Adding an initialization file for XBoard in Linux
You can set the different startup options as X resources (typically in your .Xdefaults file) or in a file named XBoard in your home directory.
A typical option sometimes has two names; a short name and a long name. Short names cannot be specified in the initialization file, they are used by typing them on the shell command line you use to start xboard.
The format of the file contains, one option per line like,
XBoard*longOptionName attributeIfAny
For Boolean options it is,
XBoard*longOptionName: True
My XBoard file,
[tony@localhost ~]$ cat XBoard XBoard*searchDepth 5 XBoard*searchTime 0:5 XBoard*showThinking: True XBoard*showCoords: True XBoard*internetChessServerInputBox: True XBoard*ponderNextMove: False
The full list of available options can be found in man Xboard
If you play over ICS (Internet chess server) frequently, you could create a .icsrc file in your home directory so that XBoard feeds the file’s contents to the ICS as commands upon connecting.
Usually the first two lines of the file should be your ICS username and password. This will automatically log you in to ICS upon connecting.
Here is mine,
[tony@localhost ~]$ cat .icsrc tonyjjose myPassword games
The third command games just prints a list of the ongoing games.
Btw it may be also very useful to create an application launcher (shortcut icon).
In GNOME, Rightclick on Desktop > Create Launcher
Type : Application in Terminal
Name: XBoard ICS
Command: xboard -ics -icshost freechess.org
Ok done. 1.E4 E5! 
