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LFCS · Question #716

When you start XWindows, which series of programs and/or scripts would most closely describe the start-up process?

The correct answer is D. startx -> xinit -> xinitrC.> Xclients. The typical X Window System startup process initiated by a user from the console begins with startx, which invokes xinit, leading to the execution of xinitrc to launch X client applications.

Submitted by haru.x· Apr 18, 2026Operation of Running Systems

Question

When you start XWindows, which series of programs and/or scripts would most closely describe the start-up process?

Options

  • Axdm -> xinit -> xinitrC.> Xclients
  • BkdE.> xinitrC.> xinit -> Xclients
  • Cstartx -> xinitrC.> Xclients -> kde
  • Dstartx -> xinit -> xinitrC.> Xclients
  • Estartx -> xinit -> Xclients -> xinitrc

How the community answered

(38 responses)
  • B
    3% (1)
  • C
    5% (2)
  • D
    92% (35)

Why each option

The typical X Window System startup process initiated by a user from the console begins with `startx`, which invokes `xinit`, leading to the execution of `xinitrc` to launch X client applications.

Axdm -> xinit -> xinitrC.> Xclients

`xdm` is an X Display Manager, typically used for graphical logins, not for initiating a manual X session via `startx`.

BkdE.> xinitrC.> xinit -> Xclients

`kde` is a desktop environment, not a startup script, and this sequence does not accurately reflect the X startup process.

Cstartx -> xinitrC.> Xclients -> kde

The sequence is incorrect as `kde` is a client application launched by `xinitrc`, not a subsequent step in the core startup flow after `Xclients`.

Dstartx -> xinit -> xinitrC.> XclientsCorrect

When starting X Windows manually from a console, `startx` is the primary script that executes `xinit`. `xinit` then sources the `~/.xinitrc` or `/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc` script, which is responsible for starting the Xclients, such as a window manager or desktop environment.

Estartx -> xinit -> Xclients -> xinitrc

The order `Xclients -> xinitrc` is incorrect; `xinitrc` is executed to start `Xclients`, not the other way around.

Concept tested: X Window System startup process

Source: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/startx.1.html

Topics

#X Windows#GUI startup#xinit#startx

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