How to autostart a program on Raspbian?

[reltek]

I want to autostart a program on Raspbian and having difficulty accomplishing that. How does one go about doing that.

[TheRadziu]

there are at least 3 ways to do so:
- by editing /etc/rc.local in my case the line I added looks like this:

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su - pi -c kodi

for autostarting kodi
- by creating new init.d file, here is some info about it http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions ... rt-at-boot
- by creating .desktop file somewhere but honestly I do not remember how to do it, try searching .desktop file autostart

I am using all the listed ways for different programs.

[gordon77]

Try putting the relevant command in ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

Eg. To run a python script use...
@sudo /usr/bin/python /home/pi/filename.py

To Make the file executable with sudo chmod +x filename.py

It will run after the gui starts.

[reltek]

I was able to edit rc.local for autostarting my program as follows by simply adding a line.

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./home/pi/myprogram/viewdata

That worked. Viewdata started up at boot, but Viewdata doesn't know it's working folder. ViewData complains that it can't access it properties or setting, because working folder is where they are located and Viewdata program also in the same folder. So, how do you let my program viewdata know what is its working folder?

[TrianP]

Adding the entry to the autostart file worked for me -- except I run into a problem with the sudo password. If I've executed a command with sudo rights before I start the desktop, my application starts up just fine. However, if I start the desktop after bootup without running a sudo command, the system hangs with a blank screen. I'm sure it's because the system is looking for the user password.

Can you insert the password into the autostart file? Is there another way to avoid this problem?

Thanks!

[brekee12]

For these problems:
- make sure user rigths is set correctly. Are you sure your program needs root privileges? Could not you run with another user?
- your python program should contain the full path for files or the PATH with your needs should be set before your program runs

[rurwin]

There are ways around the program not starting with the correct directory current. For example you could write a new program that sets the working directory and then starts the program you want.

But the correct way to do it is for the program to have a confguration file with the directory specified in it.

[RaTTuS]

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7192&

[TrianP]

I think the program is starting in the right directory - I've specified it completely, and if I've run a command using sudo rights that stay in effect, startx loads correctly and the application starts. Therefore, I think the problem is with the need for a password.

I think Brekee12 is on the right track with sudo rights. My program accesses the GPIO ports, and as far as I can tell, it only runs with sudo rights. I always get permission errors if I try to run it without sudo rights.

It might be as simple as giving the account permanent sudo rights. I'm very much a Linux newbie, so I'm a bit in the dark. Is there an easy way to do this? Is the default pi account a sudo account? I could try the program there if that's the case.

Thanks for the replies.

[brekee12]

I can't remember what topic I have read that GPIOs needs sudo rigths. I use PIGPIO library programming the ios and only the pigpiod needs sudo right to start. To be honest I have put it into init.d and any time anyway I can use the GPIOs. Maybe, it makes sense to see joan's PIGPIO library which is much more than just io subrutins and does not requires sudorigth for the user.

[TrianP]

Thanks for the reply - I'll try that library this weekend.

However, the problem will likely remain. I'm using some one-wire sensors and a magnetometer. It's likely that at least one of the libraries for those devices will need sudo rights. Hopefully not!

But it's still an interesting question: is there a way to insert a python script that needs sudo rights into the autostart file? I'd like to know for future projects even if not for this one.

Thanks!

[JimmyN]

But it's still an interesting question: is there a way to insert a python script that needs sudo rights into the autostart file? I'd like to know for future projects even if not for this one.

Thanks!

Just precede it with sudo

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@sudo python /path/to/script/something.py

That shouldn't ask for a password unless you've changed the sudoers file to require a password when sudo is used.

EDIT: added last line

[TrianP]

Success! The reply about the sudoers file led me to look at that file. I saw that the pi account was set to not ask for a password (pi ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL). However, I've been working in a different account. I added a matching line to the file for my account using the visudo command, and the system no longer asks for a password. Consequently, the application starts up when the desktop starts.

Thanks very much JimmyN and everyone else for your help!

[reltek]

Sadly none of the suggested answers helped. The only way I was able to get my program to run at boot with correct work path folder is writing a mini program, which runs at boot, started myprogram.

[RaTTuS]

Sadly none of the suggested answers helped. The only way I was able to get my program to run at boot with correct work path folder is writing a mini program, which runs at boot, started myprogram.

probably because you have done it worng

[aporeg]

First of all Hello to all

Thanks @TheRadziu

This worked for me

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su - pi -c kodi

This is how is should look like after edit

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# Print the IP address
_IP=$(hostname -I) || true
if [ "$_IP" ]; then
  printf "My IP address is %s\n" "$_IP"
fi
su - pi -c kodi

exit 0

[pvklink]

Hi my autostart (raspbian stretch + pico menu) still does executing the menu instead of my webbrowser

i tried sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart
and i tried sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
I commented out all the old existing lines with #

my file is:

# start boot default
#@lxpanel --profile LXDE-pi
#@pcmanfm --desktop --profile LXDE-pi
#@xscreensaver -no-splash
#@point-rpi
# end boot default

# Auto run the browser
@xset s off
@xset -dpms
@xset s noblank
@apropos chromium
@chromium-browser --start-fullscreen http://www.nu.nl
#end pvk

[Trash_Can_Man]

There are several lxde autostart files on different places, the one that works for me on the "oficial" raspbian with pixel is:

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/home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

edit it with:

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sudo nano /home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

this totally works for me, i used it for a while starting kodi on desktop start...

[raspisnagger]

I wrote "@sudo /usr/bin/python /home/pi/Desktop/Filename.py" but on startup nothing happens. Where did I go wrong? We know the path works when executed through the console.

[klricks]

I wrote "@sudo /usr/bin/python /home/pi/Desktop/Filename.py" but on startup nothing happens. Where did I go wrong? We know the path works when executed through the console.

Try:

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@lxterminal -e python /home/pi/Desktop/Filename.py

also since autostart is in home/pi you should not use sudo to edit the file.

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nano /home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

[viktor6]

First of all Hello to all

Thanks @TheRadziu

This worked for me

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su - pi -c kodi

This is how is should look like after edit

Code: Select all

# Print the IP address
_IP=$(hostname -I) || true
if [ "$_IP" ]; then
  printf "My IP address is %s\n" "$_IP"
fi
su - pi -c kodi

exit 0

There is no restart in the menu, and the rest