The startx script is a front end to xinit that provides a somewhat nicer user interface for running a single session of the X Window System. It is often run with no arguments. Arguments immediately following the startx command are used to start a client in the same manner as xinit(1).

Do I need XORG xinit?

The Xorg(1) command is usually not run directly, instead the X server is started with either a display manager or xinit. Note the word “either” — if you want to start X manually (with startx) you need xinit. If your login manager does not require xinit, you don’t need it.

What is xinit in Linux?

Description. The xinit program is used to start the X Window System server and a first client program on systems that are not using a display manager, such as xdm, or in environments that use multiple window systems. When the first client exits, xinit will kill the X server and then terminate.