[Solved] How to auto-start a terminal app

[azrobert]

I’m running Mate 20.1.

I installed xarclock, but I can’t find it. I can search for it using Software manager and then launch it, so it is installed. I read that widgets are found under preferences, but I don’t see it.

Could someone help me find it and show me how to configure it.

Thanks

[azrobert]

Stupid question - removed

[mikeflan]

Xarclock is in Software Manager, so apparently Software Manager can be used to install it. SM points to this location:
https://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/X11/clocks
which is ancient. The only review is from 2010 and it says poor design.

How would we know that Xarclock is a widget? I don't see any reference to widgets in LM.

Xarclock is a terminal based program, so a launcher would not be set in the menu.

[billyswong]

These kind of ancient programs often don't register itself into desktop environment automatically. So while you may see it describing itself as "widget", they can only be launched by either typing command in terminal, or create a launcher in menu with the terminal command manually by yourself, or create an autostart, again manually...

p.s. Here is the xarclock command line manual https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/fo ... ock.1.html

[billyswong]

If you want analog clock widget in the modern sense, assuming you are running Cinnamon desktop, it is at Right click on desktop > Add Desklets > Download > Analog Chronometer

But if you are running Mate or Xfce desktop, then you may need to deal with conky

[azrobert]

Thanks for all the replies. Mikeflan’s reply to my stupid question pointed me in the right direction.

I changed the title to reflect my new question.

Again, I’m running Mate 20.1

My goal is to have a large clock displayed on start-up.
I found a terminal clock app, Buici-Clock. Its size is configurable.

I created a desktop launcher:
Right clicked on desktop and selected Create Launcher
Clicked browse found and selected app Buici-Clock

Double clicking on this desktop launcher opens the clock.

I tried to add Buici_Clock to Startup:
Opened Startup Applications
Clicked Add
Clicked Browse and found Buici-Clock under Desktop
Clicked Open to add it to Startup

Shutdown and restarted.
Clock NOT displayed.
What am I doing wrong?

[mikeflan]

Clicked browse found and selected app Buici-Clock

What is the full path to the Buici-Clock app?
Right click the launcher - Properties - What is across from Command: ?
Put that in a terminal. Does Buici-Clock launch?

[azrobert]

Command: /usr/bin/buici-clock -geometry =840x840+300

The launcher works from the desktop.
It fails when launcher is added to Startup Programs.


Edit:
it also works when the command is pasted into the Terminal.

Edit2:
This is the command in the Startup Program:
/home/robert/Desktop/BuiciClock.desktop

Edit3:
I got it working. I used the same command as in the launcher and not pointing to the desktop launcher.
Thank you everybody!

[billyswong]

Command: /usr/bin/buici-clock -geometry =840x840+300

The launcher works from the desktop.
It fails when launcher is added to Startup Programs.


Edit:
it also works when the command is pasted into the Terminal.

Edit2:
This is the command in the Startup Program:
/home/robert/Desktop/BuiciClock.desktop

Try put the terminal command, not the .desktop file path into the startup program

You may also add some delay.

[azrobert]

That worked!
Thank you

[billyswong]

Another solution found:

Code: Select all

gio launch /path/to/launcher.desktop

This is how a .desktop file be launched from terminal in GTK-based desktop environment.