Question: Scheduled task for GUI

[lyallp]

I use fluxbox as my dekstop manager.
I would like to run Pidgin and update the MOTD then close Pidgin down, as a scheduled task.
As I understand it, Pidgin will require a gui to run, meaning this is not something that cron can handle as I may not be logged in.
Is there a some tool that I can use which would only operate within the context of my current GUI session?
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...Lyall

[Section_8]

I may be misunderstanding the question, but with kde, something like this will launch a gui app from a simple bash script started from a user cron task:

[khayyam]

[xaviermiller]

Hi!

Can't you use a text-based IRC client like irssi ?
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Kind regards,
Xavier Miller

[charles17]

[lyallp]

Pidgin has a status section on it's display.

I update the content of that status window using a bit of python and purple-remote.

I retrieve my updated text content from a 'word of the day' website.

So, I gather Pidgin requires a GUI to run and login to the IM accounts so that when I use purple-remote to update the status text, the IM services will update to reflect my new word of the day.

Hence, my query about a cron like tool which only runs within the context of a logged in GUI, not specific to KDE or Gnome. (I use fluxbox).

I am beginning to think I might simply create a login script that runs in the background, loops forever, starts Pidgin, updates the status, quits Pidgin, sleeps for 24 hours, and make my 'logout' terminate this script.

That will solve my requirement, although, in my opinion, not in an elegant way.
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...Lyall

[Genone]

Tried using finch instead of pidgin to avoid the GUI requirement?

[charles17]

[lyallp]

People still seem to think I am talking about /etc/motd.

Nope. Pidgin Status text. I am happy with pidgin, I have a way of updating the status via script, I just want to automate it.


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...Lyall