sx

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sx https://github.com/Earnestly/sx

INTRODUCTION

sx is a simple alternative to both xinit(1) and startx(1) for starting an Xorg server.

It started life as a proof of concept while attempting to learn how both xinit and startx worked while taking up the offer presented in startx:

> Site administrators are STRONGLY urged to write nicer versions.

It is not a direct replacement however as it provides a different, more limited, interface.

Some of these major differences are listed here:

* The server's command-line is hard coded and not exposed to the user.
* The server doesn't listen on anything except unix domain sockets.
* The server starts on the same tty the user logged in on.
* The first DISPLAY is 1 instead of 0 contrary to what X(7) suggests
  as it is coupled to the tty number.
* xauth entries are overwritten if the displayname is identical.
* Corresponding xauth entries are unconditionally removed when the
  server exits.
* The server uses the -noreset flag.
* While XAUTHORITY is still honoured, $XDG_DATA_HOME/sx/xauthfile is
  used by default instead of $HOME/.Xauthority
* Very little proxy error checking is used preferring instead to let
  each tool speak for itself.
* None of the typical /etc/X11/xinit infrastructure is directly used.
* Neither XINITRC is honoured nor .xinitrc used.
* The XDG_CONFIG_HOME/sx/sxrc file is used instead of .xinitrc and is
  required to be executable.

For a rationale on why this exists the author invites the reader to look over the source code for both xinit and startx.

REQUIRES

• Xorg
• xauth
• /dev/urandom

INSTALL

make PREFIX=/usr install