[DESKTOP] cron does not launch an app

[skris88]

Hi

I am trying to get OBS-Studio to start automatically at a preset time from a script and cron.

1. the contents of my auto-record.sh script are
#!/bin/bash
date >> /home/user/Desktop/x.txt
obs --startrecording

2. I can double click on auto-record.sh on my file manager and OBS does launch.

3. I then typed into terminal: "crontab -e"

4. and enter the text
*/5 * * * * /home/user/Desktop/auto-record.sh

5. when I save and exit the file the terminal prompt displays "crontab: installing new crontab"

6. I leave things alone, and after a while the contents of x.txt are...

Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:15:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:15:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:20:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:20:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:25:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:25:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:30:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:30:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:35:01 AEST
Mon 26 Aug 2024 15:35:01 AEST

...so it appears cron is running every 5 nmins (as per this test - before I set it to the actual time when I do need it to run).

However the app OBS does not 'auto' launch.

What else do I need to do to make cron able to launch OBS?

Thanks!

Cheers,
skris88

[claydoh]

You'll need to specify the display when calling a GUI app this way


It's a comon question

[skris88]

okay I have changed the script to say

"export DISPLAY=:0 && obs --startrecording"

THANKS!

[newiron09]

Cron doesn't launch GUI apps unless you tell / explain him how to. You need to add env DISPLAY=:0 to your command.

Kodi