Error initializing Python Plugin Loader:PyGObject initialization failed

[John M]

When attempting to enable any python-related gedit plugin, the plugin fails to load. As an example, trying to enable charmap throws:

$ gedit

(gedit:13751): libpeas-WARNING **: Error initializing Python Plugin Loader:PyGObject initialization failed
ImportError: could not import gobject (error was: '/usr/lib/libpyglib-gi-2.0-python2.7.so.0: undefined symbol: _Py_ZeroStruct')
Error in sys.excepthook:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport_python_hook.py", line 59, in apport_excepthook
    from apport.fileutils import likely_packaged
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/__init__.py", line 1, in <module>
    from apport.report import Report
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/report.py", line 16, in <module>
    from xml.parsers.expat import ExpatError
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/xml/parsers/expat.py", line 4, in <module>
    from pyexpat import *
ImportError: /usr/lib/python2.7/lib-dynload/pyexpat.so: undefined symbol: _Py_ZeroStruct

Original exception was:
ImportError: could not import gobject (error was: '/usr/lib/libpyglib-gi-2.0-python2.7.so.0: undefined symbol: _Py_ZeroStruct')

(gedit:13751): libpeas-WARNING **: Please check the installation of all the Python related packages required by libpeas and try again

(gedit:13751): libpeas-WARNING **: Loader 'python' is not a valid PeasPluginLoader instance

(gedit:13751): libpeas-WARNING **: Could not find loader 'python' for plugin 'charmap'

Since the error is similar to the one described in Bug #839712, the plugins might be broken as a result of the last upgrade to the python-gobject package.

The latest git version of gedit-plugins is 3.1.5, whereas the one in the Ubuntu repositories is 3.1.4. So updating the package in the repositories could solve the issue.

...:~$ lsb_release -rd && uname -rsvpm && apt-cache policy gedit gedit-plugins
Description: Ubuntu oneiric (development branch)
Release: 11.10
Linux 3.0.0-11-generic #18-Ubuntu SMP Tue Sep 13 23:38:01 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64
gedit:
  Installed: 3.1.6-0ubuntu1
  Candidate: 3.1.6-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 3.1.6-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
gedit-plugins:
  Installed: 3.1.4-0ubuntu1
  Candidate: 3.1.4-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 3.1.4-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: gedit 3.1.6-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-11.18-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-11-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Sep 23 00:40:26 2011
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/gedit
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Beta amd64 (20110921.2)
ProcEnviron:
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
SourcePackage: gedit
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[jpfle (jpfle)]

I marked the current report as a duplicate of bug 857348, even if 857348 is more recent, because there are more details there.