Autostart a program at boot up?

Question

I want to autostart a Python script that starts a Tkinter GUI at boot up.

The working terminal command to start the script is python3 /home/pi/Documents/slincam/slincam_menu.py.

I added this command to /etc/rc.local, but the program doesn't show up at boot up. Strangely when I type sudo /etc/rc.local in the terminal, the program starts.

Please, does someone know a solution for this?

There are hundreds of similar questions. Answers warn NOT to use /etc/rc.local. To compound the issue you CAN NOT start a GUI program on boot, using ANY method - because there is NO Desktop until login. — Milliways, Aug 24 '20 at 03:57
Does this answer your question? Running a Python script at startup — aklingam, Aug 24 '20 at 04:22
@Milliways Ok, but is there any way to autostart a GUI-program after the desktop loaded? — Neldela, Aug 24 '20 at 07:01
Add a line to /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart to autostart your GUI. — Dougie, Aug 24 '20 at 10:09
@Dougie I've tried adding @lxterminal -e "sudo python3 /home/pi/test.py" but it did't work — Neldela, Aug 24 '20 at 10:13
@Neldela I believe there is with LXDE autostart (but I have never done this) you will find some links, but many of these need to be taken with a grain of salt. — Milliways, Aug 24 '20 at 10:38
YOU DON'T NEED SUDO. You probably don't need lxterminal to run a python program. — Dougie, Aug 24 '20 at 12:42
@Dougie I've also tried it with python3 /filepath but it didn't work. Can you please tell me the correct way to to this? — Neldela, Aug 24 '20 at 13:33

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 01 '20 at 19:13

A systemd Unit file could do it. Try this:

rpi ~$ sudo systemctl --force --full edit slincam_menu.service

In the empty editor insert these statements, save them and quit the editor:

[Unit]
Description=Slincam Menu
After=graphical.target
[Service]
User=pi
WorkingDirectory=/home/pi
Environment=DISPLAY=:0
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /home/pi/Documents/slincam/slincam_menu.py
[Install]
WantedBy=graphical.target

Enable the new service and reboot:

rpi ~$ sudo systemctl enable slincam_menu.service
rpi ~$ sudo systemctl reboot

Check with:

rpi ~$ systemctl status slincam_menu.service

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 24 '20 at 10:05

0

I generally use crontab.. You may add your command to crontab in the following steps.

sudo crontab - e
Open using your favourite text editor
At the bottom add the line: @reboot python3 /home/pi/Documents/slincam/slincam_menu.py

Before doing so, please ensure file permissions.

edited Aug 24 '20 at 10:05

aklingam

974
4
16

answered Aug 24 '20 at 02:57

Rushil Soni

1

crontab is no good at all for a GUI program. It runs the @reboot lines before the GUI is active. – Dougie Aug 24 '20 at 10:07

Autostart a program at boot up?

2 Answers2