XINIT(1) AIX XINIT(1) NAME Xinit - X Window System initializer SYNOPSIS XXXXiiiinnnniiiitttt [ [ _c_l_i_e_n_t ] _o_p_t_i_o_n_s ] [ -------- [ _s_e_r_v_e_r ] [ _d_i_s_p_l_a_y ] _o_p_t_i_o_n_s ] DESCRIPTION The _X_i_n_i_t program is used to start the X Window System server and a first client program on systems that cannot start X directly from /_e_t_c/_i_n_i_t or in environments that use multiple window systems. When this first client exits, _X_i_n_i_t will kill the X server and then terminate. If no specific client program is given on the command line, _X_i_n_i_t will look for a file in the user's home directory called ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c to run as a shell script to start up client programs. If no such file exists, _X_i_n_i_t will use the fol- lowing as a default: xterm -geometry +1+1 -n login -display :0 If no specific server program is given on the command line, _X_i_n_i_t will look for a file in the user's home directory called ._x_s_e_r_v_e_r_r_c to run as a shell script to start up the server. If no such file exists, _X_i_n_i_t will use the follow- ing as a default: X :0 Note that this assumes that there is a program named _X in the current search path. However, servers are usually named _X_d_i_s_p_l_a_y_t_y_p_e where _d_i_s_p_l_a_y_t_y_p_e is the type of graphics display which is driven by this server. The site adminis- trator should, therefore, make a link to the appropriate type of server on the machine, or create a shell script that runs _X_i_n_i_t with the appropriate server. An important point is that programs which are run by ._x_i_n_- _i_t_r_c should be run in the background if they do not exit right away, so that they don't prevent other programs from starting up. However, the last long-lived program started (usually a window manager or terminal emulator) should be left in the foreground so that the script won't exit (which indicates that the user is done and that _X_i_n_i_t should exit). An alternate client and/or server may be specified on the command line. The desired client program and its arguments should be given as the first command line arguments to _X_i_n_i_t. To specify a particular server command line, append a double dash (--) to the _X_i_n_i_t command line (after any client and arguments) followed by the desired server Rev. Release 5 Page 1 XINIT(1) AIX XINIT(1) command. Both the client program name and the server program name must begin with a slash (/) or a period (.). Otherwise, they are treated as an arguments to be appended to their respective startup lines. This makes it possible to add arguments (for example, foreground and background colors) without having to retype the whole command line. If an explicit server name is not given and the first argu- ment following the double dash (--) is a colon followed by a digit, _X_i_n_i_t will use that number as the display number instead of zero. All remaining arguments are appended to the server command line. EXAMPLES Below are several examples of how command line arguments in _X_i_n_i_t are used. XXXXiiiinnnniiiitttt This will start up a server named _X and run the user's ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c, if it exists, or else start an _x_t_e_r_m. XXXXiiiinnnniiiitttt -------- ////uuuussssrrrr////bbbbiiiinnnn////XXXX11111111////XXXXqqqqddddssssssss ::::1111 This is how one could start a specific type of server on an alternate display. XXXXiiiinnnniiiitttt ----ggggeeeeoooommmmeeeettttrrrryyyy ====88880000xxxx66665555++++11110000++++11110000 ----ffffnnnn 8888xxxx11113333 ----jjjj ----ffffgggg wwwwhhhhiiiitttteeee ----bbbbgggg nnnnaaaavvvvyyyy This will start up a server named _X, and will append the given arguments to the default _x_t_e_r_m command. It will ignore ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c. XXXXiiiinnnniiiitttt ----eeee wwwwiiiiddddggggeeeettttssss -------- ....////XXXXssssuuuunnnn ----llll ----cccc This will use the command ./_X_s_u_n -_l -_c to start the server and will append the arguments -_e _w_i_d_g_e_t_s to the default _x_t_e_r_m command. XXXXiiiinnnniiiitttt ////uuuussssrrrr////uuuuccccbbbb////rrrrsssshhhh ffffaaaasssstttthhhhoooosssstttt ccccppppuuuuppppiiiigggg ----ddddiiiissssppppllllaaaayyyy wwwwssss::::1111 -------- ::::1111 ----aaaa 2222 ----tttt 5555 This will start a server named _X on display 1 with the arguments -_a _2 -_t _5. It will then start a remote shell on the machine ffffaaaasssstttthhhhoooosssstttt in which it will run the command _c_p_u_p_i_g, telling it to display back on the local workstation. Below is a sample ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c that starts a clock, several ter- minals, and leaves the window manager running as the ``last'' application. Assuming that the window manager has been configured properly, the user then chooses the ``Exit'' menu item to shut down X. xrdb -load $HOME/.Xresources xsetroot -solid gray & xclock -g 50x50-0+0 -bw 0 & Rev. Release 5 Page 2 XINIT(1) AIX XINIT(1) xload -g 50x50-50+0 -bw 0 & xterm -g 80x24+0+0 & xterm -g 80x24+0-0 & twm Sites that want to create a common startup environment could simply create a default ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c that references a site-wide startup file: #!/bin/sh . /usr/local/lib/site.xinitrc Another approach is to write a script that starts _X_i_n_i_t with a specific shell script. Such scripts are usually named _x_1_1, _x_s_t_a_r_t, or _s_t_a_r_t_x and are a convenient way to provide a simple interface for novice users: #!/bin/sh Xinit /usr/local/lib/site.xinitrc -- /usr/bin/X11/X bc ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES DDDDIIIISSSSPPPPLLLLAAAAYYYY This variable gets set to the name of the display to which clients should connect. XXXXIIIINNNNIIIITTTTRRRRCCCC This variable specifies an init file contain- ing shell commands to start up the initial windows. By default, ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c in the home directory will be used. FILES ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c default client script _x_t_e_r_m client to run if ._x_i_n_i_t_r_c does not exist ._x_s_e_r_v_e_r_r_c default server script _X server to run if ._x_s_e_r_v_e_r_r_c does not exist SEE ALSO _X(1), _s_t_a_r_t_x(1), _X_s_e_r_v_e_r(1), _x_t_e_r_m(1) COPYRIGHT Copyright 1988, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. See _X(1) for a full statement of rights and permissions. AUTHOR Bob Scheifler, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science Rev. Release 5 Page 3