startx

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

startx is a front-end to xinit that provides a convenient way to start an X session. It reads the user's .xinitrc file (or the system default if none exists) to determine what client programs to run. Similarly, it reads .xserverrc (or the system default) to determine the X server to start.Typically startx runs a window manager or desktop environment and sets up the X display. Arguments before -- are passed to the client, and arguments after -- are passed to the server.

--

Separator between client arguments and server arguments.

Server option: set color depth (e.g. 8, 16, 24).

Server option: set dots per inch for the display.

Server option: use a specific server layout from xorg.conf.

~/.xinitrc

User startup script executed by startx to launch a window manager or desktop environment.

User server startup script to determine which X server to start.

System-wide default startup script used when no user .xinitrc exists.

System-wide default server script used when no user .xserverrc exists.

XINITRC

Path to an xinitrc file. If unset, ~/.xinitrc or /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc is used.

Path to an xserverrc file. If unset, ~/.xserverrc or /etc/X11/xinit/xserverrc is used.

Set by startx to the name of the display to which clients should connect.

If not already defined, set to ~/.Xauthority.

Requires X server to be installed. The .xinitrc file in the user's home directory controls which programs start with X. Not needed when using a display manager like GDM, SDDM, or LightDM.

xinit(1), Xorg(1), xrandr(1), xterm(1)