X Manual?

[clydemaxwell]

Hi all,

Is there a webpage or manual somewhere on X? I find myself not really understanding it well enough for complex troubleshooting -- I'd especially like to better understand it's startup processes (including anything it checks hardcoded, so I could learn how other distributions start it up as well). I had a terrible time even getting things to autostart for me, I ended up making my WM open .Xsession to call autostart items, since X never seemed to. Authorisation is also a constant pain for me -- I recently lost the ability to start X applications from the console and have no idea where to start investigating.

ANYTHING you provide will be really helpful. Thanks so much!

Clyde

[macondo]

To start X apps from the console, edit your /etc/profile and add this line:

export XAUTHORITY=/home/your_user_name/.Xauthority

As for manuals you can check debian.org but google.com/linux has been my life savior.

I don't know if i'm misunderstanding you, about autostart.
If what you want is for apps to automatically start as you enter the X system, add them to your .xinitc.

Here are mine:

# jpico .xinitrc

#!/bin/sh

numlockx &
unclutter &
#asclock -shape -noblink &
#icewm-lite
ratpoison

[clydemaxwell]

Thanks, Macondo, but that hasn't quite answered my questions. I am familiar with the very basics of xauth..I used to always see an XAUTHORITY variable when I logged in via SSH, now I never do. I have set it to numerous things, including the one X was started with on the -auth switch (/var/lib/gdm/:#.Xauth). In this case, I had to merge that one into ~/,Xauthority and then set that as my XAUTHORITY. Otherwise, I could set mine to the gdm Xauth and I was able to start X applications, but only as root.

I have checked debian.org but have not found a concise explanation of the X starting process. And here you have highlighted something: I have never heard of .xinitrc. I don't even have one. I was told on several forums that .xsession or .Xsession should be started -- and, in fact, that my X session relied upon it, as that's where you call your WM from. Obviously my WM started without one. I need to know what the files X looks for are, so I can trace them through debian. Also all of GDMs files, etc. That way I can discover for myself what method the debian contributers have designed.


Thanks for responding, though. I will check out .xinitrc and see if I can remove my .xsession hack.

[Juan Pablo]

Try with:
man Xserver
man Xorg
man xorg.conf
man X

[oz]

This webpage might help some, too:

http://wiki.x.org/wiki/FAQ