slim(1) slim(1)

slim - Simple LogIn Manager 

slim [options] [<arguments>]

SLiM is a lightweight login manager for X11, allowing the initialization of a graphical session by entering username and password in a login screen. It is desktop-agnostic and should work (suitably configured) with any session style.

select a non-standard configuration file instead of /etc/slim.conf
run as a daemon
do NOT run as a daemon
be systemd compatible by disabling consolekit support. This option does nothing if consolekit support has not been built in.
display a preview of the theme. An already running X11 session is required for theme preview.
set the size of the window used for theme preview. This option is only valid after a -p option
display a brief help message
display version information

run slim in daemon mode
preview of the default theme at low resolution

Please refer to the documentation of your Operating System to make slim automatically startup after the system boots. In particular, the method is very different between SysV, OpenRC, runit and systemd init processes.

Global configuration is stored in the /etc/slim.conf file. See the comments inside the file for a detailed explanation of the options.

When started, slim will show a login panel; enter the username and password of the user you want to login as.

Special usernames:

open an xterm login console. No password needed
quit slim. No password needed. See the note in BUGS.
shutdown the machine
reboot the machine
power-suspend the machine

See the configuration file for customizing the above commands. The 'halt' and 'reboot' commands need the root password, and hence may not work on systems where root login is disabled.

Shortcuts:

executes a custom command (by default takes a screenshot)
choose session type from session list.

When run as a daemon from OpenRC (and possibly other init systems), causing SLiM to quit can sometimes result in a blank screen and unresponsive computer. This includes when using the "exit" special username.

Probably still a few more but I'm working on them.

Simone Rota <sip@varlock.com>

Johannes Winkelmann <jw@tks6.net>

Nobuhiro Iwamatsu <iwamatsu@nigauri.org>

Rob Pearce <slim@flitspace.org.uk>

slimlock(1)

See the online documentation at the SLiM web site for further information on themes, FAQs, etc.

January 14, 2023