====== Backup_the_Backup with GUI and running as root ======

instead of polling the existence of a flag file, i would like to use inotify. the flag-file should be put into /var/spool/<username> or the like

You can use ''inotifywait'' (from the ''inotify-tools'' package) to watch for the creation or modification of a flag file in ''/var/spool/&lt;username&gt;'', triggering your dialog and subsequent actions when the file appears—without polling. Here’s how to implement it:

===== 1. Choose a Flag File Location =====

Create a directory for your user under ''/var/spool'':

<code>
sudo mkdir -p /var/spool/<username>
sudo chown <username>:<username> /var/spool/<username>
</code>
Replace ''&lt;username&gt;'' with the actual user.

Set your flag file path (e.g., ''/var/spool/&lt;username&gt;/device-plugged'').

===== 2. udev Rule Triggers Flag File Creation =====

Update your udev rule to run a script that creates the flag file:

<code>
ACTION=="add", ENV{ID_FS_UUID}=="YOUR-FS-UUID", RUN+="/path/to/create-flag.sh"
</code>
**create-flag.sh**:

<code>
#!/bin/bash
touch /var/spool/<username>/device-plugged
chown <username>:<username> /var/spool/<username>/device-plugged
</code>
Again, replace ''&lt;username&gt;'' with the actual user.

===== 3. User-Space Script Watches with inotify =====

Write a script that runs in your user’s session (e.g., from ''.xprofile'' or your desktop environment’s autostart):

<code>
#!/bin/bash
FLAG_FILE="/var/spool/<username>/device-plugged"

inotifywait -m -e create --format '%w%f' "$(dirname "$FLAG_FILE")" | while read FILE
do
    if [[ "$FILE" == "$FLAG_FILE" ]]; then
        zenity --question --text="Device detected. Start rsync?" && sudo /usr/local/bin/start-rsync.sh
        rm -f "$FLAG_FILE"
    fi
done
</code>
This script uses ''inotifywait'' to watch the directory for file creation, then triggers your dialog and action when the flag file appears[[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=212364|^2]].

===== 4. Ensure inotify-tools is Installed =====

Install the required package:

<code>
sudo apt-get install inotify-tools   # Debian/Ubuntu
# or
sudo yum install inotify-tools       # CentOS/RHEL
</code>

===== 5. Start the Watcher Script =====

Add the watcher script to your user’s autostart, ''.xprofile'', or similar so it runs on login[[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=212364|^2]].