Provided by: xinit_1.4.2-1_amd64 bug

NAME

       xinit - X Window System initializer

SYNOPSIS

       xinit [ [ client ] options ... ] [ -- [ server ] [ display ] options ... ]

DESCRIPTION

       The  xinit  program is used to start the X Window System server and a first client program
       on systems that are not using a display manager such as xdm(1) or in environments that use
       multiple  window  systems.  When this first client exits, xinit will kill the X server and
       then terminate.

       If no specific client program is given on the command line, xinit will look for a file  in
       the  user's  home  directory  called  .xinitrc to run as a shell script to start up client
       programs.  If no such file exists, xinit will use the following as a default:

            xterm  -geometry  +1+1  -n  login  -display  :0

       If no specific server program is given on the command line, xinit will look for a file  in
       the  user's  home  directory  called  .xserverrc  to run as a shell script to start up the
       server.  If no such file exists, xinit will use the following as a default:

            X  :0

       Note that this assumes that there is a program named X in the current  search  path.   The
       site administrator should, therefore, make a link to the appropriate type of server on the
       machine, or create a shell script that runs xinit with the appropriate server.

       Note, when using a .xserverrc script be sure to ``exec'' the real X server.  Failing to do
       this can make the X server slow to start and exit.  For example:

            exec Xdisplaytype

       An  important  point  is  that  programs  which  are  run by .xinitrc should be run in the
       background if they do not exit right away, so that they don't prevent other programs  from
       starting  up.   However,  the last long-lived program started (usually a window manager or
       terminal emulator) should be left in the foreground so that the script won't  exit  (which
       indicates that the user is done and that xinit should exit).

       An  alternate  client  and/or  server  may  be specified on the command line.  The desired
       client program and its arguments should be given as the first command  line  arguments  to
       xinit.   To  specify  a  particular  server command line, append a double dash (--) to the
       xinit command line (after any  client  and  arguments)  followed  by  the  desired  server
       command.

       Both  the client program name and the server program name must begin with a slash (/) or a
       period (.).  Otherwise, they  are  treated  as  an  arguments  to  be  appended  to  their
       respective  startup  lines.   This  makes  it  possible  to  add  arguments  (for example,
       foreground and background colors) without having to retype the whole command line.

       If an explicit server name is not given and the first argument following the  double  dash
       (--)  is  a  colon  followed  by a digit, xinit will use that number as the display number
       instead of zero.  All remaining arguments are appended to the server command line.

EXAMPLES

       Below are several examples of how command line arguments in xinit are used.

       xinit   This will start up a server named X and run the user's .xinitrc, if it exists,  or
               else start an xterm.

       xinit -- /usr/bin/Xvnc  :1
               This is how one could start a specific type of server on an alternate display.

       xinit -geometry =80x65+10+10 -fn 8x13 -j -fg white -bg navy
               This  will  start  up a server named X, and will append the given arguments to the
               default xterm command.  It will ignore .xinitrc.

       xinit -e widgets -- ./Xorg -l -c
               This will use the command ./Xorg -l -c to start the server  and  will  append  the
               arguments -e widgets to the default xterm command.

       xinit /usr/bin/ssh -X fasthost cpupig --  :1 -a 2 -t 5
               This  will  start  a server named X on display 1 with the arguments -a 2 -t 5.  It
               will then start a remote shell on the machine fasthost in which it  will  run  the
               command cpupig, telling it to display back on the local workstation.

       Below  is  a sample .xinitrc that starts a clock, several terminals, and leaves the window
       manager running as the ``last'' application.  Assuming that the window  manager  has  been
       configured properly, the user then chooses the ``Exit'' menu item to shut down X.

               xrdb -load $HOME/.Xresources
               xsetroot -solid gray &
               xclock -g 50x50-0+0 -bw 0 &
               xload -g 50x50-50+0 -bw 0 &
               xterm -g 80x24+0+0 &
               xterm -g 80x24+0-0 &
               twm

       Sites  that  want  to  create  a  common startup environment could simply create a default
       .xinitrc that references a site-wide startup file:

               #!/bin/sh
               . /etc/X11/xinit/site.xinitrc

       Another approach is to write a script that starts xinit  with  a  specific  shell  script.
       Such  scripts are usually named x11, xstart, or startx and are a convenient way to provide
       a simple interface for novice users:

               #!/bin/sh
               xinit /etc/X11/xinit/site.xinitrc -- /usr/bin/X -br

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

       DISPLAY        This variable gets set to the name of the display to which  clients  should
                      connect.

       XINITRC        This  variable specifies an init file containing shell commands to start up
                      the initial windows.  By default, .xinitrc in the home  directory  will  be
                      used.

FILES

       .xinitrc       default client script

       xterm          client to run if .xinitrc does not exist

       .xserverrc     default server script

       X              server to run if .xserverrc does not exist

SEE ALSO

       X(7), startx(1), Xserver(1), Xorg(1), xorg.conf(5), xterm(1)

AUTHOR

       Bob Scheifler, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science