Terminal-Emulator shows no prompt when (console) program finished

[Oliver Riedl]

The problem seems to be independent of the Terminal-Emulator. Gnome-Terminal shows the same problem. My older version (16.04) of Lubuntu does NOT show this problem.

If you run a (console) program with non blinking cursor (the default setting) OR you put the focus away from the terminal emulator while the program is still running, no prompt appears after the program has finished. To get the prompt you have to move the mouse or press any key (e.g. CTRL). For example, run "sleep 1" with non blinking cursor. Or (with blinking cursor) run "sleep 3" and then click on the desktop so that the desktop gets the focus.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: lxterminal 0.3.1-2ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-29.31-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-29-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Architecture: amd64
CasperVersion: 1.394
CurrentDesktop: LXDE
Date: Thu Mar 7 13:25:48 2019
LiveMediaBuild: Lubuntu 18.04.1 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180725)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: lxterminal
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

I cannot reproduce this on a fresh install or the live system using the instructions given. Is there something unique about the build on this particular machine?

[Oliver Riedl (kisyhp.revilo)]

After I realized this strange behavior I ran the live iso (lubuntu-18.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso) and it was the same. But when I run the live iso within virtualbox it does not happen. Maybe a particular device of my DELL Optiplex 755 is responsible.
In addition to my description, the prompt seems to show up "earlier" when other applications are running. It seems that any event, not only a mouse movement or keystroke brings up the prompt again. Maybe the problem is easier to reproduce if you run nothing but a terminal emulator with non blinking cursor. With blinking cursor the blinking stops when the focus is elsewhere. The blinking seems to be event enough to bring the prompt back.

On Thu, 07 Mar 2019 19:24:46 -0000
Walter Lapchynski <email address hidden> wrote:

> I cannot reproduce this on a fresh install or the live system using the
> instructions given. Is there something unique about the build on this
> particular machine?
>
> ** Changed in: lxterminal (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1819009
>
> Title:
> Terminal-Emulator shows no prompt when (console) program finished
>
> Status in lxterminal package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> The problem seems to be independent of the Terminal-Emulator. Gnome-
> Terminal shows the same problem. My older version (16.04) of Lubuntu
> does NOT show this problem.
>
> If you run a (console) program with non blinking cursor (the default
> setting) OR you put the focus away from the terminal emulator while
> the program is still running, no prompt appears after the program has
> finished. To get the prompt you have to move the mouse or press any
> key (e.g. CTRL). For example, run "sleep 1" with non blinking cursor.
> Or (with blinking cursor) run "sleep 3" and then click on the desktop
> so that the desktop gets the focus.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
> Package: lxterminal 0.3.1-2ubuntu2
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-29.31-generic 4.15.18
> Uname: Linux 4.15.0-29-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
> Architecture: amd64
> CasperVersion: 1.394
> CurrentDesktop: LXDE
> Date: Thu Mar 7 13:25:48 2019
> LiveMediaBuild: Lubuntu 18.04.1 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180725)
> ProcEnviron:
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
> LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> SourcePackage: lxterminal
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/lxterminal/+bug/1819009/+subscriptions

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I was UNABLE to reproduce this on two tested installed systems

dell [optiplex] 755 (c2d-e6850, 5gb, amd/ati radeon rv516/x1300/x1550)
with Lubuntu 18.04.2 x86_64 kernel 4.18.0-15-generic
using lxterminal 0.3.1 (0.3.1-2ubuntu2) with both blinking (what I'd already made my default) then unblinking cursor

hp dx6120mt (mini-tower, pentium 4 dual core, 3gb, winfast clone of nvidia 7600gt)
with Lubuntu 18.04.2 x86 kernel 4.15.0-46-generic
using lxterminal 0.3.1 (0.3.1-2ubuntu2)
(I also tested using xfce4-terminal 0.8.7.4 on this box as it was already installed)
(this box isn't used, qa-test box so cursor was default - unblinking)

Oliver, I note your kernel reports as 4.15.0-29 (not 4.15.0-46) so I would suggest a `sudo apt dist-upgrade`.
(I'll look for, or write an ISO on thumb-drive and test using live system)

[Dan Simmons (kc2bez)]

I am also unable to reproduce on an Atom N455 laptop running 18.04.2 and the 4.15.45 kernel. I did not have a blinking cursor enabled.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

I have to wonder if this isn't a graphics issue. I see that Chris is using the same hardware, but I know vendors sometimes swap out graphics cards within the same model. So perhaps the issue is related to some driver change? Syncing up kernels would be a good first start. Then check /var/log/{syslog,Xorg.0.log}.

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I wrote Lubuntu 18.04.1 to thumb-drive (not the latest, but I'd still install with it if I didn't want the HWE kernel).

tests using Lubuntu 18.04.1
kernel: 4.15.0-29-generic
lxterminal: 0.3.1-2ubuntu2

Oliver, apologies if your report was from 'live' system; it was the same kernel I now see, which could explain why report showed an older kernel.

-- dell [optiplex] 755 (c2d-e6850, 5gb, amd/ati radeon rv516/x1300/x1550)
UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE

-- dell [optiplex] 755 (c2d-e8300, 8gb, amd/ati radeon rv610/radeon hd2400 pro/xt)
UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE
whilst on this box; I `apt install arandr` so I could rotate my right screen as it was driving me crazy & re-tested with that changed, no different. I never lost cursor, nor lost my shell prompt regardless of whether or not lxterminal was my active window.

-- hp dc7700 (c2d-e6320, 5gb, nvidia quadro nvs 290)
UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE

-- lenovo thinkpad sl510 (c2d-t6570, 2gb ram, i915)
UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE

All tests were only lxterminal & `sleep 5` (repeated a couple of times, first one terminal (window still active, then background clicked), next two terminals open (`sleep 8` to give me more time) with a terminal active then background made 'active'. At all times the cursor(s) [mouse & terminal block-cursor(s)] remained visible, and my $PS1 prompt re-appeared when expected.

[Oliver Riedl (kisyhp.revilo)]

Dear all,

Thanks for your efforts! As with virtualbox (under Win7 on this same DELL) I meanwhile was unable to reproduce the behavior on a Lenovo Thinkpad.
I fully understand if you dont't want to waste your time. On the other hand, if you think it's important you may of course ask me for further information.

Chris, you are right, my report was from the live system because I removed apport from my real installation.

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

Oliver, did you look at the logs I mentioned?

[Oliver Riedl (kisyhp.revilo)]

Sorry, Walter, I forgot to ask!

My English is bad and/or I don't understand technically what "syncing up kernels" mean
and what to check in the logs /var/log/{syslog,Xorg.0.log} then.

Maybe it's a good idea to not classify the problem as a singularity because it is not totally easy to come to this point when one observes this strange behavior.

On Fri, 08 Mar 2019 21:47:44 -0000
Walter Lapchynski <email address hidden> wrote:

> Oliver, did you look at the logs I mentioned?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1819009
>
> Title:
> Terminal-Emulator shows no prompt when (console) program finished
>
> Status in lxterminal package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> The problem seems to be independent of the Terminal-Emulator. Gnome-
> Terminal shows the same problem. My older version (16.04) of Lubuntu
> does NOT show this problem.
>
> If you run a (console) program with non blinking cursor (the default
> setting) OR you put the focus away from the terminal emulator while
> the program is still running, no prompt appears after the program has
> finished. To get the prompt you have to move the mouse or press any
> key (e.g. CTRL). For example, run "sleep 1" with non blinking cursor.
> Or (with blinking cursor) run "sleep 3" and then click on the desktop
> so that the desktop gets the focus.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
> Package: lxterminal 0.3.1-2ubuntu2
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-29.31-generic 4.15.18
> Uname: Linux 4.15.0-29-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
> Architecture: amd64
> CasperVersion: 1.394
> CurrentDesktop: LXDE
> Date: Thu Mar 7 13:25:48 2019
> LiveMediaBuild: Lubuntu 18.04.1 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180725)
> ProcEnviron:
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
> LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> SourcePackage: lxterminal
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/lxterminal/+bug/1819009/+subscriptions

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for lxterminal (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[ԜаӀtеr Ⅼарсһуnѕkі (wxl)]

Re-opening because I neglected to answer. Sorry, Oliver.

What I meant about the kernel is upgrading your system to use the latest one.

Regarding the logs, there are two logs that should be of interest:
 1. /var/log/syslog
 2. /var/log/Xorg.0.log

In general, I would suggest reproducing the issue and seeing if anything pops up in either of these. You can "watch" them in a terminal with `tail -f /path/to/file` while you reproduce the issue in another window.

In Xorg.0.log lines with "(EE)" in them indicate errors. Here's an example that's totally unrelated:

[ 79.713] (EE) NOUVEAU(G0): Error initialising acceleration. Falling back to NoAccel

So you could do the following to watch that file for errors only: `tail -f /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep '(EE)'`

The other file is a little bit harder to parse, but if you see something that pops up when you reproduce the problem, even if it doesn't seem related, try to do it again and if the same thing pops up, you can bet it's related.

If you can figure out the relevant lines, feel free to post them here. If not, I would suggest attaching the files here for us to analyze.

[Oliver Riedl (kisyhp.revilo)]

Hi Walter,

I updated security and recommended packages. This did not help. In a terminal I ran "sleep 3; whiptail --msgbox foo 7 20" and in another terminal I observed the logs. No entry was added. (I moved the mouse to create an event that brings up whiptail). You find the logs as attachment.

In the case I did not mention already, other flavours of linux do not show this issue. It seems to be specific to lubuntu 18.04. For this email I just tried a daily build of lubuntu (eoan-desktop-amd64.iso). It does not show this issue.

Walter, from my position it does not make much sense to search for the reason until nobody else observes this behavior.

Kind regards
Oliver

On Thu, 09 May 2019 05:36:52 -0000
Walter Lapchynski <email address hidden> wrote:

> Re-opening because I neglected to answer. Sorry, Oliver.
>
> What I meant about the kernel is upgrading your system to use the latest
> one.
>
> Regarding the logs, there are two logs that should be of interest:
> 1. /var/log/syslog
> 2. /var/log/Xorg.0.log
>
> In general, I would suggest reproducing the issue and seeing if anything
> pops up in either of these. You can "watch" them in a terminal with
> `tail -f /path/to/file` while you reproduce the issue in another window.
>
> In Xorg.0.log lines with "(EE)" in them indicate errors. Here's an
> example that's totally unrelated:
>
> [ 79.713] (EE) NOUVEAU(G0): Error initialising acceleration. Falling
> back to NoAccel
>
> So you could do the following to watch that file for errors only: `tail
> -f /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep '(EE)'`
>
> The other file is a little bit harder to parse, but if you see something
> that pops up when you reproduce the problem, even if it doesn't seem
> related, try to do it again and if the same thing pops up, you can bet
> it's related.
>
> If you can figure out the relevant lines, feel free to post them here.
> If not, I would suggest attaching the files here for us to analyze.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1819009
>
> Title:
> Terminal-Emulator shows no prompt when (console) program finished
>
> Status in lxterminal package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> The problem seems to be independent of the Terminal-Emulator. Gnome-
> Terminal shows the same problem. My older version (16.04) of Lubuntu
> does NOT show this problem.
>
> If you run a (console) program with non blinking cursor (the default
> setting) OR you put the focus away from the terminal emulator while
> the program is still running, no prompt appears after the program has
> finished. To get the prompt you have to move the mouse or press any
> key (e.g. CTRL). For example, run "sleep 1" with non blinking cursor.
> Or (with blinking cursor) run "sleep 3" and then click on the desktop
> so that the desktop gets the focus.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
> Package: lxterminal 0.3.1-2ubuntu2
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-29.31-generic 4.15.18
> Uname: Linux 4.15.0-29-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
> Architecture: amd64
> CasperVersion: 1.394
> Curr...

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for lxterminal (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]