Question

I have a script that I need to start up after the user logs in via a nx client. From what I understand, Gnome starts up after a user logs in (correct me if I am wrong here). Where would I put my script so that it starts up after the user logs in?

Relevant Information:
I am working on a redhat machine and assume that I have access only to the files within the home directory (the ~ directory) and not the / directory (can someone tell me what that directory is called? the / one). Are there any files that I can modify/add in the home directory that will help me start up my script? What about if I wanted to start the script from / directory?

Just to clarify since it might’ve not been clear. The ~/home directory implies all files in the home directory including the ones in the subdirectories; same with the / directory.

Answer 1

There is a specification for this purpose, and it works with any desktop environment that supports the specification (eg. KDE, GNOME2, GNOME3, …).

You should put a Desktop Entry file (with .desktop extension) inside of ~/.config/autostart (for a user) or /etc/xdg/autostart (for the whole system). In the file you set the script to run (see the option Exec). For more information, check the Desktop Application Autostart Specification.

For example, you can put a file with the following content:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=MyScript
GenericName=A descriptive name
Comment=Some description about your script
Exec=/path/to/my/script.sh
Terminal=false
Type=Application
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true

You can also use the graphical user interface to create one entry or Add a new entry:

• in GNOME 2 is System/Preferences/Startup Applications.
• in GNOME 3, press Alt+R and look for Startup
Applications Preferences (typing the first letters of the name will filter it quickly) or run gnome-session-properties from there or a terminal.