Question

9

Should I make executable text file or a .desktop one?

rated 0 times [ 9] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 10463 / 3 Years ago, fri, november 12, 2021, 5:01:17

I'm new to this and can't quite wrap my head around it.
I want to run specific firefox profile which, so I just put this line in a text file:
firefox -p Profile
make it executable and run it. It works fine.

Now what advantages I gain if I make a .desktop file that has in the command line basically the same?
Other than the option to set an icon and add it to the launcher?
Are there any fundamental differences?

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mocipe

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answered 3 Years ago warrdel · Accepted Answer

For using by command-line:

You can make executable file (let by command gedit myfp)as follows:
```
#!/bin/bash

[Your commands Here]
```

Give it execution permission by chmod +x myfp and put this file in location: /usr/local/bin

Now you can easily execute [Your commands Here] by running command mypf in Terminal.

For using by GUI (as a Launcher):

You can create a desktop file (let by command gedit mypf.desktop) as follows:
```
[Desktop Entry]

Name=My Firefox

Comment=My Profile

Exec=[your command here]

Type=Application

Icon=[path/to/icon-file]
```
where [Desktop Entry] remains constant and [your command here] is may be firefox -p or directly mypf if available. [path/to/icon-file] is path to icon file.

Give it execution permission by chmod +x mypf.desktop and put in location /usr/share/applications.

You can also create symbolic link to your desktop by ln -s /usr/share/applications/mypf.desktop ~/Desktop and launch from Desktop easily.

Additional Info: It can be run at startup by putting Desktop file in $HOME/.config/autostart.

Which method/way should you make? is depends upon How it will be executed and For what purpose?

Also visit following community helps:

Launcher & Desktop-File

Bash Scripting

Hope this helps you to create executable file for using by command-line script and/or desktop file for using by GUI as a launcher.