Setting DPMS mode for output to 0 causes screen to blink/flicker once

[Chris Gagnon]

description:
Setting DPMS mode for output to 0 causes screen to blink/flicker once

steps:
1. run 'dbus-send --type=method_call --dest=org.gnome.ScreenSaver /org/gnome/ScreenSaver org.gnome.ScreenSaver.SimulateUserActivity'

expected results:
screen does not blink in regular x

actual results:
screen blinks on xmir

[Chris Gagnon (chris.gagnon)]

the same thing happens when running unity-3d games (the graphics engine not the DM)

steps:
1. install critter cascade from the ubuntu software center
2. open critter cascade

expected results:
the screen doesn't flicker black

actual results:
the screen flickers black

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[ 16.998]
X.Org X Server 1.14.2.901 (1.14.3 RC 1)
Release Date: 2013-07-25
[ 16.998] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 16.998] Build Operating System: Linux 3.2.0-37-generic x86_64 Ubuntu
[ 16.998] Current Operating System: Linux ps-intel-3000 3.11.0-8-generic #15-Ubuntu SMP Fri Sep 20 04:11:26 UTC 2013 x86_64
[ 16.998] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-8-generic root=UUID=e9c4faad-e712-4412-9ac7-5e5843fcc36d ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
[ 16.998] Build Date: 26 September 2013 05:25:08PM
[ 16.998] xorg-server 2:1.14.2.901-2ubuntu6 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
[ 16.998] Current version of pixman: 0.30.2
[ 16.998] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
 to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 16.998] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
 (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
 (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 16.999] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Thu Sep 26 20:00:44 2013
[ 17.059] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[ 17.118] (==) No Layout section. Using the first Screen section.
[ 17.118] (==) No screen section available. Using defaults.
[ 17.118] (**) |-->Screen "Default Screen Section" (0)
[ 17.118] (**) | |-->Monitor "<default monitor>"
[ 17.140] (==) No monitor specified for screen "Default Screen Section".
 Using a default monitor configuration.
[ 17.140] (==) Automatically adding devices
[ 17.140] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[ 17.140] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[ 17.153] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 17.153] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 17.153] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/" does not exist.
[ 17.153] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 17.153] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/" does not exist.
[ 17.153] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 17.154] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi" does not exist.
[ 17.154] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 17.154] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi" does not exist.
[ 17.154] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 17.154] (WW) The directory "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType" does not exist.
[ 17.154] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 17.154] (==) FontPath set to:
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc,
 /usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1,
 built-ins
[ 17.154] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules,/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[ 17.154] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices.
 If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[ 17.154] (II) Loader magic: 0x7f35f3f5cd20
[ 17.154] (II) Module ABI ver...

[Robert Ancell (robert-ancell)]

Robert - can you check what might be happening here?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I believe much of XMir's flickering is due to bug 1221614.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

See also; similar bug 1238886.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I can't reproduce any flickering when changing DPMS modes in the new Xmir. But it is a whole new code base :)