xinit

xinit is a program in the X Window System used to start an X server and a user program, typically a window manager or desktop environment, on Unix-like systems. It is a lightweight, flexible launcher that allows users to define the session start-up through a script, most often a file named ~/.xinitrc. The X server is launched first, followed by the client program specified by the initialization script. When the client (the session) exits, the X server typically shuts down as well.

Configuration and session scripts

The standard system-wide initialization script is located at /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc, and sites may extend behavior with additional scripts or by using /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d. A user’s ~/.xinitrc script should be executable and usually ends by executing the desired window manager or desktop environment, for example by running exec openbox-session or exec i3. It is important that the script replaces the shell process with the session process (via exec) so that the X session terminates cleanly when the window manager exits. Background processes started by the script should be managed so they do not prevent the session from ending.

Usage and relation to startx

In practice, xinit is commonly invoked indirectly via the startx wrapper, which supplies sensible defaults and loads the user’s ~/.xinitrc. Arguments to the X server and the client can be passed on the command line, with a double dash separating options for the client from those for the server in some usages. While xinit is part of the X.Org suite and remains a simple method for launching custom or minimal X sessions, many distributions provide higher-level display managers for graphical logins.

See also: startx, X Window System, xserver, xsession.