Autostart Basic Program with optional Desktop

Hello!
I’m trying to set up a Raspberry PI400 Machine for my kid in the way that it normally starts some basic program I wrote but with a fallback to default boot to the desktop.

I find very useful info in the following post:
https://riscosopen.org/forum/forums/5/topics/2893

But using the instructions given there I stumble upon a problem:
For autostarting a program (naming a basic file ‘!Boot’) to work I need to rename the existing ‘!Boot’ directory.

There is also was suggested to just END the program on some key pressed. But I cannot figure out how to:

*Exec "$.!BootBak" (the renamed default boot application/directory)

Also tried to:
*Exec "$.!BootBak.!Boot"
*Exec "$.!BootBak.!Run"

But only got some errors when run. I suspect a problem is with the directory name or the incorrect current directory.

Please, help.

It is not normal to have a directory named !Boot anywhere.

A runnable application would consist of a directory whose name begins with !, and would usually contain Obey files named !Boot and !Run. The !Run file would invoke the runnable code, which in your case would be a Basic file. The most common name for that file is RunImage, but it can be anything you like.

To have an application start on boot-up, look at the configuration app under Boot.

Sorry for any confusion. I’m very new to RISC OS.

What I meant by saying “!Boot directory” probably is exactly an application that runs on system start-up.
I’m working under RPCEmu and see hostfs under Windows and it displays !Boot application as a directory.

When I was replacing this default !Boot application with just the BBCBasic file, it has been running on start-up. But I had a problem resuming normal system loading in case ALT key is pressed on execution.

I also tried to replace $.!Boot.!Boot script and got interesting results: GUI is initialized, my basic script is running in Window and as soon as it is finished – loading resumed to Desktop.

When replacing $.!Boot.!Run – results the same as with replacing the whole $.!Boot application:
Script starts as desired but i have problem running actual script $.!Boot.!Run
If I manualy execute it from basic: I get this error:
*Run <Boot$Dir>.Resources.!System
File 'Resources:$.Resources.ShareFS.Resources.!System' not found (Error number &D6)
and some other errors

I also should mention that I use a distribution of Risc OS Direct

I personally do not recomment to avoid the !Boot process if you need to run the desktop after you’ve executed your program.

What Dave suggested is to autorun you app with the regular desktop boot, it doesn’t matter if your program is multi-tasking or not, the desktop Boot sequence can autorun it for you.

When I was replacing this default !Boot application with just the BBCBasic file, it has been running on start-up. But I had a problem resuming normal system loading in case ALT key is pressed on execution.

My question is why do you need either your program OR the desktop? Is it to make it start you program immeditately?

I wondering how could i edit $.!Boot.!Run file to start a Basic program in case ALT is not pressed.

I will try to find this in documentation

I see, what I’d do then is:

1) Write a script that detect if the ALT key is presse and if it is then run your program
2) Add that script to the !configure¹ → Boot → Run list (it’s just a drag and drop yoru script there and you’re done)

This should do what you’re asking for and without complexity.

HTH

¹ If you are really new to RISC OS “!configure” is run by double clicking on your !Boot directory

I see, what I’d do then is:
1) Write a script that detect if the ALT key is presse and if it is then run your program
2) Add that script to the !configure1 → Boot → Run list (it’s just a drag and drop yoru script there and you’re done)

I tried that, it worked but not exactly the way I wanted.

I have already tried to set up RISC OS as the “pico” variant mentioned here: https://www.riscosopen.org/forum/forums/5/topics/15793
And I very much liked it. But I want to write my own Program/Game/Shell in basic and to set up system to run it immediately, but with the option to press a magic key on startup to go to the desktop)

I did what I wanted by editing
$.!Boot.!Run
Obey file and adding
Run "my_script"
in the beginning.

And in the script, there is a check for the ALT key that exits to the desktop. And it works.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice and your time.

I also discovered how to open the application contents in file explorer (Shift + Double left click)

Are you trying to run a BASIC program immediately after boot, without entering the RISC OS desktop, like you could on the BBC Micro?

This is possible, but it would be better on modern machines which might need to load essential drivers from disk, to allow the RISC OS desktop to start, and use the Configure tool (from the menu on the switched icon on the right of the iconbar) to set the program to run when the desktop starts. Go to Boot→Run and then drag the program from a filer window to the list. As long as the program has a MODE command at the beginning it will run full screen until it is quitted and then return to the desktop.