Execute script before shutting down in Ubuntu

Question

When I shut down my computer I want to show some pending tasks that I have to do before leaving the office...

I did a local application to manage those tasks, so basically I just want to run a command, and shut down after I kill the app executed.

I have already tried with these options:

• /etc/gdm/PostSession/Default --> this works only when I select LogOut option instead Shutdown.
  
  
• /etc/rc0.d/K01mycustomscript --> execute script after X is killed
  
  
• $HOME/.bash_logout --> This looks like does nothing.
  
  
• ./app-to-run && sudo shutdown -h now --> Don't like it for 2 reasons, prompts for sudo password, and can't use my laptop shutdown button.
  
  

I am using Ubuntu 10.04.

Answer 1

You could make an init script in /etc/init.d/ and then configure on which runlevel you want it with chkconfig. I never did what you want, but I would start on this route.

Answer 2

Check out /etc/rc0.d/README

Answer 3

• /etc/rc0.d/K01mycustomscript might need to be /etc/rc0.d/S01mycustomscript
• make sure it is executable (chmod 755 /etc/rc0.d/K01mycustomscript or chmod 755 /etc/rc0.d/S01mycustomscript)
• try some logging: add the line logger 'mycustomscript START' to the beginning of your script, and logger 'mycustomscript END' to the end, shutdown, then look for your log messages in /var/log/messages
• note that the convention is instead to create a start/stop script in /etc/init.d/, then create symlinks to that script from the appropriate /etc/rc*.d directories, or to use a tool like chkconfig or update-rc.d to maintain the symlinks (see "Init" wikipedia page)
• see this similar question

Answer 4

• Put your executable script somewhere, /etc/init.d is recommended.
• Make a symbolic link from this place from /etc/rc0.d, starting with S (to start this script when getting to runlevel 0.
• I assume that the machine will wait for this script to terminate before shutting down, though I have never tested this.