(DWM) my program doesn't update X root window when run as systemd.unit

arbitarycounterfactual · 2024-09-05 03:54:57

It is a program written in C that updates X root window (which is the status bar in DWM). It uses libxcb and libxcb-util (mainly, xcb_change_property() to write characters in the root window). Being run as an event loop.

I usually just leave it running in the background by typing into the shell each time I log in, like so...

sys-status 1>/dev/null 2>~/.local/sys-status/log &

I need systemd to take care of it. I copied a minimal boilerplate systemd.service file in /usr/lib/systemd/user.

[Unit]
Description=status bar for DWM

[Service]
ExecStart=sys-status 1>/dev/null 
Type=simple
Restart=on-failure 
RestartSec=1s

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

starting this service does not have any effect, it does not change the status bar.

Please let me know if you need any more information.

seth · 2024-09-05 06:53:32

The user service likely lacks the $DISPLAY environment? Have you checked it's status?

arbitarycounterfactual · 2024-09-05 07:16:18

seth wrote:

The user service likely lacks the $DISPLAY environment?

Oh well, right! Completely forgot systemd execution doesn't look at system envvars, and dealing with X server requires knowing them. Added these two definitions

Environment="DISPLAY=:0"
Environment="XAUTHORITY="/home/aissy/.Xauthority""

It works now. Thanks for the reminder!

By the way, I would have it better if systemd envvars could be automatically set to already-set system envvars (maybe somewhat like an import into systemd environment)?

seth · 2024-09-05 07:25:19

Please always remember to mark resolved threads by editing your initial posts subject - so others will know that there's no task left, but maybe a solution to find.
Thanks.

A fundamental problem is that the service might even start before any X11 server and your session isn't tied to a specific one either.
I'd typically rather start such daemons w/ the relevant X11 session (xinitrc or from dwm) than as a user service.

Arch Linux

#1 2024-09-05 03:54:57

(DWM) my program doesn't update X root window when run as systemd.unit

#2 2024-09-05 06:53:32

Re: (DWM) my program doesn't update X root window when run as systemd.unit

#3 2024-09-05 07:16:18

Re: (DWM) my program doesn't update X root window when run as systemd.unit

#4 2024-09-05 07:25:19

Re: (DWM) my program doesn't update X root window when run as systemd.unit

Board footer