Modified grub.cfg to start in “text”; can I still launch GUI applications without startx?

Question

I found this simple tutorial for modifying the way my Mint Julia 32 bit OS starts up with a command line only, except my next task is to try and find a way to launch instances of GUI applications without bringing up the entire gnome desktop experience.

In a perfect world, my goal would be to have the gnome desktop environment running in the background, only, there is a terminal session that cannot be closed or minimized, hiding the start menu and desktop. From there you could type in

% gnome-keybinding-properties

and treat it almost as if I'm using gnome, with all the keyboard shortcuts and media support I'm used to (like, you know, a mouse).

I am looking to blend the best of graphical and command line user interfaces. I like using the command line, but I don't want to lose the things I use most: google-chrome, gedit, gcalctool, synaptic. All are good, and are somewhat bound to my hip as a member of Generation Y.

Does anybody know of a good tutorial that can show me how to get this ideal setup on my machine? I'd appreciate it!

Answer 1

I do not know about LinuxMint, but what is certain:

• You need running an X server in order to run graphical applications
• Most distribution let you switch from console ( cli ) terminals to X terminal via CTRL+ALT+F1-10 keys .

So if you start in cli, you can launch startx in the background ( startx & , or in a screen session ) and then switch between the cli terminal and the X terminal with CTRL+ALT+Fx . The first time you will have to juggle a bit to find out which F key brings you to the console and which F key is mapped to the X terminal.

Answer 2

Here's what I did. It's not perfect, but it emulates my desire well.

1.

%gconf-editor

And disable all minimize, maximize, and close system buttons through

Apps -> metacity -> general

(among other places. I also modified my "pane" bar to show pretty much nothing except the time and the weather, and cleared my desktop of everything).

1. Go to System -> Preferences -> Startup Applications

Add a 'gnome-terminal' command at startup.

3.

% sudo apt-get install devilspie
% mkdir ~/.devilspie/
% gedit ~/.devilspie/gnome-terminal.ds

And then follow poster #4's tutorial to put the correct code, replacing

(maximize)

with

(fullscreen undecorate)

I still have yet to figure out how to launch a full screen terminal in all workspaces across my desktop from the auto-launcher. I have tried throwing a -t on my gnome-terminal commands, and writing a dedicated .ds file for each, but so far nothing has worked. But a ctrl+alt+t will get things looking good again.

If anyone finds out how to launch a terminal in all 6 workspaces, I'd appreciate it if you shared that info.