Indicator fails to load on Ubuntu 12.04

[Tim Cook]

BitBudget's indicator icon loaded at startup (to the Gnome title bar) when I purchased it on March 14 and the program seemed to perform normally. On March 26 the indicator icon failed to appear on the title bar and that situation has persisted ever since. Since the indicator fails to appear, I assume the program is no longer functioning. I can go through the Gnome menu system to activate BitBudget manually, but when I do I can see the reported data totals are far smaller than they actually are. This is another indication to me that BitBudget has been on a vacation.

In the "Preferences" section of BitBudget, I have selected both "Indicator" and "Notifications" for "Desktop Integration." Do I select Base 2 or Base 10 data units? I have no idea. The user is given no explanation what these are or how to make a selection. Another complaint: Even when the indicator icon is present it can hardly be seen. The icon has almost no contrast with the light-colored title bar. (I'm using the Gnome Classic Interface.) If these bugs are not resolved I will request my money ($2.99) be refunded.

[Tim Cook (u4fq2vr)]

Additional information on 2013-04-22.

The BitBudget indicator icon appeared (after a long vacation) but was soon replaced by a red triangle with an exclamation point inside. (Error alert)

This error message was present: The update information is outdated. This may be caused by network problems or by a repository that is no longer available. Please update manually by clicking on this icon and then selecting 'Check for updates' and check if some of the listed repositories fail.

When 'Check for updates' was clicked, the system cranked along and then this error message was returned:

backend_helper.py Failed to download repository information. Check your Internet connection.

W:Failed to fetch https://private-ppa.launchpad.net/commercial-ppa-uploaders/bitbudget/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/binary-i386/Packages The requested URL returned error:401 ,E:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

I am not a Linux geek. I need the BitBudget developer or other Ubuntu experts to step in and please solve these issues. Thank you. -- Tim Cook

[lazyteq (lazyteq)]

This sounds like you don't/didn't have it marked as a startup application. Launching the 'Startup Applications' program and making sure the BitBudget entry is ticked should fix this.
The 'base' of the units refers to how prefixes are used. Base 2: 1GiB = 1024MiB = 1024KiB = 1024B. Base 10: 1GB = 1000MB = 1000KB = 1000B. If in doubt, use the default, which is base 2.
The icon issue was an oversight and I have filed a separate bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bitbudget/+bug/1171639.
The issue in the comment is an issue with one of your repositories and the triangle icon is from the update manager. I'm not sure what would cause this - it may be a temporary server issue.

To help with diagnosis, please upload copies of the following files if they exist:

    ~/.config/bitbudget

    ~/.config/autostart/bitbudget.desktop

'.config' is a hidden folder in your Home folder - to view it you can press ctrl+h in the file chooser or file manager.

Some technical details: in order to track data usage, BitBudget uses a background 'daemon' program. In order to start this when you log in, BitBudget registers this daemon with the FreeDesktop.org autostart system. Desktop environments such as Unity, Gnome and KDE use this to launch programs when you log in. If they are misconfigured, if a user chooses, or if other misbehaving applications interfere with this system, some startup applications may not launch.

[lazyteq (lazyteq)]

So everything is configured correctly, now at least, and *should* work. Does the indicator still not appear when you log in? If you launch 'System Monitor' and select the 'Processes' tab are there processes in there called 'bitbudget-daemon' and 'indicator-bitbudget'?

[Tim Cook (u4fq2vr)]

Hi . . . just happened to be on the PC.

Right now, instead of the Indicator showing, the red triangle alert icon
is showing. I'm going to click it and select 'Check for updates' right
now . . . It fails to fetch, as before.

'bitbudget-daemon' and 'indicator-bitbudget' processes are both running.

-- Tim

On 04/24/2013 02:32 PM, lazyteq wrote:
> So everything is configured correctly, now at least, and *should* work.
> Does the indicator still not appear when you log in? If you launch
> 'System Monitor' and select the 'Processes' tab are there processes in
> there called 'bitbudget-daemon' and 'indicator-bitbudget'?
>

[Tim Cook (u4fq2vr)]

I have to bug out now and get some yard work done. I'll be back on the
PC by 9:30 pm Eastern Time in the U.S. -- Tim

On 04/24/2013 02:32 PM, lazyteq wrote:
> So everything is configured correctly, now at least, and *should* work.
> Does the indicator still not appear when you log in? If you launch
> 'System Monitor' and select the 'Processes' tab are there processes in
> there called 'bitbudget-daemon' and 'indicator-bitbudget'?
>

[lazyteq (lazyteq)]

I have to admit I'm pretty perplexed by this. I think there is some issue with repositories and/or packages. The best suggestion I can give is to do the following, taking notes of any errors:

    - End the 'indicator-bitbudget' and 'bitbudget-daemon' processed in the system monitor.
    - Uninstall BitBudget from the software centre.
    - Update everything from the 'Update Manager' program or if you're comfortable with the terminal "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade".
    - Reinstall BitBudget.
    - Launch BitBudget and see what happens.