[SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

geo909 · 2011-11-12 03:01:49

Hi all,

So I have this empty file called "null" in appearing in my home folder, no
matter how many times I delete it; when I do, after 2 seconds it pops out
again..

I'm confused.. Don't have the slightest idea why this is going on..

This is how my .xinitrc looks like, if this helps:

#!/bin/sh

parcellite &

exec ck-launch-session &
exec dbus-launch &

 Check for my external monitor

if [ "VGA1 connected" = "$(xrandr | grep -o "VGA1 connected")" ]; then

xrandr --output HDMI1 --off --output LVDS1 --mode 1280x800 --pos 1920x0 --rotate normal --output TV1 --off --output VGA1 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal
fi

wallpaper=$(ls ~/Images/Wallpapers -1 | shuf -n 1)
feh --bg-scale /home/jorge/Images/Wallpapers/"$wallpaper" &
#feh --bg-scale ~/Images/Wallpapers/scratandme16\:9.jpg

while true
do
	xsetroot -name "`date` `uptime | sed 's/.*,//'`"
	sleep 1
done &

lxterminal &
sh /home/jorge/Scripts/CheckDropbox.sh &
exec dwm

Thanks a lot in advance..

Last edited by geo909 (2011-11-12 16:00:34)

stqn · 2011-11-12 04:27:19

Well, does your CheckDropbox.sh script do something every two seconds?

fschiff · 2011-11-12 06:11:47

This is probably a bug some where in a script. An output or error redirection is probably supposed to go to /dev/null but is instead creating a file called null in your home directory.

Use grep and find the culprit.

geo909 · 2011-11-12 15:47:24

So, yes, I have CheckDropbox.sh checking something every 60 secs..
Do you think I'm missing something? I don't know much when it comes
to shell scripting..

#!/bin/bash

# While there is a connection, the script checks every 60 secs if 
# the dropbox status is "Dropbox isn't running" or "Connecting",
# and if so, it reconnects the service. Could start from .xinitrc.

while true; do
	ping -c 1 www.google.com 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null
	if [ "$?" = 0 ]; then
		dropbox status | egrep 'isn|Connecting'>null
		if [ "$?" = 0 ]; then
			dropbox stop
			dropbox start
		fi
 	fi
	sleep 60
done

EDIT: yes, it is this shell script.. Changed the sleep time and the null file appears in different times now.
I think it's going to be easy to see where it comes from, I'll search later, so no need to waste your time
(unless it's something you can see right away ) ),,

Last edited by geo909 (2011-11-12 15:57:48)

stqn · 2011-11-12 15:59:06

geo909 wrote:

		dropbox status | egrep 'isn|Connecting'>null

Should be /dev/null.

geo909 · 2011-11-12 16:03:45

stqn wrote:

geo909 wrote:
		dropbox status | egrep 'isn|Connecting'>null
Should be /dev/null.

Ah, yes! Thanks so much..

fsckd · 2011-11-12 16:05:09

geo909, if you're wondering where your post went, you sent it to the mods via Report. Don't worry, it happens quite a bit.

geo909 wrote:

Ah, thanks so much!

Arch Linux

#1 2011-11-12 03:01:49

[SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

#2 2011-11-12 04:27:19

Re: [SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

#3 2011-11-12 06:11:47

Re: [SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

#4 2011-11-12 15:47:24

Re: [SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

#5 2011-11-12 15:59:06

Re: [SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

#6 2011-11-12 16:03:45

Re: [SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

#7 2011-11-12 16:05:09

Re: [SOLVED] An empty file called "null" appears in my home folder

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