Starting programs depending on AC state

orschiro · 2014-09-24 09:04:26

Hi there,

What do you consider the best way to run programs depending on the AC state, i.e. whether the laptop runs on battery or is plugged in?

Example use cases:

* Running my backup program only when I am plugged in
* Running Dropbox when I am mobile, thus on battery

Thanks for sharing your solutions!

halocaridina · 2014-09-25 00:55:12

How about a rule under udev?

This is what I use for increasing/decreasing backlight depending on AC state:

cat /etc/udev/rules.d/98-backlight.rules

# Adjust screen brightness according to power state
# 1st rule for when on AC
ACTION=="change", SUBSYSTEM=="power_supply", ATTR{type}=="Mains", ATTR{online}=="1", ENV{DISPLAY}=":0", ENV{XAUTHORITY}="/home/username/.Xauthority", RUN+="/usr/bin/xbacklight -set 90"
# 2nd rule for when on battery
ACTION=="change", SUBSYSTEM=="power_supply", ATTR{type}=="Mains", ATTR{online}=="0", ENV{DISPLAY}=":0", ENV{XAUTHORITY}="/home/username/.Xauthority", RUN+="/usr/bin/xbacklight -set 35"

Trilby · 2014-09-25 01:04:27

I think udev rules would only be useful for reacting to events. The question sounds more like a conditional test to check the current state:

[[ $(cat /sys/class/power_supply/AC/online) -eq 1 ]] && command-to-run-on-AC-only

halocaridina · 2014-09-25 01:09:16

Trilby,

Good point. A conditional test makes more sense in the context of the OP's question.

Halocaridina

orschiro · 2014-09-25 05:05:54

Some good ideas. Thank you!

I will test around and report back.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-09-24 09:04:26

Starting programs depending on AC state

#2 2014-09-25 00:55:12

Re: Starting programs depending on AC state

#3 2014-09-25 01:04:27

Re: Starting programs depending on AC state

#4 2014-09-25 01:09:16

Re: Starting programs depending on AC state

#5 2014-09-25 05:05:54

Re: Starting programs depending on AC state

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