---
name: "dex"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dex"
version: "0.10.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dex"
---

# dex(1)

DesktopEntry Execution

## NAME

dex - DesktopEntry Execution

## SYNOPSIS

**dex** \[*options*\] \[*DesktopEntryFile*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

**dex**, DesktopEntry Execution, is a program to generate and execute DesktopEntry files of the Application type.

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  Show this help message and exit

- **--action** *ACTION*

  Identifier of an "additional application action" to operate on. Also known as a quicklist/jumplist entry.

- **-a, --autostart**

  Autostart programs

- **-c** *PATH,* **--create** *PATH*

  Create a DesktopEntry file for the program at the given path. An optional second argument is used to specify the filename of the created DesktopEntry file, or specify the filename - to print the file to stdout. By default a new file is created with the .desktop file extension.

- **-d, --dry-run**

  Dry run, don't execute any command

- **-e** *ENVIRONMENT,* **--environment** *ENVIRONMENT*

  Specify the Desktop Environment an autostart should be performed for; works only in combination with --autostart

- **-p** *PROPERTY,* **--property** *PROPERTY*

  Display DesktopEntry property value. Supported properties are: Type, Version, Name, NoDisplay, Hidden, OnlyShowIn, NotShowIn, TryExec, Exec, Path, Terminal, Actions, StartupNotify, StartupWMClass, URL. For ACTIONs, only Name and Exec are supported.

- **-s** *SEARCHPATHS,* **--search-paths** *SEARCHPATHS*

  Colon separated list of paths to search for desktop files, overriding the default search list

- **-t** *DIRECTORY,* **--target-directory** *DIRECTORY*

  Create files in target directory

- **--term** *TERM*

  The terminal emulator that will be used to run the program if Terminal=true is set in the desktop file, defaults to x-terminal-emulator

- **-w, --wait**

  Block until the program exits

- **--test**

  Perform a self-test

- **-v, --verbose**

  Verbose output

- **-V, --version**

  Display version information

## EXAMPLES

Perform an autostart/execute all programs in the autostart folders.

**dex -a**

Perform an autostart/execute all programs in the specified folders.

**dex -a -s /etc/xdg/autostart/:~/.config/autostart/**

Preview the programs would be executed in a regular autostart.

**dex -ad**

Preview the programs would be executed in a GNOME specific autostart.

**dex -ad -e GNOME**

Preview the value of DesktopEntry property Name.

**dex -p Name htop.desktop**

Create a DesktopEntry for a program in the current directory.

**dex -c /usr/bin/skype**

Create a DesktopEntry for a programs in autostart directory.

**dex -t ~/.config/autostart -c /usr/bin/skype /usr/bin/nm-applet**

Execute a single program from command line and enable verbose output.

**dex -v skype.desktop**

Execute a single program (with Terminal=true in the desktop file) in gnome-terminal.

**dex --term gnome-terminal nvim.desktop**

Execute a single program and block until it exits.

**dex --wait nvim.desktop**

Execute a specifified application action.

**dex --action new-private-window firefox.desktop**

## Author

Jan Christoph Ebersbach, Johannes Löthberg