Extra tricks for linux on your arcade machine

Want your linux arcade machine to boot right into, and shut down from your attract-mode front end?

Change to OpenBox as your window manager:

log out, select openbox above
log in
reboot

Add attract mode to autostart with openbox

vim ~/.config/openbox/autostart

paste this:

#AutoStart Attract-Mode
attract

:wq to save and exit vim

Hide the UI even further by changing the default colors to black

sudo vim /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/openbox-autostart

change the line under
# Set a background color
from
BG=””
to
BG=”#000000″

and this line:
#test -z $BG || $BG -solid “#303030”
to
#test -z $BG || $BG -solid “#000000”

Enable shutdown directly from exiting attract-mode:

sudo visudo -f /etc/sudoers

NOTE: this has implications, it basically allows everyone to do super user commands without a password. In the case of my arcade cab, I don’t care. Be aware of the risks.

#!! IMPORTANT: !! – PUT THIS AT THE END OF THE FILE AFTER THE LAST LINE OR YOU WILL RISK BREAKING YOUR ACCESS.

username ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL

Then in attract mode:

Set: exit command

sudo shutdown now