# ![firestarter icon](icon.png) Firestarter

## Overview

**Firestarter** is a desktop environment startup script. Its job is to abstract out the startup and configuration of basic X session components. By default, it will attempt to piece together a fully functional desktop environment based on currently available programs and configuration files found in `~/.config/firestarter`.

## Installation

Execute `firestarter` in your `.xinitrc`, either by replacing the file or by `exec`ing it after performing your own basic setup. You do not need the rest of the files in the repository, but a `git clone` and a regular `git pull` *is* an effective way of keeping the script up-to-date.

## Configuration

On first run and when invoked with `firestarter -g`, Firestarter will generate a series of configuration files in `~/.config/firestarter`. These files consist of several lines that look somewhat like the following:

```bash
command -v i3
i3
```

Every odd line is a command that must succeed in order for the following even line to be executed. Once an even command is executed, parsing stops. When Firestarter is invoked with no arguments, every configuration file is parsed this way.

This approach allows for a single file to contain very many alternatives while still being readable and supporting arbitrary launch requirements (such as in the case of Polybar, which requires a `launch.sh` script by default).

By setting a dummy execution line, one can effectively prevent an entire configuration file from being parsed in certain environments. As an example, the following configuration file will only attempt to start an X infobar in an X environment:

```bash
[ -z "$DISPLAY" ]
:
command -v polybar
polybar bar
command -v lemonbar
~/.bin/lemonbar.sh | lemonbar
```

After all these programs have been started, firestarter executes `~/.firestarterrc` if it exists.

## Logging

All STDOUT and STDERR messages from these commands are saved to a logfile in `~/.local/share/firestarter/logs` under the same name as the configuration file. By default, these logfiles are rotated every time you log in.

If you set the variable `FS_NOLOG` to a nonempty value, firestarter will not keep logs.

## Integration

Firestarter, in addition to spawning the programs in the default configs, also integrates with the following utilities if they are installed:

* dbus: A dbus socket is either created or hooked into, depending on the environment, and the relevant variables are exposed to child processes.

* loginctl: Will be used to log out when firestarter dies.

* Plasma: If `kcminit` is installed, it will be invoked to configure device and theme settings. When this is the case, `XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP` is changed to `KDE` in order for themes to actually take.

* Qt5ct: Assuming Plasma is *not* installed, qt5ct will be used as a fallback for Qt theming.

* xhost: Firestarter will open up the session to other sessions, so you can open a TTY and spawn a window if you have to.

* xset: Firestarter will disable that annoying goddamn X bell. Re-enable it in `.firestarterrc` if you enjoy pain.

## Exit Codes

| code | meaning |
| --: | --- |
| 0 | Success |
| 40 | Firestarter is already running |
| 50 | Unrecognized argument |
| 51 | Invalid option for an argument |
| 52 | Failed to create configuration directory |
| 53 | Failed to create logging directory (and logging is enabled) |
| 54 | `HOME` does not exist or is unreadable |

## Contribution

Firestarter by no means contains an exhaustive list of all possible programs. If you know of or have created a program that should be added, *please* open an issue about it. The script should be light but its choices massive.

Bug reports are also more than welcome.