Leopard X11 - Where is Init File?

[mac57]

I have just installed X11 on my new Mac Pro. When I start it, it starts up and then starts up an xterm. I am looking for the init file that starts that xterm so that I can disable the creation of the xterm - I just want X11, not an addtional xterm.

I have found the xinitrc file, at:

/usr/X11/lib/X11/xinit/xinitrc

but all it does for startup, after the usual xresource stuff is to start quartz-wm via:

exec quartz-wm

I am therefore assuming that quartz-wm must have its own init file, and that file contains the instructions to launch the xterm.

Does anyone know where the quartz-wm init file is? OR, do I have this wrong, and there is a secondary xinitrc file somewhere that is starting the xterm? Thanks!

 

[cradom]

What you do is create your own .xinitrc file in your home folder. It overrides the default startup file for the system and does what you want it to, example start KDE or Windowmaker or just another app besides xterm.

You can copy the one you mention and modify it. Do a search, I think I've posted my .xinitrc file here a couple of times as have others.
Don't recommend editing the system xinitrc file as it controls for all users and is the default startup.

 

[mac57]

Hi cradom, thanks. I tried this to no avail. I created a .xinitrc in my home folder and put just one line in it:

exec quartz-wm

However, I still got the xterm. I know that this is working because initially I just left the file blank and X11 started, stopped, and was done. When I added the exec line, it started and stayed put, but it opened an xterm.

There must be a unique start up file for quartz-wm which contains the instructions to start that darn xterm. Any and all insights on how to find it and modify it would be most appreciated!

 

[cradom]

Forgot to tell you it needs to be executable.
chmod +x filename
Also try adding this to test if it is working:
exec xlogo
Should start up a window running the X11 logo. You can delete it anytime and change it to something you want to later.

 

[mac57]

Hi cradom, thanks and this works as expected. I do get the window with the X11 logo. So, I know that my .xinitrc file is being used. However, I still get that durn xterm when I replace the xlogo with quartz-wm. This tells me for sure that quartz-wm has a startup file of its own. I guess I will just have to keep hunting for it. I will post the results if I find it.

 

[cradom]

Don't know about Leopard, but my system xinitrc is in /private/etc/X11/xinit/ .
This is the end of it:

# start some nice programs

xterm &

# start the window manager

exec quartz-wm

Are you sure you deleted the xterm & from your copy in your home folder?
quartz-wm by itself doesn't start an xterm, just handles the window manager.

 

[mac57]

Hi cradom, unfortunately with Leopard, the xinit file is not in the path you mention. As to my personal .xinitrc, I created it from scratch, so there is no question of me forgetting to delete something.

I have used Linux for a long time, and a lot of window managers over that time. Most good window managers process their own unique start up file (and usually a shutdown file too) when they fire up. I am guessing that this is where my xterm initiation is coming from. I just can't find it.

This is one of the things that has always annoyed me about unix/Linux. Way too much stuff happens that is hidden deep in the bowels of arcane startup files. If you don't know where they are, you don't have a hope of finding them. The problem being discussed here would seem to be an instance of this sort of thing.

Thanks for hanging in there though cradom. I appreciate the help.

 

[cradom]

Having dealt with a few window managers myself I know about startup and shutdown files. Not saying you're wrong but I cant see where quartz would need one seeing as it's using the native OS X interface for windows. However I don't have Leopard so it might be different.

In any case I cant see why a window manager would start an app like xterm when it starts, unless it's just Apple being helpful to users? (not counting things like pagers or docks at startup)
Cant find any kind of .rc file for quartz on my system either.

Hope you get it sorted out.