Skip to main content

2.7 Auto-Start on Boot

This guide explains how to make your program start automatically when the system boots. We’ll use a systemd user service, which applies to Bianbu system.

Step 1: Prepare Your Program for Auto Start​

Before setting up auto-start, confirm your program runs correctly from the command line. Examples:

  • Python script:

    python demo.py

  • Bash script:

    bash executable_file

  • Node.js project:

    npm run start

Step 2: Create the systemd Service File​

In your working directory, create a new file named demo.service with the following content:

[Unit]
Description=Demo Service

[Service]
Type=simple
WorkingDirectory=/path/to/your/workspace
ExecStart=/bin/bash -c 'exec /path/to/your/workspace/executable_file'
Restart=on-failure
StandardOutput=journal
StandardError=journal
Environment=SYSTEMD_LOG_LEVEL=debug
Environment=PYTHONPATH=/if/you/need

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

Note:

  • WorkingDirectory: Enter the path to your working directory.
  • ExecStart: Enter your startup command or the path to your executable file.
  • To add environment variables, just add more Environment= lines.

Step 3: Install the service file​

Copy the demo.service file to the ~/.config/systemd/user/ or /usr/lib/systemd/user/ directory (the former is recommended, as user-level services do not require root permissions).

mkdir -p ~/.config/systemd/user
cp demo.service ~/.config/systemd/user/

Step 4: Enable and Start the Service​

  1. Enable the service to start automatically at boot:

    systemctl --user enable demo.service

  2. Start the service:

    systemctl --user start demo.service

  3. Check the service status:

    systemctl --user status demo.service

A running status indicates that the service is currently active:

Step 5: Verify Auto Start at Boot​

Reboot your system, then run:

systemctl --user status demo.service

If configured correctly, it will be active automatically.

Common Issues​

  • If you encounter permission issues, make sure your user has a systemd user instance enabled.

  • Logs can be viewed using:

    journalctl --user -u demo.service

  • If the service does not start automatically, check the service file path, permissions, and whether the ExecStart command is correct.