OS X (Apple)

Could you not simply add Terminal to your Accounts login items, along with an AppleScript:

tell application "Terminal"
activate
close every window
end tell

and add to Terminal's Info.plist:

LSUIElement String 1 <- This tells Finder to hide the application's Dock icon.

I'm unsure of what order the login items launch however.

I dont have a mac infront of me so I cant test but..

#!/bin/bash
open /Applications/Terminal.app &

maybe that will work, I dont know.. you can save it as a .sh file, then run chmod +x on it (I'm not sure that is even necessary, but shouldnt hurt).. then you can add it as a launchd item which I am not able to explain right now.. hopefully this info will help somewhat.

OR... just go to system prefs/accounts and add Terminal.app to your login items and check the hide box.. probably the easiest way.

Look into launchd and making a launchd item that runs when your user account logs in, all you have to do is place the script where launchd looks in that user's home folder and it will execute all scripts upon log in.

I am not sure how to have it close the window from the shell, but an apple script maybe able to do that.

black-eyed-dog,

One way to get the same effect without using a script is to add Terminal to your account's login items, as Ravelnze said, but specify that you want Terminal to run hidden.

Next time you log in, Terminal will start running, but no Terminal window will be visible. You even get the Terminal icon bouncing in the dock that you mentioned. When you click on the icon a window will appear.


If you are using Leopard, these are the steps -

- Log in as the user you want to change.

- Go to System Preferences. In the "System" section, select "Accounts".

- At the top of the right-hand side of the window, select "Login Items".

- Click the "+" sign near the bottom of the window to add an application.

- In the window that appears, navigate to Applications>Utilities and click on Terminal.app.

- Click the Add button.

- Terminal will appear in the list of applications. Click the check box in the "Hide" column.

Regards,
Davf