Re: [dwm] [PATCH] Add support for on-start actions

2008/4/26 Jules Villard <jules.villard_AT_ens-lyon.org>:
> Hi all,
>
> This patch adds the ability to perform user-defined actions on
> startup. In particular, you can launch some applications like a bunch
> of terms, a browser, you name it... or select a specific tag. I found
> a need for it because I always perform the same actions when I start
> X :) As the patch is very small --it only adds a structure and a
> small loop in dwm.c, amounting to 9 lines of code-- I'm (perhaps
> boldly) hoping that you might find it interesting too and consider it
> for inclusion.
>
> For my personal use, I have something similar to the following snippet
> of code in config.h:
>
> -8<-------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> /* tagging */
> const char tags[][MAXTAGLEN] = { "1", "2", "3", "4", "#", "zik", "www" };
>
> Rule rules[] = {
> /* class instance title tags ref isfloating */
> { "Firefox", NULL, NULL, tags[6], False },
> { "rxvt", NULL, "ncmpc", tags[5], False },
> { "rxvt", NULL, "alsamixer", tags[5], False },
> { "rxvt", NULL, "start", tags[0], False },
> { "rxvt", NULL, "sudo", tags[4], False },
> };
>
> /* actions to be performed on startup */
> Start start[] = {
> /* function argument */
> { spawn, "exec rxvt -e mutt" }, /* tagged "1" */
> { spawn, "exec rxvt -e screen irssi" }, /* same */
>
> { spawn, "exec rxvt -e alsamixer" }, /* tagged "zik" */
> { spawn, "exec rxvt -e sudo su -" }, /* tagged "#" */
> { spawn, "exec firefox" }, /* tagged "www" */
>
> /* tagged "zik" and zoomed */
> { spawn, "exec rxvt -e ncmpc" },
> /* tagged "1" and zoomed */
> { spawn, "exec rxvt -ls -title start" },
> /* now select tag 4 to type my password */
> { view, tags[4]},
> };
>
> -8<-------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This allows me to start my session with 3 terms tagged "1": mutt and
> irssi are stacked on the right-hand side and an empty term is readied
> on the left-hand side. Timing is important, so the last term is
> spawned some time after the first two to be the last term indeed and
> get the zoom. Likewise, some applications are launched between the
> alsamixer and the ncmpc instances, so that the latter ends up getting
> the zoom. Moreover, since I like to start seeing tag 4, which
> corresponds to my sudo'd term --otherwise I tend to forget to type my
> password-- I force the tagging of the third term I want with tag "1"
> by assigning that term a special title (rxvt -title start) which I add
> to the rules. This term might otherwise end up being spawned with
> tag 4.
>
> I think this really is a corner case and that you might not need to
> be bothered with such a level of details, e.g. if you do not mind
> having to re-tag some windows by hand. I think my main point is that
> basic usage --for instance launching two terms, a browser and ncmpc at
> startup-- is very intuitive and that you can achieve more complex ones
> without heroic efforts, the other point being that the patch ended up
> being ridiculously simple.
>
>
> Thanks for reading this long email, -p1 patch against 4.9 follows.
> Cheers,
>
> Jules
>
>

I see your point, but IMHO .xinitrc is a better place to start
applications on startup. About tags, for me it would be better a
boolean visibleonstartup variable in the tag definition, but I don't
find too uncomfortable having to toggle 1 or 2 tag when I start the
computer. OTOH your patch is clean and easy to understand.

greets,

-- 
- yiyus || JGL .