How can we setup Startup tasks

Question

In Windows we can add applications/batch scripts to open automatically on startup. Is there something similar in Ubuntu, or Linux in general?

Thank you both kiloseven and wilf I am not able to mark both as Answers. I marked 1. — mantlex, Jan 02 '14 at 21:52
My answer wasn't very good :D - I upvoted @kiloseven's anyway. — Wilf, Jan 02 '14 at 22:21
possible duplicate: How do I start applications automatically on login? — kiri, Jan 02 '14 at 22:23
Since the user mentioned Linux in general, I don't think the link above is the universal answer they wanted. — K7AAY, Jan 02 '14 at 22:26

score 5 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:24

5

Here's the universal, multi-distro solution.

Create a script (don't forget to start with the shabang!) and place that script in

/etc/xdg/autostart

After rebooting, the script will launch, and you can also find it in Startup Applications (see the last screenshot in this link for an illustration).

This complies with the XDG Autostart Specification and works with any compliant distro of Linux.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:24

Community

1

answered Jan 02 '14 at 20:33

K7AAY

17,202

2

It should be noted that this is for all users. If you only want it to be your user, see How do I start applications automatically on login? or wilf's asnwer. – kiri Jan 02 '14 at 22:23

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:24

To setup tasks to run on login, use gnome-session-properties. This means you can add programs to run when you login to user account on your machine.

You can configure it like this - just add the command you want to run in the command box: config

Very long answer on that here

To get things to run when the computer boots, use rc.local:

You can edit it with sudo nano /etc/rc.local, or gksudo gedit /etc/rc.local.

Makes sure it has this line at the start of the file:

 #!/bin/sh -e

Below that, you can place commands that will run as root when you start the computer.

Also make sure it has this line at the end:

exit 0

How can we setup Startup tasks

2 Answers2