(Solved) Key binding in Spectrwm, Rofi does not see whats in ~/bin

[danrobi11]

Hello.
New Edit: I explain better.
I cant figure why rofi can execute the apps in my ~/bin when I run rofi -show window -sync from the terminal but not when I hit my Spectrwm keybind. Its the exact same command but rofi cant launch the apps in ~/bin with the keybind. Why ? How can I fix this ? Thanks!

Rofi Version: 1.6.1
OS: MX 19.3 (patito feo) x86_64 based Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
SysV init version: 2.93
Kernel: 4.19.0-9-amd64
Xorg v1:7.7+19
WM: Spectrwm

[github-actions[bot]]

@danrobi11: hello! 👋

This issue is being automatically closed because it does not follow the issue template.

[DaveDavenport]

This is an environment issue, not a rofi issue.
Make sure the PATH is set correctly (that it includes ~/bin) that rofi sees when launched.

[danrobi11]

@DaveDavenport

PATH is set. And it works when launching rofi from the terminal but not with keybind. Its the exact same command. Thats why I wonder whats going on. Actually I did not explained correctly. Rofi sees whats in ~/bin but rofi cant launch whats in ~/bin with keybind. Rofi does launch apps in ~/bin when I run from terminal.

 ->echo $PATH
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/home/danrobi/bin

[DaveDavenport]

This is something commonly going wrong, the $PATH rofi sees when launched from keybind is most likely not correct.
Rofi inherits the environment from where it launched from, if it works from terminal and not from keybind.
then the environment for the last is different.

[DaveDavenport]

Creating a discussion out of this.

[DaveDavenport]

I don't know if keybind is a separate tool or build into your window manager.

How do you launch your window manager (from console using startx, or via a login manager like lightdm?)

In the last case it is common that it does not correctly launch shell and load that profile. If you launch a terminal a shell is launched that sources a profile (and therefor setups a different environment.).

[danrobi11]

Rofi inherits the environment from where it launched from

Issue is when I run rofi from the wm keybind.
Rofi binary is also located ~/bin. I also tried to put rofi and all my apps in ~/.local/bin with same result. (Yes I added the PATH)

How do you launch your window manager (from console using startx, or via a login manager like lightdm?

lightdm

This is something commonly going wrong, the $PATH

Yes must be that.
Can I tell rofi to go look for executables in a specific location ? That would fix my issue, no ?

[DaveDavenport]

Yes, by setting the PATH correct.

lightdm does not launch a shell when launching the WM, it often happens that the environment is not what the user expects and sees in a terminal.
You could make a keybinding like env > ~/tmp.env and see what env rofi sees when launched.

[DaveDavenport]

A quick google shows this for i3 with similar issues:
https://faq.i3wm.org/question/2483/howto-debian-wheezy-lightdm-i3.1.html

[danrobi11]

Yes, by setting the PATH correct.

I thought the PATH was set.

->echo $PATH
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/home/danrobi/bin

A quick google shows this for i3 with similar issues:

Ok from what I see in the link, I think i'll just put rofi and all my apps back into /usr/bin and get done with this. Thanks for the support!

[DaveDavenport]

PATH set in terminal is not equal to the PATH set for your window manager. Whatever you see on your terminal does not represent what your window manager, and therefor rofi launched from your window manager sees.

Thats what I have been trying to make clear.

The link does not!! tell you to manually put apps in /usr/bin. this is in general a very bad idea, as that directory should be managed by your package manager.! If you get a collision, you can break your package manager easily.

[danrobi11]

Thats what I have been trying to make clear

Yes and thank you for that. I didnt know about -> PATH set in terminal is not equal to the PATH set for your window manager.

this is in general a very bad idea, as that directory should be managed by your package manager.! If you get a collision, you can break your package manager easily.

Well I didnt know that either. I got told it was a bad idea but didnt know why. Now I know. Thats unfortunate because rofi sees everything in /usr/bin. Oh well, I'll follow that guide in the link then. I'll let you know. Thanks again!

[DaveDavenport]

Keeps us informed.

Normally you install programs for a user in:

• ~/.local/bin/
  Often ~/bin/ is also used, but there are good reasons not to do this.

To install something, outside of package manager globally, you use /usr/local/bin/.

[danrobi11]

To install something, outside of package manager globally, you use /usr/local/bin/

Oh jeez, thats it. That would have been much easier.

Often ~/bin/ is also used, but there are good reasons not to do this.

Ok I'll put everything back into ~/.local/bin/ or /usr/local/bin/ I'll see.

Keeps us informed.

Well I followed the guide from link and it worked. now spectrwm in PATH

->cat /proc/$(pidof spectrwm)/environ | tr '\0' '\n' | grep '^PATH'
PATH=/home/danrobi/bin:/home/danrobi/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/games:/usr/games

Thank you much! I've learned alot 👍

[DaveDavenport]

Any day you learned something new is a good day 👍 👍

[danrobi11]

I just tested this. If I only add export PATH=$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH in /etc/X11/Xsession it does work. (need logout)

So unless theres a good reason not to do this, that does it too.

[DaveDavenport]

That looks like a decent solution.

[danrobi11]

Ok cool. Thank you for confirming