GNOME-SESSION
Section: User Commands (1)
Updated: GNOME
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NAME
gnome-session - Start the GNOME desktop environment
SYNOPSIS
gnome-session [--autostart=DIR] [--session=SESSION] [--failsafe|-f] [--debug]
DESCRIPTION
The
gnome-session program starts up the GNOME desktop
environment. This command is typically executed by your login manager
(either gdm, xdm, or from your X startup scripts). It will load
either your saved session, or it will provide a default session for the
user as defined by the system administrator (or the default GNOME
installation on your system).
The default session is defined in gnome.session, a .desktop-like
file that is looked for in
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gnome-session/sessions,
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/gnome-session/sessions and
$XDG_DATA_DIRS/gnome-session/sessions.
When saving a session, gnome-session saves the currently running
applications in the $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gnome-session/saved-session
directory.
gnome-session is an X11R6 session manager. It can manage GNOME
applications as well as any X11R6 SM compliant application.
OPTIONS
The following options are supported:
- --autostart=DIR
-
Start all applications defined in DIR, instead of starting the
applications defined in gnome.session, or via the --session
option. Multiple --autostart options can be passed.
- --session=SESSION
-
Use the applications defined in SESSION.session. If not specified,
gnome.session will be used.
- --failsafe
-
Run in fail-safe mode. User-specified applications will not be started.
- --debug
-
Enable debugging code.
- --whale
-
Show the fail whale in a dialog for debugging it.
SESSION DEFINITION
Sessions are defined in
.session files, that are using a .desktop-like
format, with the following keys in the
GNOME Session group:
- Name
-
Name of the session. This can be localized.
- RequiredComponents
-
List of component identifiers (desktop files) that are required by the session. The required components will always run in the session.
- RequiredProviders
-
List of task providers that are required by the session. A default provider for each task has to be defined with a DefaultProvider-TASK key; the provider can be overridden by required components, the saved session or autostart applications. The task providers will always run in the session.
- DefaultProvider-TASK
-
Identifier (desktop file) of the default provider for TASK. If no provider for TASK is found in the required components, the saved session and in the autostart applications, the default provider will be started.
Here is an example of a session definition:
[GNOME Session]
Name=GNOME fallback
RequiredComponents=gnome-panel;metacity;gnome-settings-daemon;
RequiredProviders=notifications;
DefaultProvider-notifications=notification-daemon
The .session files are looked for in
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gnome-session/sessions,
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/gnome-session/sessions and
$XDG_DATA_DIRS/gnome-session/sessions.
ENVIRONMENT
gnome-session sets several environment variables for the use of
its child processes:
SESSION_MANAGER
-
This variable is used by session-manager aware clients to contact
gnome-session.
DISPLAY
-
This variable is set to the X display being used by
gnome-session. Note that if the --display option is used
this might be different from the setting of the environment variable
when gnome-session is invoked.
FILES
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/config/autostart
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/config/autostart
/usr/share/gnome/autostart
-
The applications defined in those directories will be started on login.
gnome-session-properties(1) can be used to easily configure them.
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gnome-session/sessions
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/gnome-session/sessions
$XDG_DATA_DIRS/gnome-session/sessions
-
These directories contain the .session files that can be used
with the --session option.
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/gnome-session/saved-session
-
This directory contains the list of applications of the saved session.
BUGS
If you find bugs in the
gnome-session program, please report
these on
https://bugzilla.gnome.org.
SEE ALSO
gnome-session-properties(1)
gnome-session-save(1)
Index
- NAME
-
- SYNOPSIS
-
- DESCRIPTION
-
- OPTIONS
-
- SESSION DEFINITION
-
- ENVIRONMENT
-
- FILES
-
- BUGS
-
- SEE ALSO
-
© Andrew Scott 2006 -
2024,
All Rights Reserved