Gimp and gksu (and others maybe) Freezes

[Germán Andrés Schwartz]

When I'm using complex executions in Gimp like GAP or script-fu or likewise, in a few uses it simply freezes and never get unfreezed.
The same when I run gksu many times.

It is easy to reproduce in gimp. Try it:

1 - Open Gimp
2 - Open any little image (200x200) in another window (in the same gimp).
3 - Create a new little (200x200) image (separate, not a layer of the previous)
4 - Save it as file_0001.xcf (for GAP compliance)
5 - Go to Video -> Duplicate frames and choose almost 30.
6 - Go to Video and "Move path..."
7 - In the dialog select source image as the opened first (in the step 2 of this guide).
8 - Play with it putting points (just follow GAP guide -> http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Advanced_Animations)
9 - Click in "Preview animation" button and wait.

Do the above two, three or more times... your gimp will become freezed and will stay so for a couple of hours (if not all the time).

So, how to work with that?

The same problem with gksu:
1 - Open a terminal
2 - Execute "gksu <something>". <something> maybe just synaptic -> gksu synaptic
3 - Put the password
4 - Close the "gksued" program (synaptic in this example).
5 - Wait some time for the password to expire.
6 - Repeat from 1

When you repeat it many times you will get a gksu freezed the same as gimp just next you put the password. So, the only option to continue is killing gksu. If not you will not see nothing (neither the gksued program) but gksu is freezed.

This problem is from version 9 to 10 of Ubuntu. I'm tired about this problem and I have years waiting for the next release of Ubuntu for a solution but never happens.

So, people, (just kidding): What are you waiting for... Christmas?

Really I'm reporting this because it is a real problem and comes from years ago. I'm tired searching for a solution and nobody talks about a solution from root of this problem (ony failed workarounds). I guess the problem can be related with dbus communication.

I don't understand how the visual applications communicates each other, but I guess there is the problem. Because the first time when Gimp becomes freeze I just read about a similar problem with gksu in a forum. The guy suggested to remove some gnome applet. I just removed the "Wanda the fish" and gimp unfreezed. But right now I removed all applets and gimp still stay freezed (for at least 20 minuts). And I removed metacity, gnome-panel using killall. Executed all newly but Gimp stay freezed. And right now (when I'm writing this) Gimp is still freezed. No matters what I do with the all other applications but I guess there will be some awaiting communication what never will happens. Because a lost of sync or something like that? So, please, get a real solution I need to work with GAP and I'm tired experimenting with all the system searching for a solution.

And when GKSU becomes freezed (running from the system itself) it freezes all the desktop. When that happens I cannot interact with anything (neither panel, Alt+Tab, Alt+F2, or whatever, all is freezed). So I must press Ctrl+Alt+F1, login and execute -> killall gksu. When I return with Alt+F7 all the desktop is unfreezed. What the f**??

So that is a serious problem and it happens in my desktop computer, in a desktop computer of a friend, in a virtualbox machine running an ubuntu for installing to friends, and in my ubuntu in my netbook too. All versions from 9.04 to 10.04. So it is not an isolated problem of my own computer or system configuration.

I guess this bug is still present in 10.10 because nobody is talking about this. But I guess too it is little known because the people don't use a Linux Box like me, so it becomes unnoticeable but it is present hidden in some place. Really.

But, as I said: You can trigger it as described above. It is too easy to trigger for me so becomes a annoyance. I cannot work so with my computer.

I tried in KDE but the same. I don't tried it in xfce but I guess will happen the same. But anyway I like to work in gnome not KDE or XFCE. So, help me to solve it people, please :P (I don't know how to request you guys :P)

Here you can see a video reproducing it -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuD--jzNcVc

Bye and thank you.

My System:
Description: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS
Release: 10.04

Latest news:
I forced to close Gimp and it still let opened some windows just the corresponding to some scripts of GAP. I will attach the screenshots. I tested if I just kill that windows instead of Gimp it get unfreezed (like killing gksu). The last may work as a workaround in Gimp for now (just killing the script or the script window dialog).

[Germán Andrés Schwartz (anyeos)]

New information about this problem: I just today freeze newly gimp, but as a strange situation some other programs get freeze accompanying him: gcalctool and a terminal (sakura x terminal). When I killed gimp that other programs unfreezes. wtf?

So, where is the relationship in the programs? Why if a separated process like gimp freezes, just get other process to freeze too? What is that "strange" relation? I guess it is related with some graphical events. Or something like that, an interapplication communication? But it is only visual (in X server) because all other process without a GUI continues running. The system itself continues working.

I don't understand this strange behaviour.

[Germán Andrés Schwartz (anyeos)]

Still with this problem, recently the update manager get my attention asking for updates. Then I just proceed to install the updates, asking me the password. After putting the password the application freeze. And too freeze "emesene". What relation have emesene with update manager?
I just opened a terminal and "killall gksu" that "solved" the freeze. Emesene becomes un freeze and the same for Update Manager. Of course, update manager when freeze does nothing, but when becomes unfreeze continues installing the things as must be.

So, I'm still get annoyed with this problem. =S

[Germán Andrés Schwartz (anyeos)]

Hi, someone with this same problem? I still have this problem in at least two computers.
Now Kino get freeze at all easily when I do a capture. I suspect it is related with this one because nobody reports that kino just hang in that manner. And a lot of people are using kino and nobody reporting that? I read only a few people having the same problem with Kino but they does not take that in account because they don't are Kino heavy users and simply uses an alternative to kino (Like I must do right now).

Sometimes when the Update Manager ask me for a password all my applications becomes freeze. When I go to terminal (Ctrl+Alt+F1), login there and do killall gksu, all returns to normal.

I'm tired about this problem guys, this make my work hard! I cannot use gimp, I cannot use Kino, I get the all system freezed when I put a password (in gksu) and so. That is annoying me really.

So, Ubuntu does not freeze never? That is a lie.

I want to use Gimp, Kino and put passwords without freezing nothing!!

Please some Ubuntu developer help me :(

Thank you.

[Thomas Hotz (thotz-deactivatedaccount)]

I'm closing this bug. I would suggest you to update your system on a supported Ubuntu version LTS version, that is currently Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. If you still have problems, it would be better to raise a new bug.