CODEWITHSUNDEEP
linuxraspberry-piraspbian
marce
marce

Reputation: 781

LXDE .desktop file permission issue

I’m trying to run a Python script via a desktop icon/shortcut/launcher on a Raspberry Pi using Raspbian and LXDE. I have to use a desktop launcher since the script has to be started via a tiny touchscreen only accepting left-clicks and without a keyboard.
I think that I have a permission issue since the script fails at a point where it should execute some system commands which require root.

The script works if I do the following:

  1. Open a terminal
  2. Enter sudo python3 program.py

I tried to replicate this behavior with a .desktop file using the following config:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Exec=sudo python3 program.py
Terminal=true
Icon=path/to/icon.png
Name=Program Launcher

I suppose I missed something obvious, but since I don’t work with Linux usually I’m a bit lost here.

Edit: The problem was not a missing permission but an incorrectly assumed working directory and is now solved. Sorry for my confusion.
In detail: during development the script was started from its own folder while the desktop launcher used /home/pi as working directory. In general that's not a problem, but in the script a hardcoded path was used and a required file not found when using the launcher. The real problem was sloppy swallowed and the status code of a permission issue returned. So it was simply a bad code issue.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 1349

Answers (1)

Paweł Tomkiel
Paweł Tomkiel

Reputation: 1984

As docs for desktop entries says:

The Exec key must contain a command line. A command line consists of an executable program optionally followed by one or more arguments. The executable program can either be specified with its full path or with the name of the executable only. If no full path is provided the executable is looked up in the $PATH environment variable used by the desktop environment. The name or path of the executable program may not contain the equal sign ("="). Arguments are separated by a space.

It leads to conclusion, that maybe python3 is not within $PATH used by the desktop environment. Try to check full path of your python3 and sudo with:

whereis python3
whereis sudo

on my Archlinux it gives me /usr/bin/python3 and /usr/bin/sudo. Try to modify your Dekstop entry to something like: 

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Exec=/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/python3 program.py
Terminal=true
Icon=path/to/icon.png
Name=Program Launcher

Let me know if this helps.

Upvotes: 1

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