gtk-window-decorator is exiting immediately (or crashing?)

[Fred]

I use gnome-session-fallback (the classic gnome with gnome-panel).

Yesterday everything worked great as usual.
Today after an update, I notice that when I login the window decorator doesn't show.

metacity --replace works
compiz --replace doesn't work, it doesn't bring back the window decorator

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: compiz 1:0.9.7.4-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-21.34-generic 3.2.13
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-21-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.0-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: None
Date: Wed Apr 4 18:43:06 2012
DistUpgraded: 2012-02-01 23:28:16,942 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus: virtualbox, 4.1.10, 3.2.0-21-generic, x86_64: installed
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
MachineType: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. EP45-UD3
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-21-generic root=UUID=913f3daa-e25c-4d49-a07e-9215b9e553eb ro quiet splash elevator=noop vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: compiz
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-02-01 (62 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 01/27/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Award Software International, Inc.
dmi.bios.version: F9
dmi.board.name: EP45-UD3
dmi.board.vendor: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
dmi.board.version: x.x
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAwardSoftwareInternational,Inc.:bvrF9:bd01/27/2010:svnGigabyteTechnologyCo.,Ltd.:pnEP45-UD3:pvr:rvnGigabyteTechnologyCo.,Ltd.:rnEP45-UD3:rvrx.x:cvnGigabyteTechnologyCo.,Ltd.:ct3:cvr:
dmi.product.name: EP45-UD3
dmi.sys.vendor: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.4-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.32-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.2-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.2-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu9
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.0-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.17.0-1ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build2

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Jose Mico (jose-mico)]

"GNOME Classic" session is almost unusable (window menus are not displayed), but "GNOME Classic (No effects)" is fine.

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

Sebastien Bacher (seb128),
It affects package gnome-session-fallback.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

no it doesn't, gnome-session-fallback only provides .desktop listing the components to start in those session, they are not doing any of the work

[DAP (akadap)]

I get no decorators (no unity either) when I log into ubuntu
I get no decorators with Gnome classic
I do get decorators with Gnome 3 or Gnome classic (no effects)

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

I do get window decorators now.
Anyone else get them now, or you still having this problem?

This might have been fixed.

[DJ (itllmv)]

Still have this issue. Just updated from 11.10 to 12.04 yesterday.

"Gnome" will not launch anything. Just leaves me with a blank desktop background.
"Gnome Classic" launches. No boarders or max/min/close buttons on windows. Google Chrome is the exception to this.

"Gnome Classic (no effects)" launches, but no buttons the same as above.
"Ubuntu" (Unity) launches and functions as intended (which in no way delivers a suitable desktop by my preferences).

[keepitsimpleengr (keepitsimpleengineer)]

I had this problem, reported as https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+bug/994893

I found a fix, noted in that bug report.

[John (johnh44)]

I have the same problem, title bar and controls disappear from all application windows.

This is in Gnome Classic (instead of Unity), selected at login after installing gnome-session-fallback.

[Vincent Gerris (vgerris)]

This is really so irrating.
I have the same issue.
Fortunately when I use alt+F2 and then type metacity --replace , it is fixed.
I have this every login and also have window border issues with a qt app in unity.

When I clicked a terminal to open in the menu, it does not show without the metacity --replace command.
A fix would be highly appreciated.
I must add that I use 11.10 Xorg to be able to use nvidia-96 driver.

[Stuart Gillies (gillies)]

I have the same problem - no window borders or size controls. Metacity --replace fixed it for me just now, but is hardly a solution. I never had this before 12.04. I'm using gnome classic. and my system is fully up-to-date. It is a nvidia twinview setup.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Hi all. There have been a few bugs similar to this reported already and fixes for some are going to be released soon.

Fred, could you please get a stack trace from gtk-window-decorator?

1. env DISPLAY=:0 gdb /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
2. (gdb) break _exit
3. (gdb) run --sync --replace
4. Trigger the crash.
5. (gdb) bt
6. Copy the output from gdb and paste it here.

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

I can not.
This was months ago, and maybe it somehow solved itself, or I did something to fix it, I don't remember.
Either way, since then I've upgraded to Ubuntu 12.10 alpha.

Maybe someone else (who still suffer this issue) can get a stack trace from gtk-window-decorator?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Fred: No problem. We can leave this bug incomplete and it will expire eventually.

Everyone else still affected: Please follow the steps in comment #13 and log your results in a NEW BUG:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/compiz/+filebug

[Rich Wales (richw)]

I'm running 12.10 (quantal) alpha 3, with gnome-session-flashback. No window decoration with Gnome Classic. I do have window decoration with Gnome Classic (no effects).

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

Oh, I have the same problem as Rich Wales.
The window decorators does not show up in GNOME Classic, but does show in up GNOME Classic (no effects).

So I've been running GNOME Classic for months now.

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

$ env DISPLAY=:0 gdb /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
GNU gdb (Linaro GDB) 7.4-2012.06-ubuntu
Copyright (C) 2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. Type "show copying"
and "show warranty" for details.
This GDB was configured as "x86_64-linux-gnu".
For bug reporting instructions, please see:
<http://bugs.launchpad.net/gdb-linaro/>...
Reading symbols from /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator...(no debugging symbols found)...done.
(gdb) break _exit
Function "_exit" not defined.
Make breakpoint pending on future shared library load? (y or [n]) y

Breakpoint 1 (_exit) pending.
(gdb) run --sync --replace
Starting program: /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator --sync --replace
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libthread_db.so.1".
No protocol specified

(gtk-window-decorator:6106): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display: :0

Breakpoint 1, 0x00007ffff503c2b0 in _exit ()
   from /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6
(gdb) bt
#0 0x00007ffff503c2b0 in _exit () from /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6
#1 0x00007ffff4fb9940 in ?? () from /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6
#2 0x00007ffff4fb9965 in exit () from /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6
#3 0x00007ffff6f47e43 in gtk_init ()
   from /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0
#4 0x000000000040a77a in main ()

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

$ gtk-window-decorator --sync --replace
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/65-droid-sans-fonts.conf", line 103: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/65-droid-sans-fonts.conf", line 138: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 9: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 22: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 22: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 22: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 26: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 31: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 40: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-unfonts-core.conf", line 11: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Fred,

That's the wrong display number for you system, it seems. Please try this instead:
env DISPLAY=:1 gdb /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

$ echo $DISPLAY
:0.0

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

$ echo $DISPLAY
:1.0

$ env DISPLAY=:1 gdb /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
GNU gdb (Linaro GDB) 7.4-2012.06-ubuntu
Copyright (C) 2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. Type "show copying"
and "show warranty" for details.
This GDB was configured as "x86_64-linux-gnu".
For bug reporting instructions, please see:
<http://bugs.launchpad.net/gdb-linaro/>...
Reading symbols from /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator...(no debugging symbols found)...done.
(gdb) break _exit
Function "_exit" not defined.
Make breakpoint pending on future shared library load? (y or [n])
(gdb) run --sync --replace
Starting program: /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator --sync --replace
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libthread_db.so.1".
[New Thread 0x7fffee2aa700 (LWP 5855)]
[New Thread 0x7fffedaa9700 (LWP 5856)]

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thanks Fred, but you forgot steps 4 and 5:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/973559/comments/13

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

Daniel, but there is no crash.
I don't know how to trigger a crash.
I never noticed any crash.

I just noticed that the window decorator is not there. Why, I don't know.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

OK then, please change step 4:
4. Do whatever you do (just wait?) for the decorations to vanish.

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

The decorations are never there to start with.
I login to the session, and the decorations never appear.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Fred,

If you still have no decorations, please check that:
1. gtk-window-decorator is still running using this command: ps auxw | grep decor
2. the decor plugin is loaded:
  (a) Run ccsm (from package compizconfig-settings-manager)
  (b) Scroll down to Effects and make sure Window Decoration is enabled.

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

$ ps auxw | grep decor
120 4202 0.0 0.0 9380 916 pts/2 S+ 23:48 0:00 grep --color=auto decor

It is not showing up.

When I try start it, it doesn't show up either.
$ gtk-window-decorator
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/65-droid-sans-fonts.conf", line 103: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/65-droid-sans-fonts.conf", line 138: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 9: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 22: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 22: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 22: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 26: Having multiple <family> in <alias> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 31: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-nanum.conf", line 40: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/90-fonts-unfonts-core.conf", line 11: Having multiple values in <test> isn't supported and may not works as expected

[Johan Nenzén (dev-johnan)]

I have the same problem, but "fixed" it.
The temporary solution is to enable metacity via "/usr/share/gnome-session/sessions/gnome-classic.session"
Note the DefaultProvider-windowmanager is chnaged to metacity

[GNOME Session]
Name=GNOME Classic
RequiredComponents=gnome-panel;gnome-settings-daemon;
RequiredProviders=windowmanager;
DefaultProvider-windowmanager=metacity
DefaultProvider-notifications=notify-osd
Required-filemanager=nautilus
IsRunnableHelper=/usr/lib/gnome-session/gnome-session-check-accelerated
FallbackSession=gnome-fallback
DesktopName=GNOME

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

@Johan Nenzén,
But changing it to metacity I suppose makes it the same as the session 'GNOME Classic (No Effects)'.

GNOME Classic - should be using Compiz
GNOME Classic (No effects) - should be using Metacity

[ionash. (janusz-arch)]

This affects me too (I sent bug report)...

$ env DISPLAY=:0 gdb /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
GNU gdb (GDB) 7.5-ubuntu
Copyright (C) 2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. Type "show copying"
and "show warranty" for details.
This GDB was configured as "i686-linux-gnu".
For bug reporting instructions, please see:
<http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/>...
Reading symbols from /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator...(no debugging symbols found)...done.
(gdb) break _exit
Function "_exit" not defined.
Make breakpoint pending on future shared library load? (y or [n]) y

Breakpoint 1 (_exit) pending.
(gdb) run --sync --replace
Starting program: /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator --sync --replace
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libthread_db.so.1".
[New Thread 0xb6a7ab40 (LWP 7798)]
[New Thread 0xb60ffb40 (LWP 7799)]
^C
Program received signal SIGINT, Interrupt.
0xb7fdd424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
(gdb) bt
#0 0xb7fdd424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
#1 0xb73a6160 in poll () from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libc.so.6
#2 0xb768382b in g_poll () from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libglib-2.0.so.0
#3 0xb7674db0 in ?? () from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libglib-2.0.so.0
#4 0xb767528b in g_main_loop_run () from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libglib-2.0.so.0
#5 0xb7b04540 in gtk_main () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0
#6 0x08052911 in main ()
(gdb)

janusz@ubuntu:~/Pulpit$ ps auxw | grep decor
janusz 4650 0.0 0.0 2212 520 ? Ss 13:32 0:00 /bin/sh -c /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
janusz 4651 0.1 0.6 43556 11144 ? Sl 13:32 0:01 /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator
janusz 6333 0.0 0.0 5616 812 pts/2 S+ 13:48 0:00 grep decor
janusz@ubuntu:~/Pulpit$ gtk-window-decorator
gtk-window-decorator: Screen 0 on display ":0.0" already has a decoration manager; try using the --replace option to replace the current decoration manager.
janusz@ubuntu:~/Pulpit$ compiz --replace
compiz (core) - Info: Loading plugin: core
compiz (core) - Info: Starting plugin: core
compiz (core) - Error: Another window manager is already running on screen: 0
compiz (core) - Info: Stopping plugin: core
compiz (core) - Info: Unloading plugin: core
janusz@ubuntu:~/Pulpit$
 After "compiz --repace" compiz was reloaded, but window decoration was still missing. Before reloading compiz, I can't move windows, but I can reach them by clicking on panel or directly on visible part of window; after reloading - I can move window on top, but I was completely unable to reach other windows by clicking them or on panel and also I was unable to typing (menu was clickable, so I could save terminal output, but only overriding existing file).
"Metacity --replace" works without spuprises.

[Richard Hansen (rhansen)]

Could this be a symptom of bug #1036752? I had the same problem but it went away when I enabled the decor ("Window Decorations") plugin in CompizConfig Settings Manager (from the compizconfig-settings-manager package).

[ionash. (janusz-arch)]

I don't know, maybe, because /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/10_compiz-gnome.gschema.override on my computer looks exactly like Doug McMahon's (#6), and "dconf list /org/compiz/profiles/" gives me " unity/" too, like in Daniel van Vugt comment (#7).
But Window Decoration plugin in CCSM was enabled (like in screeshot) on my system. Also it doesn't matter if I turn of and turn on again this plugin - still no window decoration.

[ionash. (janusz-arch)]

New compiz release (0.9.8.4-0ubuntu3) in quantal corrects this bug; after upgrade windows decorations shows up in Gnome Classic session.

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

I can confirm that this bug is now fixed.

Thanks! This bug have been plaguing me for months!

[Fred (eldmannen+launchpad)]

compiz (1:0.9.8.4-0ubuntu3) quantal-proposed; urgency=low

  * debian/config, debian/compiz-gnome.migrations,
    debian/00_remove_unityshell_in_gnome_session.py:
    - add the default gnome_session profile to use gsettings as the migrated
      user are on this profile (LP: #1036752). The existing migration scripts
      will upgrade the user config.
    - For new users and users already on quantal before this fix, remove the
      local config file created if you logged in the classic session hiding the
      system one. Also, as the global default is including the unity* plugins,
      remove them from the list of plugins the first time you log in.

 -- Didier Roche <email address hidden> Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:19:08 +0200

[David Stewart (westdart)]

Is this fix going to make it back into Ubuntu 11.04?

I was able to reproduce the issue faithfully using soapui-4.5.1 and creating a new soapui project with an invalid wsdl, however when I ran through the instructions from Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt) from 2012-08-06 to debug the issue the problem went away, as long as I am running that debug session I don't get the problem.

I tried doing an update of compiz but I am already on the latest.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Incomplete. This was clearly a duplicate of another bug, but Fred says it's fixed so doesn't matter any more.

Everyone else -
If you continue to have problems please log you own separate bugs.

[Marcel (julien-textoris)]

Hi everyone,

I am experiencing this bug also, since today (i'm not sure if it is after an update, or just a crash / freeze of the system), but the only way to have window decoration is "gnome+no effect". However, there is also the icons of libreoffice suite that are really strange now (with fluo colors !)

Don't really know how I can help to trace this bug for you, if interested, just tell me.

Sincerely

julien

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

If you continue to have any problems, please log you own bug instead of commenting here. You can do so with this command:
    ubuntu-bug compiz

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for Compiz because there has been no activity for 60 days.]