Linux: How to start Skype (or other program) only when I'm online?

Question

I've added Skype to my "Startup applications" list, so that it starts automatically after I log in. (This is on Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty, with the Gnome desktop)

However, I frequently use my laptop offline, and then Skype is less than useless: it just serves to annoy me with a startup noise and permanently animated toolbar icon.

Is there a way to tell Skype to start only when I'm online? Can I use Upstart to do something like that?

Answer 1

Add a script to your bin directory, and start that script instead of starting skype.

The script will look kind of like this:

#!/bin/bash -f
if [[ `ifconfig eth0|grep 'inet addr'` ]] ; then
    skype
fi

It's ghetto but it should work.

Answer 2

This might be helpful for you . Actually i have asked this question for empathy chat client . I guess u can do for skype also