[SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

SpongeBOB · 2022-04-02 05:11:49

Hi everyone,

I've created a script that run only once after an user login for the first time.

I launch the script trough ~/.profile

Like this

.profile wrote:

./.OneTime.sh &
startxfce4

So I launch my script as a subshell with the & at the end of the command because I need xfce to have generated some files..
and If I do

.profile wrote:

startxfce4
./.OneTime.sh

My script will never be executed...

I would my script (.OneTime.sh) launch a terminal for the user

I've tried

xfce4-terminal -e 'passwd'

But I don't see the terminal....

Any ideas ?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2022-04-02 09:51:53

SpongeBOB wrote:

I would my script (.OneTime.sh) launch a terminal for the user

echo 'x-terminal-emulator &' >> ~/.xsessionrc

See also https://wiki.debian.org/Xsession & https://xyproblem.info/

Alternatively use XDG autostart:

mkdir -p ~/.config/autostart
cp /usr/share/applications/xfce4-terminal.desktop ~/.config/autostart/

I think Xfce has an autostart GUI buried away somewhere in their menu labyrinth.

SpongeBOB · 2022-04-10 05:28:51

Thank you @HOAS,

unfortunately

echo 'x-terminal-emulator &' >> ~/.xsessionrc

had no effect (visible, most probably it run in the background)

mkdir -p ~/.config/autostart
cp /usr/share/applications/xfce4-terminal.desktop ~/.config/autostart/

indeed start the terminal, but I would like it launch within -e 'passwd' is it possible ?

I edited the ~/.config/autostart/xfce4-terminal.desktop

was

...
Exec=xfce4-terminal --preferences

to

...
Exec=xfce4-terminal -e 'passwd' --preferences

but that's have no effect either

Last edited by SpongeBOB (2022-04-10 05:36:58)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2022-04-10 10:20:12

SpongeBOB wrote:

mkdir -p ~/.config/autostart
cp /usr/share/applications/xfce4-terminal.desktop ~/.config/autostart/
indeed start the terminal, but I would like it launch within -e 'passwd' is it possible ?

Ah, I see, my apologies — I thought you just wanted to autostart a terminal emulator. The XY Problem link I provided explains why it is always best to explain exactly what you're trying to do rather than just ask about a specific problem.

SpongeBOB wrote:

I edited the ~/.config/autostart/xfce4-terminal.desktop
was
...
Exec=xfce4-terminal --preferences
to
...
Exec=xfce4-terminal -e 'passwd' --preferences

You have edited the wrong section. Revert that change and instead add -e passwd to line 173 (ie, the Exec line without the --preferences option). That works for me in GNOME 42 under Arch anyway.

EDIT: just read the OP again. To make this only run once per user we would have to call a script instead that checks for a marker file left after completion and only runs the terminal if the marker file is not present (and then creates the marker file afterwards ofc).

So something like this in ~/.config/autostart/oneshot.desktop:

[Desktop Entry]
Exec=oneshot

With this in /usr/local/bin/oneshot:

#!/bin/sh

marker="$HOME"/.oneshot

if [ ! -f "$marker" ] ; then
   # need to run the commands in a shell to prevent $marker being
   # created if the passwd command is exited before completion
   x-terminal-emulator -e sh -c "passwd && touch $marker"
fi

Remember to mark the oneshot script executable after creating it.

EDIT2: my ~.xsessionrc suggestion didn't work because you're using startxfce4 rather than startx. Read the Debian Wiki Xsession link I provided in my first post to get a better idea of how to launch the desktop "properly".

EDIT3: this also works:

[Desktop Entry]
Exec=oneshot
Terminal=true

#!/bin/sh

marker="$HOME"/.oneshot

if [ ! -f "$marker" ] ; then
   passwd && touch "$marker"
fi

But then the terminal briefly appears then closes if "$marker" is present, which doesn't happen with my first suggestion.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2022-04-10 18:54:03)

SpongeBOB · 2022-04-15 07:39:01

Thank you HOAS !

The XY Problem link I provided explains why it is always best to explain exactly what you're trying to do rather than just ask about a specific problem.

I've just read it and it totally make sens. I think also it's legitimate that if a "noob" took time on Y and believe he is that close to solve Y and therefore X. He is thinking that it will take less time to explain Y instead of the all X[Y].
For my part, If I would need help with Y I will included the X as much as possible 😅

You have edited the wrong section. Revert that change and instead add -e passwd to line 173 (ie, the Exec line without the --preferences option)...

That work ! I've tried also -->

Exec=xfce4-terminal -e passwd && rm -rf ~/.config/autostart/

But of course it's not working, that would have been too easy

EDIT: just read the OP again. To make this only run once per user we would have to call a script instead that checks for a marker file left after completion and only runs the terminal if the marker file is not present (and then creates the marker file afterwards ofc).

~~Would you have a solution that instead of create a marker file, just delete the ~/.config/autostart/xfce4-terminal.desktop ?~~

~~I will try now (base on your examples) and post-it if I manage...~~

out of topics: Damn I spend my ~life to be a windows guru and the conversion is hard, but must ! just for ethic.

Last edited by SpongeBOB (2022-04-15 08:29:32)

SpongeBOB · 2022-04-15 08:17:15

Voila,

I've done it slightly differently

So I'm using /etc/skel/.config/autostart/oneshot.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Exec=oneshot
Terminal=true

and here the /usr/local/bin/oneshot

#!/bin/bash
passwd
rm -rfv ~/.config/autostart/oneshot.desktop

way easier than my previous solution

I just need to found a way to set the title of the terminal .

btw @HOAS why are you using #!/bin/sh ?

Last edited by SpongeBOB (2022-04-15 08:34:47)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2022-04-15 09:14:56

SpongeBOB wrote:

I just need to found a way to set the title of the terminal

echo -ne "\033]0;Title Of Terminal\007"

SpongeBOB wrote:

why are you using #!/bin/sh ?

Because Debian & Devuan both link /bin/sh to dash, which is significantly lighter, faster and less buggy than bash. The only reason to use bash is if you need the extra features (called bashisms).

And on a more practical level:

alpine:~$ bash
/bin/oksh: bash: not found
127alpine:~$

I dual-boot Arch & Alpine Linux but the latter doesn't have bash installed and I prefer to create portable scripts (which will also work on BSD and other UNIX-like systems).

See sh(1) & https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9 … hap02.html for the full /bin/sh POSIX specification.

EDIT:

SpongeBOB wrote:

I've tried also -->
Exec=xfce4-terminal -e passwd && rm -rf ~/.config/autostart/
But of course it's not working

The Exec line just runs a command but && is shell syntax so to make that work you would have to run it through a shell:

Exec=x-terminal-emulator -e sh -c "passwd && rm ~/.config/autostart/oneshot.desktop"

So no need for /usr/local/bin/oneshot

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2022-04-15 10:56:00)

SpongeBOB · 2022-04-16 05:38:15

🙇 Thanks again HOAS !!! that's a detailed answer, thank you so much !

I'm ashamed to ask, but does someone have a an explanation about

echo -ne "\033]0;Title Of Terminal\007"

I've man echo But this doesn't help to understand why the echo is going to the title.. (I've look also on some's search engine but found nothing.. )

Thanks

Last edited by SpongeBOB (2022-04-16 05:39:12)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2022-04-16 09:01:43

The echo command is using ANSI escape sequences — \033]0 sets a title in xterm (other terminals might need \033]2) and \007 (the bell character) unsets that option.

EDIT: or use

printf "\e]0;%s\a" "Please enter password"

Because echo -e is unspecified in the POSIX standard

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2022-04-16 13:29:31)

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#1 2022-04-02 05:11:49

[SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#2 2022-04-02 09:51:53

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#3 2022-04-10 05:28:51

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#4 2022-04-10 10:20:12

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#5 2022-04-15 07:39:01

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#6 2022-04-15 08:17:15

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#7 2022-04-15 09:14:56

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#8 2022-04-16 05:38:15

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

#9 2022-04-16 09:01:43

Re: [SOLVED] Launching a terminal from a subshell ?

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