Create Desktop Launcher and include sudo password?

[MaxVK]

Hi. I'm using Xampp for some development work and I have two launchers on my desktop, one to start Xampp and one to stop it.

Xampp needs to be started with sudo, so I have: "sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start" as the command in one of the launchers. However, its a pain to keep typing the password, so is there a way to include the password for sudo inside the launcher (so I can just click it and go)?

Cheers

Max

[MaxVK]

Just a 'lil old bump!

[tom.swartz07]

The only way I could think of getting the same result you're looking for is to create a launcher script, and give it root permissions.

open gedit (or any other plain-text editor)
and type the following:

#!/bin/bash
/opt/lampp/lampp start

Save it to your desktop, then right click the icon. Properties>Permissions.

Select 'execute'

and you should be good from there!

Repeat the process with the 'stop', you simply have to edit the 2nd line in the script, natch.

Hope this helps!

[MaxVK]

Thanks Tom, but it doesn't seem to work. When I click on the file it asks how it should be run (in terminal etc) but whichever way I try to run it there is a very quick flash on the screen and thats it. Xampp however, is not running.

Its not a real biggie, but its one of those little niggles that Id really like to get sorted out.

Any other ideas anyone?

Cheers

Max

[inameiname]

I had a similar question a few days back, and I was able to figure out a solution. Check it out:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1556333

[tom.swartz07]

I had a similar question a few days back, and I was able to figure out a solution. Check it out:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1556333

Ah! a cron job! I knew I forgot something.

Yeah, follow the method that inameiname used, that will get it to work, the only thing is, it could only easily be run on a schedule, not upon command.

[x1a4]

Configure your system to open lampp without asking for authentication. Be sure you know exactly why you want to do this. Convenience is not a good reason. Anyway, just edit the file /etc/sudoers. Do it using 'visudo'

sudo visudo

and append

%usergroup LOCAL=NOPASSWD:/opt/lampp/lampp

to the file.

Where %usergroup is the group name of the user(s) who will use lampp without asking for password.

Look in the manual for sudoers(5) and visudo(8).

[MaxVK]

Thanks guys Ill look into that later on.

Convenience is not a good reason.

x1a4: Your modified method looks like its the one that will be the best, but why do you say this? The whole point is convenience and I'm the only one with access to the machine. Would this produce any serious kind of security risk? (and if so is it possible to keep the convenient method of starting and stopping Xampp while negating the security risk?)

Cheers all

Max

[gandaran]

you can also start lampp with gksu in your launcher

gksu /opt/lampp/lampp start

this way you just click the start launcher and type the the password in the gksu dialog box

[inameiname]

To tom.swartz07, that method I figured out works just fine for me, both on a schedule (have it run at startup through Startup Applications), AND on command, whenever I feel like clicking the desktop launcher. I even have an alias for it in my .bashrc file for whenevever I feel like running it while using the terminal. So if you're having trouble with not being able to run it on command, I'm not sure why. Just remember you have to insert your own username, (not 'me'), in it, which I forgot to put on my post.