Setting brightness at Ubuntu startup

In Ubuthu machines such as Thinkpad T520 every-time when we restart the computer the brightness level will be at its maximum and then we need to manually set the brightness to a comfortable level.

To solve this issue here I share a small script I have written.

First install xdotool

sudo apt-get install xdotool

This will allow you to change the brightness easily from the command line with out admin privileges.


Check whether the brightness is changing with the following command

xdotool key XF86MonBrightnessDown

Now we have to find the file where the brightness value is stored, try doing

cat /sys/class/backlight/acpi_video0/brightness

If you get an integer value then your good to proceed, else you have to find the appropriate file in your system. In that case check in /sys/class/


Adjust the brightness and find your desired brightness level using the above command E.g. 9


In this example I have used 9 as my brightness level change it according to you.

 
#!/bin/bash

myBrightness=9;
currentBrightness=`cat /sys/class/backlight/acpi_video0/brightness`;
count=$(( $currentBrightness - $myBrightness )) ;
while [ $count -gt 0 ]
do
     xdotool key XF86MonBrightnessDown
     let  count=$(($count-1));
done

Save this as brightness.sh


Then make this file to be an executable, by running

chmod +x brightness.sh

Finally open the "Startup Applications" click Add and add the following

Name :<appropriate name>
Command:/<path to file from root>/brightness.sh
Comment:<appropriate comment>

Shortcut launcher for IntelJ Idea in Ubuntu

Than starting from command prompt, Launcher is a fascinating way to start programs by a single click in Ubuntu.

We can add launchers either in the Desktop or on panels.
To add one, right click the panel and select "Add to panel...", you will get the "Add to panel" window.
Here double click on "custom application launcher".

On the "Create launcher" window, for name type "Idea" and for the  command type:

/bin/sh -c 'export JDK_HOME=path for Java home && path for /bin/idea.sh

E.g.

/bin/sh -c 'export JDK_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.20 && /home/suho/proj/idea-IU-95.66/bin/idea.sh'

By clicking the launcher icon on the "Create launcher" window you can select an image file to add as the icon of your launcher. For Idea you can find its image form Idea_Home/bin/

Happy coding!