I want that an application starts automatically when I login into X. I read in Slackware Essentials that xinitrc could be used for that purpose, so I've copied the default file to ~/.xinitrc, and added my program into it. And that worked indeed in runlevel 3, but when I've switched to runlevel 4 (Graphical login with session managers) it seems that it doesn't even read this file anymore. Is this normal :?

What is the best way to autostart my application?

Thanks in advance.

xinitrc is one of the older, lower-level ways to autostart an application. Most desktop environments have their own systems for it these days. kde has its ~.kde/Autostart folder, and I think gnome has a folder or configuration dialog that works in a similar way.


I had a link to a page that listed how to configure autostart for different systems, but it seems to be dead now. I suggest you research your own distro and DE for specifics.

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In a typical Linux and UNIX system run level 4 is not defined and run level 5 is graphical login. I don't know about Slackware so maybe they do use run level 4. I'm just saying it sounds weird to use run level 4.

~/.xinitrc is the old fashioned way to start applications automatically when X starts. It may still be the only method possible with the simple window managers such as twm, fvwm, etc. However if you are using a sophisticated desktop environment such as Gnome or KDE then they have their own autostart mechanisms. In KDE you can create a link in ~/.kde/Autostart to an application that you want to start when KDE login happens. For example if you wanted to start Xeyes automatically on KDE then the following commands in a terminal window (Konsole) would do it.
I haven't use Gnome in a long time so I don't know about that. They probably have something similar to KDE.

Addendum: I see that David the H. posted three minutes prior to me while bgeddy and I must have posted within seconds of each other. Unfortunately all three posts are extremely similar. Extremely similar. That's weird. I promise that I did not see David's post before I started to write mine and I have to believe that bgeddy didn't see mine before he posted.

I suppose I'm making too much of this but the similarity with no useful additional information to speak between these posts of is really weird. Yeah. I'm freaking out. Freaking out!

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If you are running KDE - as said -you can put a link in ~/.kde/Autostart/ to the application you want to run at startup. If you are running another DE then I'm not sure.

@stress_junkie: Not in Slackware it's not ! We have runnlevel 4 for X. You should check a user's distribution in their signature before contradicting !

Well if you had waited a few minutes you would have seen that my edits include a statement that I understand Slackware could be an exception. You should settle down.

Thank you guys, I know there's must be a simpler way to do this

I've forgot to mention, yes I'm using KDE