Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

KitchM · 2025-09-07 13:21:43

In the Settings>Settings Manager>Session and Startup>Application Autostart the user can add a program and then tell it to start up on login. However, how does the user tell it which workspace to open it into?

Thanks.

ToZ · 2025-09-07 13:55:01

No, that feature doesn't exist within Xfce. You'll need to use a tool like devilspie (or devlispie2) to get this functionality.

KitchM · 2025-09-07 14:24:47

Thank you. I have installed Devilspie2 and now I just have to figure out how to use.

KitchM · 2025-09-09 19:55:15

I'm getting the hang of it my looking at many web sites and watching a fairly good video. I will clarify and get back here regarding what I find.

ToZ · 2025-09-09 21:53:45

Also do a search on the word 'devilspie' and my username on these forums - I've answered quite a few questions about devilspie. Perhaps something in there might be helpful. For example, this worked with the original devilspie - I've never really used devilspie2, but I understand it now uses lua scripts.

KitchM · 2025-09-09 22:17:42

As far as I've been able to figure out, the original devilspie is no longer available or supported, and the web page is gone.

ToZ · 2025-09-09 22:41:51

I guess it depends on the distro you are using - its still in the Arch repositories. But devilspie2 is its successor.

With devilspie2, it looks like the command script to move firefox to workspace 2 on start would be:

-- Make firefox always start on workspace 2.
if (get_application_name()=="firefox") then
   set_window_workspace(2);
end

KitchM · 2025-09-14 15:27:02

Turns out that Andreas Rönnquist (gusnan), is no longer the maintainer of Devilspie2. One must use the mailing list at devilspie2-discuss@nongnu.org, or the various web pages on the subject (such as https://github.com/dsalt/devilspie2).

KitchM · 2025-09-23 20:40:19

I've figured out most of this, and it is working fairly well for me. How do I post the document of information I created on this subject so that others will know?

ToZ · 2025-09-23 21:44:18

Feel free to post the contents of the document here. Or you can post it elsewhere and leave the link here.

KitchM · 2025-10-08 18:37:40

When I run devilspie2 -d with my debug.lua script file containing the items:
debug_print("Window Name: "..get_window_name());
debug_print("Application name: "..get_application_name())
it will run in the terminal and list all the currently running programs by window and application name, and then just stay resident.

If I end the script with the command:
os.exit()
it will terminate with the following displayed info:
Running devilspie2 in debug mode.

Using scripts from folder: /home/jolly/.config/devilspie2
------------
List of Lua files handling "window_open" events in folder:
/home/jolly/.config/devilspie2/debug.lua
List of Lua files handling "window_close" events in folder:
List of Lua files handling "window_focus" events in folder:
List of Lua files handling "window_blur" events in folder:
------------
Window Name: debug.lua (~/.config/devilspie2) - gedit
Application name: gedit

Why does it not list the rest of the info as before?

Thanks.

ToZ · 2025-10-08 21:37:59

If you end the script with os.exit() then the debugging will stop.

KitchM · 2025-10-09 14:26:39

My experience with script files tells me that the scripts are handled from top to bottom, or line 1 thru to the last line. But that does not seem to happen in the Lua script, or at least as Devilspie2 handles it. Note the last results above; it just stops the script without doing any of the preceding steps whenever the os.exit() is used.

ToZ · 2025-10-09 21:58:33

Personally, I just use the original devilspie - it was easier to understand.

KitchM · 2025-10-09 23:15:47

Its funny you should mention that. I just had looked into the new one to see what programming language it might be using and then to see if the old one was still available. I guess it is. Looks like good C code, too. I may have to dredge up instructions for it and see if it can be downloaded and run.

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#1 2025-09-07 13:21:43

Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#2 2025-09-07 13:55:01

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#3 2025-09-07 14:24:47

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#4 2025-09-09 19:55:15

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#5 2025-09-09 21:53:45

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#6 2025-09-09 22:17:42

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#7 2025-09-09 22:41:51

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#8 2025-09-14 15:27:02

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#9 2025-09-23 20:40:19

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#10 2025-09-23 21:44:18

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#11 2025-10-08 18:37:40

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#12 2025-10-08 21:37:59

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#13 2025-10-09 14:26:39

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#14 2025-10-09 21:58:33

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

#15 2025-10-09 23:15:47

Re: Specify Workspace For Program Autostart

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