[qubes-users] Circumventing autostart of apps when updating the appVM by `salt`?

Mailing Lists qubes-users
1

I have a setup with appVMs that are configured to autostart a subset of
apps when they get fired up - one example is `app-privcom` that runs
`evolution`, `signal-desktop` (from a user level installed flatpak just
in that VM) and `liferea` (also a flatpak) when coming online.

Given the user-level flatpaked nature of some of the apps, the appVMs
themselves have to be maintained (`flatpak update` etc.), which I do
using `salt`.

As a side effect of the convenient autostarting this results in apps
popping up left and right when my fleet of appVMs is being updated by
`salt` - which is a nuisance.

Can anyone think of a way to circumvent app autostart in the context of
firing up the the appVMs via `salt`?

Thank you for any pointers.

Sincerely, Joh

2

I don’t think this is possible right now. This would require that the
VM know that it is being started via Salt, which it currently does not.
Feel free to submit an enhancement request on GitHub.

3

Just thinking out loud here: traditional run level trickery in the
context of starting a VM is that something feasible?