[LightDM] launch xvfb if no monitor detected

[Robert Heller]

At Sat, 9 May 2020 11:54:43 +0100 Dave Pawson <dave.pawson at gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> On Sat, 9 May 2020 at 11:21, Adam Nielsen <a.nielsen at shikadi.net> wrote:
> 
> > You probably won't be able to run a headless machine because they don't
> > run a GUI.  This means they can't be used to run GUI programs like major
> > web browsers.  True, you could restrict yourself to console only
> > software, but console web browsers for example, tend to perform poorly
> > on mainstream web sites which only ensure compatibility with a couple
> > of popular browser engines.
> >
> > Running a GUI, so that you can run a mainstream web browser along with a
> > screen reader, is probably going to provide a better experience.  I am
> > only guessing though, as I don't have any experience myself in this
> > area.
> 
> Some experience with low vision / blind users, I'd agree, since screen
> readers will target mainstream browsers.
> 
> So perhaps the question might be, how to configure x-windows to
> target a null device?
>    Or add a super cheap display -
> Working 10 years with blind users, I never saw one *without* a screen,
> which may be indicative? Or may just point to standard installations
> with reader added?

The only commonly available OEM machines that come *without* a monitor are 
server boxes.  If one visits the Dell, HP, etc. websites and look for a 
"desktop" computer, a monitor is *always* included, at least for typical 
consumer / home models.  So, probably the answer is "standard installations 
with reader added".  (It is of course imposible to get a laptop without a 
screen.)

The closest one can get to a headless "workstation" would be a Raspberry Pi or
similar. Note: modern ATX and ITX motherboards almost always now have an
integrated GPU. Even "hi-end" Raspberry Pi clones (eg the Allwinner A64-based
Banana Pi M64) have integrated GPUs. Actually even *servers* generally have
some sort of integrated graphics (at least standalone office servers -- I
don't know about blade servers).

> 
> HTH
> 
> 

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