Question

It's kind of annoying how some Ubuntu (GNOME, X Window System) programs start at the top left of my screen. Is there a way to make the program start in the center of the screen.

(Yeah I know it's a pretty trivial question but it is annoying ;-)

Answer 1

you can use x's geometry to set this.

depending on your x version it can vary.

the man page and it should explain the geometry options

xterm 80x24+nxn or similar.

Answer 2

In gnome-terminal (ubuntu) the geometry specification is slightly different:

gnome-terminal --geometry=114x32+0+0

As ever the man pages are your friend:

man gnome-terminal

Answer 3

most (probably all) window managers have configuration options that you can tweak to set where new windows are opened.

some examples:

openbox has a check-box "Center new windows when they are placed". that causes all new windows(*) to open in the centre of the screen.

sawfish is very flexible and programmable - you can set rules so that windows matching certain criteria are always centered, always opened in desktop 2, have a different frame style, and so.

i can't remember exactly what metacity is capable of...haven't used it for ages. i think it can centre windows by default.

(*) by default, that is. if they're opened with a specific geometry then that overrides the default.