xinit(X) X Version 11 (Release 4) xinit(X) Name xinit - X Window System initializer Syntax xinit [[client] options] [--[server] [display] options] Description xinit starts the X Window System server and a first client program (usu- ally a terminal emulator) on systems that cannot start X directly from /etc/init or in environments that use multiple window systems. When this first client exits, xinit kills the X server and then terminates. If no arguments are given on the command line, xinit looks for a file in the user's home directory called .xinitrc to run as a shell script to start up client programs. If no such file exists, xinit executes the following client command line: xterm -geometry +1+1 -n login -display :0 xinit also looks for a file in the user's home directory called .xser- verrc to run as a shell script to start up the server. If no such file exists, xinit executes the following server command line: X :0 Note that this assumes that there is a program named X in the current search path. On SCO Open Desktop systems, X is linked to Xsco. Programs that are run by .xinitrc and .xserverrc should be run in the background if they do not exit right away, so that they don't prevent other programs from starting up. The last program started from these scripts, usually a window manager or terminal emulator, should run in the foreground so that the script does not exit and cause xinit to exit. Options [client] options specifies an alternate client and command line options [--[server] [display] options] specifies an alternate X server command line. If server is omitted, xinit runs the default server. If display is omitted, xinit runs the server on the default screen, ``:0''. xinit passes options as argu- ments to the server command (see Xsco(X)). Both the client program name and the server program name must begin with a slash (/) or a period (.). Otherwise, they are treated as 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. Examples Below are several examples of how command line arguments in xinit are used. xinit starts up a server named X and runs the user's .xinitrc, if it exists, or else starts an xterm xinit -- /usr/bin/X11/Xsco :1 starts the Xsco server on an alternate display xinit -geometry =80x65+10+10 -fn 8x13 -j -fg white -bg navy starts up a server named X, and appends the given arguments to the default xterm command. It ignores .xinitrc. xinit -e widgets -- ./Xsco -l -c uses the command ./Xsco -l -c to start the server and appends the arguments -e widgets to the default xterm command xinit /usr/ucb/rsh fasthost cpupig -display ws:1 -- :1 -a 2 -t 5 starts a server named X on display 1 with the arguments -a 2 -t 5. It then starts a remote shell on the machine fasthost in which it runs the command cpupig, telling it to display back on the local workstation. Below is a sample .xinitrc that starts a clock, several terminals, 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/.Xres xsetroot -solid gray & xclock -g 50x50-0+0 -bw 0 & xload -g 50x50-50+0 -bw 0 & xterm -g 80x24+0+0 & xterm -g 80x24+0-0 & mwm Sites that want to create a common startup environment could simply cre- ate a default .xinitrc that references a site-wide startup file: #!/bin/sh . /usr/local/lib/site.xinitrc Another approach is to write a script that starts xinit with a specific shell script. Such scripts are usually named x11, xstart, or startx and are a convenient way to provide a simple interface for novice users: #!/bin/sh xinit /usr/lib/X11/sys.startxrc -- /usr/bin/X11/Xsco :1 Environment Variables DISPLAY the name of the display to which clients should connect XINITRC an init file containing shell commands to start up the initial windows. By default, .xinitrc in the home directory is used. See Also startx(X), X(X), Xsco(X), xrdb(X), xterm(X) Copyright Copyright 1988, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. See X(X) for a full statement of rights and permissions.