xfce "Launch GNOME services on startup" launches Nautilus, takes over desktop

[Forest]

I just upgraded from xubuntu natty to oneiric. When I log in, the new session scripts launch Nautilus, which they should not. To make matters worse, Nautilus then takes over my desktop, hiding the xfce desktop and disabling my desktop menus.

Some googling reveals that this only happens when "Launch GNOME services on startup" is checked in xfce's Session and Startup settings. Before anyone suggests unchecking it, let me point out that doing so is not a reasonable fix, as several of the other GNOME services are necessary in order for my system to run properly. (For example, gnome-keyring's SSH agent environment variables.)

Judging by other bug reports and forum posts, it seems the new xfce session scripts may be indiscriminately starting all services that have OnlyShowIn=GNOME in their desktop files.

Bug #872515 seems related.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xfce4-session/+bug/872515

[Charlie Kravetz (cjkgeek)]

Actually, unchecking "Launch GNOME services on startup" does not disable any services that are in use. Since Xfce allows you to save the session, if it is saved with those services running, they will start regardless of the setting. I unchecked this box at the start of the Xubuntu 11.10 cycle so that I could verify the effect it had. I have not had any issues with keyring or anything else.

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Ubuntu Bug Squad volunteer triager
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[Forest (foresto)]

Thanks Charlie, but your assessment is incomplete. Some of those GNOME services have side effects when they are run in the particular way that "Launch GNOME services" ensures. Examples include environment variables being set based on the output of gnome-keyring-daemon when it starts, and color profiles being loaded into the video card by gnome color manager. Restarting the currently-running programs by way of a session restore is simply not enough.

[Lionel Le Folgoc (mrpouit)]

I've patched xfdesktop4 to check and set the same atom as Nautilus, which should prevent nautilus from taking over the desktop when xfdesktop is running, and vice versa.

(Let's continue in Bug #872515 for the more general xfce4-session refactoring).