# SLiM: From Login to Desktop

**URL:** <https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/slim-from-login-to-desktop/95>\
**Category:** More You Know\
**Created:** [October 15, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/slim-from-login-to-desktop/95 "2026-10-15T20:37:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bcalc](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/user_avatar/bcalcos.discourse.group/bcalc/32/11_2.png) [@bcalc](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/u/bcalc)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/slim-from-login-to-desktop/95/1 "2026-10-15T20:37:48Z")

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**Article 4 of 6**  
**SLiM: From Login to Desktop**

## **After a Successful Login**

After a successful login, SLiM hands control to the command configured in `slim.conf`: `exec /bin/bash -login /etc/X11/Xsession %session`

That command invokes the system’s X session script, passing along the selected session value. In simplified form, the transfer looks like this:  
`SLiM → login_cmd → /etc/X11/Xsession → startxfce4 → Xfce desktop`

## **Where %session Comes From**

The F1 shortcut can select a session definition. The `Exec` line from that definition replaces `%session` in the launch command.

On out-of-the-box BcalcOS, there’s only one definition, so the substitution happens automatically: `%session` → `startxfce4`

Put together, the completed command becomes:  
`exec /bin/bash -login /etc/X11/Xsession startxfce4`

## **Finding the Xfce Session**

BcalcOS provides an Xfce session definition at: `/usr/share/xsessions/xfce.desktop`

Its important entries:  
`Name=Xfce Session`  
`Exec=startxfce4`  
`DesktopNames=XFCE`

`Name` supplies the session’s displayed name. `Exec` is the line SLiM borrows for `%session`. `DesktopNames` identifies the desktop environment.

The `startxfce4` command starts the Xfce session, which brings up the panel, menus, settings tools, and window manager.

SLiM’s role is to hand the selected session its cue.

## **The Login Theme Is Not the Desktop Theme**

SLiM’s login theme controls the appearance of the login screen. It’s selected through `current_theme` in `/etc/slim.conf`. BcalcOS uses `desktop-slim-theme`, located under: `/usr/share/slim/themes/`

That directory contains `slim.theme` and the image assets used to draw the login screen.

Xfce’s appearance settings are somewhere else entirely. Changing your Xfce wallpaper does not change the login screen, and installing a different SLiM theme does not redecorate the desktop.

They belong to different stages of the graphical experience.

## **Key Takeaway**

A successful login ends SLiM’s part of the job. The selected session definition supplies the command, and the system’s X session script takes it from there.

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Next: [Troubleshooting Common Problems](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/troubleshooting-common-problems/96)