Arch Linux

Description:
The default /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc file shipped with "xorg-xinit" 1.0.4-1 attempts to run "twm", "xclock", and "xterm", but the package does not list "xorg-twm", "xorg-apps", and "xterm" as dependencies. Starting an X Server will fail if this default file is used but these packages are not installed.

This is a problem because a user installing X11 through the xorg dummy package will be presented with a non-functioning startx with no warning that further packages and/or customization is required to make it function.

/etc/X11/xinitrc should be changed to not reference these programs, "xorg-twm", "xorg-apps", and "xterm" should be listed as dependencies of "xorg-xinit", or installing "xorg-xinit" should emit a message informing the user that one of either installing "xterm", "xorg-apps", and "xorg-twm" or creating a custom .xinitrc is required for the package to function.

Adding "xorg-twm", "xterm", and "xorg-apps" as dependencies will add approximately 900KB in dependencies. Note: "xorg-apps" will be automatically installed as a dependency of "xterm", but I assume that implicitly relying on this sub-dependency to continue to exist in the future would be less preferable than listing it explicitly.

Additional info:
* package version(s)
xorg-xinit: 1.0.4-1, installed as a dependency of xorg 11R7.0-1
* config and/or log files etc.
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc is the default version, included with xorg-xinit. I have no ~/.xinitrc.

Steps to reproduce:

(On a system without xterm, xorg-apps, and xorg-twm installed, and without a ~/.xinitrc file, install and configure xorg7 and attempt to start it using startx):
# pacman -Qi xorg-apps xorg-twm xterm
error: package "xorg-apps" not found
error: package "xorg-twm" not found
error: package "xterm" not found
# pacman -S xorg
(Choose to install all packages presented)
(Configure /etc/X11/xorg.conf)
# startx
(Screen flashes to X11 but then returns to terminal)

X Windows System Version 7.2.0
Release Date: 22 January 2007
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 7.2
Build Operating System: UNKNOWN
Current Operating System: Linux system 2.6.22-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Aug 2 18:27:37 CEST 2007 i686
Build Date: 08 April 2007
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown..
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sat Aug 11 07:25:52 2007
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"

/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc: line 28: twm: command not found
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc: linu 29: xclock: command not found
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc: line 30: xterm: command not found
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc: line 31: xterm: command not found
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc: line 32: exec: xterm: not found

waiting for X server to shut down FreeFontPath: FPE "/usr/share/fonts/misc" refcount is 2, should be 1; fixing.

#
(startx will continue to fail to function unless xterm, xorg-apps, and xorg-twm are installed or a custom .xinitrc is created)