GNOME-SESSION
Section: User Commands (1)
Updated: GNOME
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NAME
gnome-session - Start the GNOME desktop environment
SYNOPSIS
gnome-session [-a|--autostart=DIR] [--session=SESSION] [--failsafe|-f] [--debug] [--whale]
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.
Here is an example of a session definition:
[GNOME Session]
Name=GNOME
RequiredComponents=gnome-shell;gnome-settings-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-quit(1)
Index
- NAME
-
- SYNOPSIS
-
- DESCRIPTION
-
- OPTIONS
-
- SESSION DEFINITION
-
- ENVIRONMENT
-
- FILES
-
- BUGS
-
- SEE ALSO
-
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Time: 08:55:19 GMT, December 16, 2021