How to force linux only runs my C++ program?

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

I am trying to build a robot. I have written a C++ code that recognizes user's voice commands and does some actions (showing an image/video, or saying an answer to that command). So, I used Ubuntu-server 16.04, with openbox window manager to do this, and my program runs on it successfully.

But my question is: How can I do it automatically? I mean, at now, I must going to terminal after booting my board(I use an ARM-based board), then go where my program is "cd /home/m/ " then execute it by "./my-program". But I liked this happened automatically! I mean my program become running automatically after boot.

Also I like when user turns on my robot, it shows my Logo, then shows a default image from my C++ code, then recognizes the user voice and does a related action to it and this will repeat like a loop again(default image, user's command recognition, does action, default image, user's command recognition,does action, and again...).

I chose Linux-server because I didn't like to have desktop or any other common applications. I only like my OS runs my program at startup and user has no any ability to interact with the robot, else the voice commands!

I don't know how can I configure my Linux to doing this?

What I have tried:

I searched for it and found that it called Kiosk Linux. But every tutorials are talking about web browser kiosks. and I think many of them are out dated(didn't work for me). I do not like my Linux runs firefox at startup, I like it runs my C++ code!

Also I am newbie in Linux and don't know much about it and need a straightforward tutorial!

Posted 3-Nov-17 3:37am

Member 13376650

Updated 3-Nov-17 4:40am

Add a Solution

2 solutions

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Mehdi Gholam · Answer 1 · 2017-11-03T03:58:00

Solution 1

Read this : How to Autorun application at the start up in Linux[^]

Posted 3-Nov-17 3:58am

Mehdi Gholam

Comments

Member 13376650 3-Nov-17 14:01pm

So I should use which one? Systemd, Shels, Graphical?

Jochen Arndt · Answer 2 · 2017-11-03T04:40:00

The simplest method is adding the command(s) to /etc/rc.local (file/location depends on the distribution but Ubuntu uses that; create it if it does not exist). Then you probably want to run your program in background mode using the shell's & operator (space separated at the end of the line):

/path_to_app [options] &

If the application uses X11, you can tell X11 to start your application. See for example Xsession - Debian Wiki[^] and CustomXSession - Ubuntu Wiki[^] . Again use the shell's & operator.

If the application does not use X11 (e.g. when it writes directly to the frame buffer), it can be also started as service using a run level script. This is the common method for window less systems in kiosk mode but requires writing a run-level script and confuring that (depends on the method used by the Linux distribution).

These are the methods that come to my mind but there are more.

Showing an image when idle should be handled by the application. It may also show your logo when started.

If you want to show your logo when the system is powered up, you have to change the boot splash image. That depends on the used system and distribution and is an advanced task because it must be done as early as possible in the boot process and requires the SPI display to be ready.

Alternatively you can check if you can use Plymouth - Ubuntu Wiki[^] (it might be tricky because you must have your SPI display already up and running).

Quote:
Also I am newbie in Linux and don't know much about it and need a straightforward tutorial!

We all started once with no or little knowledge. But you usually have to understand what you are doing instead of just coyping from a tutorial and should at least know the very basics about the shell and (for your project) the boot and startup process. This applies especially to your system which is not a standard desktop, server, or often used (like the Raspberry Pi) so that many sources (like tutorials) can't be used without modification.