Please clarify launch --type=background option

[salmankhilji]

I am not completely clear as to what exactly the --type=background option does. The documentation states:

The value of background means the process will be run in the background.

So I tried to launch VS Code with the scrollback like this:

map f12 launch --stdin-source=@screen_scrollback --type=background code -

Since VS Code is a graphical program, I want it to run in the background. However, the above does not work. I have to change the type to overlay, which requires Ctrl+C within the resulting window to get back to the originating window.

Is this a bug?

[kovidgoyal]

It means exactly what it says. the program is run as a normal program not attached to the tty device in a window, but simply in the background. stdin is passed just as normal. I dont use VS Code so I cant tell you why it might not like being launched like that.

[salmankhilji]

I tried it with gedit and gvim with no success. The fact this issue affects 3 programs, I believe its a bug that I should file.

[salmankhilji]

For those reading this, a bug (#3602) was filed and fixed. Thank you!