Arch Linux

raphaelabb

Member

From: France

Registered: 2021-02-03

Posts: 35

Auto startx at login

Hello,

As the Wiki says, I have added:

 if [ -z "$DISPLAY" ] && [ "$XDG_VTNR" = 1 ]; then
  exec startx
fi

into ~/.bash_profile.

It works well but can someone explain what is the signification of

 -z "$DISPLAY"

and

 "$XDG_VTNR" = 1

Thanks.

Maritim

Member

Registered: 2024-05-17

Posts: 10

Re: Auto startx at login

The -z flag checks whether the $DISPLAY variable has a length of zero and XDG_VTNR contains the number of the virtual terminal in which the GUI session will be run.

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 14,854

Re: Auto startx at login

Maritim answer is technically correct, but doesn't explain what the conditions have for effect.

-z "$DISPLAY"
If X has already been started, $DISPLAY will have a length > zero. starting  a second X instance usually fails then.

"$XDG_VTNR" = 1
Only if you are logging in to TTY1 will startx be run .
This allows to use TTY2 and higher for other purposes and allows to run cli commands from tty as user.

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky