Add Generic X session to SDDM menu


I like to define how my X session starts, what locale it runs under, which apps are started by default and so on. For many years, I've maintained the same .xsession file, only changing a line here and there as I move through clipboard managers, favourite browser or indeed, favourite Window Manager.

Lately, I've switch to SDDM and saw to my surprise that there was no "Custom X session" option to let me use my .xsession instead of whatever sessions installed on the system (KDE Plasma, i3, GNOME and so on).

As often is the case on Linux, creating a text file in the right place on the machine with the right content, saved the day:

First, create a new file in /usr/share/xsession:

# vim /usr/share/xsessions/xsession.desktop

with this content:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=X session
Comment=X session, controlled by your ~/.xsession
Exec=/etc/X11/Xsession
TryExec=/etc/X11/Xsession
Type=Application
X-LightDM-DesktopName=X session
DesktopNames=X session

Log out and back in again. SDDM should now have a new Desktop session to choose from called "X session". Congratulations, you can now control the X session from the comfort of your ~/.xsession 😃


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