUI interface is slightly different, but only slightly. You should try using the file .xsession first (again, in your home directory). The format of the file should be the same as the .xinitrc file above. Please note, however, that some login managers do not support .xsession files, and will therefore ignore them (mdkkdm springs to mind, but that shouldn't affect debian users as it is a Mandrake adaptation of kdm).