HALO(1) X Version 11 HALO(1)
1/11/96
NAME
halo - start and manage X programs (session manager light)
SYNOPSIS
halo [-toolkitoption ...] [-option ...]
DESCRIPTION
The program starts the window manager, some initial comands and waits
for one or more of its children before it terminates. The program is
typically started by xdm from Xsession (or .xsession). When the
configured child exits Halo kills the rest of its children before
exiting.
OPTIONS
Halo accepts all of the standard X Toolkit command line options along
with the additional options listed below:
-verbose causes halo to print what it is doing.
X DEFAULTS
The application class name is Halo.
windowManager (class WindowManager)
This resource specifies the Window manager the user wishes to
run.
waitFor (class WaitFor)
Specifies which of its children halo should wait for before
exiting. Excact match is performed. The special token
WINDOW_MANAGER means wait for the window manager.
waitForAll (class WaitForAll)
If set to true, all programs in the waitFor list have to be
terminated before you will be logged out. It it is set to
false, you will be logged out if only one (any one) of the
programs in the waitFor list terminates.
Delay (class delay)
Delay specified in seconds to sleep between starting each
child.
cmds (class cmds)
A ; separated list of sh commands to start. This resource is
typicaly default configured to some minimal set of programs.
notCmds (class NotCmds)
A ; separated list of programs in cmds, addCmds or sysCmds you
do not wish to start. Excact match is performed so xfoo will
not match xfoo -name bar.
- 1 - Formatted: October 29, 2025
HALO(1) X Version 11 HALO(1)
1/11/96
addCmds (class AddCmds)
A ; separated list of commands you wish to start in addition
to what your system manager have globaly configured in cmds.
sysCmds (class SysCmds)
A ; separated list of sh commands to start. This resource is
typicaly used by your System Manager to start programs you
ought to run. Users should not modify this resource. (but
rather use the notCmds resouce if the dislike some of the
programs started from here.)
terminateCmds (class TerminateCmds)
A ; separated list of commands you wish to run when you are
logging out. This commands are given 30 seconds to finish
before you are logged out.
verbose (class Verbose)
Same as -verbose. Causes halo to print what it is doing.
SIGNALS
The resources will be re-read, removed programs killed and new
programs started when halo receives the HUP signal.
All started processes will be killed before halo terminates on receipt
of the INT or TERM signals.
BUGS
(or features)
All program are executed with the command
sh -c 'exec program'
which means that contructions like
a && b
cannot be used as program. This can be fixed with resources like this
halo.windowManager: sh -c 'xhost +`hostname` && exec mwm'
There is no way to put a ; in a command.
Only single line resources are supported.
AUTHOR
Hans Petter Holen, USIT - University of Oslo,
Anders Ellefrud - Ifi - University of Oslo,
Lars Haakedal - USIT - University of Oslo,
Odd Einar Aurbakken - USIT - University of Oslo.
- 2 - Formatted: October 29, 2025
