{"id":241070,"date":"2021-05-03T16:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T13:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/implementing-and-using-a-microsoft-windows-like-start-command-in-linux-cloudsavvy-it\/"},"modified":"2021-05-03T16:00:10","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T13:00:10","slug":"implementing-and-using-a-microsoft-windows-like-start-command-in-linux-cloudsavvy-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/implementing-and-using-a-microsoft-windows-like-start-command-in-linux-cloudsavvy-it\/","title":{"rendered":"#Implementing and Using a Microsoft Windows Like \u2018start\u2019 Command in Linux \u2013 CloudSavvy IT"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a27c15b31e5a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a27c15b31e5a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/implementing-and-using-a-microsoft-windows-like-start-command-in-linux-cloudsavvy-it\/#What_Is_start\" >What Is start?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/implementing-and-using-a-microsoft-windows-like-start-command-in-linux-cloudsavvy-it\/#Re-implementing_start_on_Linux\" >Re-implementing start on Linux!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/implementing-and-using-a-microsoft-windows-like-start-command-in-linux-cloudsavvy-it\/#Wrapping_up\" >Wrapping up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#Implementing and Using a Microsoft Windows Like \u2018start\u2019 Command in Linux \u2013 CloudSavvy IT&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage alignnone size-full wp-image-4038\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.cloudsavvyit.com\/p\/uploads\/2017\/07\/add8ac45.png?width=1200&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Bash Shell\" width=\"1400\" height=\"600\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re used to the convenient \u2018start\u2019 command at the command prompt in Microsoft Windows, you\u2019re likely to be a little dis<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ointed not having the same functionality in Linux. But it need not be!<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_start\"><\/span>What Is <i>start<\/i>?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you have used Microsoft Windows for a long time, you likely have found some shortcuts which simplify your work. One such super-handy shortcut is to use the <i>start<\/i> command at the Command Prompt in Windows.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9613\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.cloudsavvyit.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/3b475ad3.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A Microsoft Windows command prompt employing the use of the start command\" width=\"679\" height=\"476\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Start is extremely versatile. You can type <code>start .<\/code> to open a directory browser window right at the location where you are in the command prompt (the current directory). You can also just type <code>start notepad<\/code>, and it will open the notepad application for you, and so on. You can even do things like <code>start mypdf.pdf<\/code>, and it will open your default-type-assigned application for opening PDF files! Handy.<\/p>\n<p>Then you move to Linux and expect the same great functionality to be there. But not so:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9614\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.cloudsavvyit.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/141839d8.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The start command by default is not available in Linux\" width=\"444\" height=\"152\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Start is not a default command in Linux. Still, Linux, much more so than Microsoft Windows, allows us to tweak our systems just the way we like them, even to near-infinity. Linux offers control where Microsoft does not. So, let\u2019s implement our own start.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Re-implementing_start_on_Linux\"><\/span>Re-implementing <i>start<\/i> on Linux!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Re-implementing <i>start<\/i> on Linux is easier then you think. Here are two methods. The first one is likely to work more universally on various Linux distributions, whereas the second is more Linux Mint and Ubuntu focused.<\/p>\n<p>The first one uses the <code>xdg-open<\/code>. Two commands are needed to re-implement <code>start<\/code>:<\/p>\n<pre>sudo apt install xdg-utils&#13;\necho \"alias start=\"xdg-open\"\" &gt;&gt; ~\/.bashrc &#13;\n<\/pre>\n<p>Note: if you use Fedora, RedHat, or Centos instead of a Debian-based distribution, you may use <code>sudo yum install xdg-utils<\/code> instead of the first line.<\/p>\n<p>The first command will install the <code>xdg-utils<\/code> package, enabling us to use the command <code>xdg-open<\/code>. It is likely that <code>xdg-utils<\/code> is already installed on your system, and trying to do so again will not damage the operating system in any way.<\/p>\n<p>The second command adds an alias to our personal Bash startup script (the hidden file <code>~\/.bashrc<\/code>) in which <code>xdg-open<\/code> is called whenever <code>start<\/code> is executed at the command line. Note one could also type <code>xdg-open<\/code>, but I much prefer the shorter and more familiar <code>start<\/code>.<\/p>\n<p>After making these changes, exit your shell and re-open it. You should now be able to use <code>start<\/code> in \u2013 for all intents and purposes \u2013 the same manner as you would in Microsoft Windows:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9615\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.cloudsavvyit.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/e048967d.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The start command re-implemented in Linux\" width=\"639\" height=\"229\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>There may be some minor differences in operation; for example, if you execute a command like <code>start text.txt<\/code> where such a file exists, a file manager with that file highlighted (requiring an additional double click) may open instead of opening the assigned application.<\/p>\n<p>There are minor differences between <code>xdg-utils<\/code> and <code>exo-utils<\/code> (described below) in this way, and it depends on your underlying desktop window manager and it\u2019s file type association settings also.<\/p>\n<p>Test what works best for you, and set correct file type associations in your operating system to maximize the minor differences. You can do so by right-clicking a file and selecting options alike to Open With &gt; Other Application &gt; selecting an application and making it default. There may also be a file type configuration screen available in your Linux Distribution.<\/p>\n<p>Note that the first time you run commands this way you may be presented with a dialog similar to the following:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9616\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.cloudsavvyit.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/5be4e671.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Selecting a preferred file manager application dialog\" width=\"384\" height=\"169\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>In it, simply select your favorite file manager. For more information on how to do this and what sort of options are available here, you may like to review our article Swapping File Managers in Mint 20<\/p>\n<p>If somehow you ran into issues, or you are using Linux Mint or Ubuntu and would like to try another possible solution, you can try this alternative solution which uses <code>exo-utils<\/code>, a package originally attached to the <code>xcfe<\/code> desktop window manager, but also usable on, or in conjunction with, other windows managers!<\/p>\n<p>For our second solution, two commands are needed to re-implement <code>start<\/code>:<\/p>\n<pre>sudo apt-get install exo-utils&#13;\necho \"alias start=\"exo-open --launch FileManager\"\" &gt;&gt; ~\/.bashrc &#13;\n<\/pre>\n<p>The first command installs the <code>exo-utils<\/code>, in a similar fashion to our install of <code>xdg-utils<\/code>. The second command will add the line <code>alias start=\"exo-open --launch FileManager\"<\/code> to <code>~\/.bashrc<\/code> again in a similar fashion as our first solution. The command required here is slightly more complex, but things work in exactly the same way.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wrapping_up\"><\/span>Wrapping up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Having <code>start<\/code> available in Linux, especially when you tend to use the terminal command line a lot, makes the blend between the text-based terminal and the desktop windows manager definitively better.<\/p>\n<p>Once you use the solution for a while, different ways of using it will become more apparent, and your computer use efficiency and operator skills will significantly improve.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Enjoy!<\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudsavvyit.com\/9612\/implementing-and-using-a-microsoft-windows-like-start-command-in-linux\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Implementing and Using a Microsoft Windows Like \u2018start\u2019 Command in Linux \u2013 CloudSavvy IT&#8221; If you\u2019re used to the convenient \u2018start\u2019 command at the command prompt in Microsoft Windows, you\u2019re likely to be a little disappointed not having the same functionality in Linux. But it need not be! What Is start? If you have used&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":241071,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.cloudsavvyit.com\/p\/uploads\/2017\/07\/add8ac45.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-241070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=241070"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241070\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=241070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=241070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=241070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}