Autorun Firefox on startup...grrrrrrr!

Question

Long Story (Short): Okay, I've read all of the guides, questions etc I can find and it's still not happening. I can't get the browser to open its self up when the pi boots.

Background: I'm following this guide: http://www.instructables.com/id/Raspberry-Pi-Wall-Mounted-Google-Calendar/?ALLSTEPS

To create a live calendar for my school staffroom. I've followed it to the letter but can't get the browser to open its self up when the pi boots.

So far:

1. I tried editing sudo nano /ect/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart

   • I added @iceasel - it didn't work
   • I took @iceasel out and put @firefox in - it didn't work
   • I changed @firefox to @firefox-esr - it didn't work.
   • I tried all of the above with -e (as i thought this might mean execute?) - it didn't work.

2. I then found out that in the new Noobs build the file was called sudo nano /ect/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

   • So I did all of the above again to no great success :-(

I'm getting really frustrated with it. I have very limited knowledge with this kind of thing. I'm a problem solver who works extremly well on a software level but any coding and I'm in trouble -

Please help: So that you don't get frustrated with me, I'm going to explain how to help me (I know strange approach right?)

Okay, if you are asking me to use any code etc please explain along side it in plain English where possible so I will know for future eg:

use sudo nano to open the file /ect/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart sudo nano opens the text editor so you can edit the auto start config file

OR

add @firefox-esr - e to the bottom. -e tells it to execute the file. - is this correct btw?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I started to use epiphany browser to make things simple and then logged into the google calendar I needed to open. In the file menu it gives the option to save as a web application. I did this now have calendar.google.com as an app. so, could I use @calendar.google.com to auto launch this app?

Answer 1

Ok I am giving a shot at this, try following the mentioned steps (type in your Terminal):

1. create a folder called 'lxsession' in your hidden folder called .config:

   $ mkdir /home/pi/.config/lxsession
   

2. Depending on your Raspberry Pi Version you can try :

   $ mkdir /home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/
   

   OR

   $ mkdir /home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE/
   

3. now create a file called autostart in your above mentioned folder:

   $ nano /home/pi/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
   

4. Autostart your application by typing the following in your above mentioned file:

    @iceweasel
   

5. press CTRL+O (this is the letter O) press Enter and then CTRL+X

6. You should reboot your Raspberry Pi using the following command in terminal:

   $ sudo reboot
   

   Once it reboots you should be able to see your browser open!

Note

In order to see which version you are using do :

  cat /etc/os-release

if it says Jessie you should use LXDE-pi in Step 2 above if not use the other one.

Answer 2

It worked, thanks to all who had input (eps Shan-Desai)

Okay what I did:

1) Fresh install of Noobs (Raspbian Jessie)

2) sudo apt-get update.

3) sudo apt-get upgrade.

4) sudo apt-get install firefox-esr

5) Then I tried to follow Shan-Desai's advice above with:

create a folder called 'lxsession' in your hidden folder called .config:

$ mkdir /home/pi/.config/lxsession

BUT: It said the directory already existed.

6) Used file manager to navigate to /home/pi/.config/lxsession

7) Opened the AUTOSTART file and added @firefox-esr above the @screensaver line(can't remember the other part - something about splash?)

8) sudo reboot

9) It opened the browser on boot!

10) I then logged in to the google calendar, saving my login details and used sudo reboot while it was still open. It opened the browser and auto logged in on reboot :-)

Hope this helps others and thanks to those who had input!