compiz crashes on alt-tab when gitk is running

[Alex Converse]

Binary package hint: compiz

compiz is crashing on alt tab when gitk is running. When gitk isn't running compiz shows the alt-tab switcher fine.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: compiz 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-22.33-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-22-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,ccp,move,resize,place,decoration,mousepoll,gnomecompat,workarounds,grid,imgjpeg,svg,text,session,png,regex,glib,video,vpswitch,titleinfo,dbus,thumbnail,snap,resizeinfo,wall,animation,expo,fade,scale,ezoom,scaleaddon,staticswitcher]
Date: Wed May 12 00:09:37 2010
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Alpha amd64 (20100223.1)
PackageArchitecture: all
PciDisplay: 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation G84 [GeForce 8600 GTS] [10de:0400] (rev a1)
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=8885f641-4fd8-4e31-a429-819ec625067a ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 xserver-xorg 1:7.5+5ubuntu1
 libgl1-mesa-glx 7.7.1-1ubuntu2
 libdrm2 2.4.18-1ubuntu3
 xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.9.1-3ubuntu5
 xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.13.0-1ubuntu5
SourcePackage: compiz
dmi.bios.date: 03/26/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Intel Corp.
dmi.bios.version: MQ96510J.86A.1761.2009.0326.0001
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: DG965RY
dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation
dmi.board.version: AAD41691-207
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnIntelCorp.:bvrMQ96510J.86A.1761.2009.0326.0001:bd03/26/2009:svn:pn:pvr:rvnIntelCorporation:rnDG965RY:rvrAAD41691-207:cvn:ct3:cvr:
system: distro = Ubuntu, architecture = x86_64, kernel = 2.6.32-22-generic

[Pedro Villavicencio (pedro)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. However, your crash report is either missing or challenging to deal with as a ".crash" file. Please follow these instructions to have apport report a new bug about your crash that can be dealt with by the automatic retracer.

If you are running the Ubuntu Stable Release you might need to enable apport in /etc/default/apport and restart.

If you are using Ubuntu with the Gnome desktop environment - launch nautilus and navigate to your /var/crash directory and double click on the crash report you wish to submit.
If you are using Kubuntu or Xubuntu you can file the crash using /usr/share/apport/apport-qt --crash-file=/var/crash/_my_crash_report.crash in a terminal - where _my_crash_report.crash is the crash you would like to report.

I'm closing this bug report since the process outlined above will automatically open a new bug report which can then dealt with more efficiently. Thanks in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

[Alex Converse (ajc30)]

Compiz seems to install some sort of signal handler that prevents apport form from generating a crash report.

[Mark Wilkinson (mhw)]

I'm seeing the same problem; it's pretty easy to reproduce if I can provide useful diagnostics. I can reproduce it by logging in to a new session, running 'gitk' within a git repository, then pressing Alt-Tab. compiz exists and metacity is started to replace it. This results in all the windows from different workspaces being dumped together on the first workspace.

Should this bug be reopened, or should I submit a new one?

[Mark Wilkinson (mhw)]

BTW, there's mention of the same behaviour in this bug report that includes a link to a suggested patch: http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?format=multiple&id=313285

[Aaron Faanes (dafrito)]

I ran into this bug as well running Fedora 13:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=615750

We just got it fixed today. I think the information in that report's comments will help you guys fix it in Ubuntu as well. :)

[Roland Hieber (rohieb)]

The patch from Gentoo works for me too.

[Roland Hieber (rohieb)]

No, sorry, it was a false positive.

[Roland Hieber (rohieb)]

OK, sorry, I was too stupid to build deb packages... The Gentoo patch has now been working for a day (and 2 reboots) as expected, even for the Scale plugin :-)

I have put the patched version into my PPA: https://launchpad.net/~rohieb/+archive/ppa

[Mark Wilkinson (mhw)]

Your patched packages fix the problem for me. Thanks!

[Paolo Montrasio (paolo-paolomontrasio)]

I confirm that the patched package works.
Ubuntu 10.04, radeon driver for an ATI Mobility x1600 card.
Thanks!

[Victor Vargas (kamus)]

Please could somebody check if this patch was applied in latest release of compiz included in Ubuntu Maverick? Roland, just for the record the commit who fixes this issue is http://git.compiz.org/compiz/core/commit/?h=compiz-0.8&id=1bed3dbcea6473f84745ec7a1f936c4f5d3b3a01 ?

[Sam Spilsbury (smspillaz)]

On Thu, Dec 9, 2010 at 10:25 PM, Kamus <email address hidden> wrote:
> Please could somebody check if this patch was applied in latest release
> of compiz included in Ubuntu Maverick? Roland, just for the record the
> commit who fixes this issue is
> http://git.compiz.org/compiz/core/commit/?h=compiz-0.8&id=1bed3dbcea6473f84745ec7a1f936c4f5d3b3a01
> ?

It is included in natty, not so sure about maverick

>
> ** Changed in: compiz (Ubuntu)
>       Status: Confirmed => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a member of compiz
> packagers, which is subscribed to compiz in ubuntu.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/579112
>
> Title:
>  compiz crashes on alt-tab when gitk is running
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~compiz
> Post to     : <email address hidden>
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~compiz
> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>

--
Sam Spilsbury

[Yuri Khan (yurivkhan)]

I experience this bug on Maverick, compiz 1:0.8.6-0ubuntu9.1.

[Yuri Khan (yurivkhan)]

The simplest workaround is to disable icons in CompizConfig Settings Manager | <your preferred window switcher>. However, this severely impedes my ability to tell window miniatures apart in Static Application Switcher, and all the other switchers are too distracting to be usable.

[Yuri Khan (yurivkhan)]

Patch referenced in comment #13 helps. Compiled packages for Maverick in ppa:yurivkhan/compiz.

[Paolo Montrasio (paolo-paolomontrasio)]

Thank you Yuri, the patched compiz in your ppa doesn't crash with gitk (maverick).

[Niko Ehrenfeuchter (he1ix)]

I can reproduce this issue on my Maverick system here as well, with one special point worth being mentioned:

this happens *only* if I manually configure "wish" to be provided by /usr/bin/wish8.5 instead of the default /usr/bin/wish8.4 using this command (and selecting the appropriate version):

sudo update-alternatives --config wish

gitk has to be restarted after switching wish of course...

If I switch it back to the default, compiz doesn't crash on alt-tab anymore.

I really hope this isn't one of the bugs where a solution is well known and available, but Ubuntu simply doesn't provide fixed packages. After all, Maverick is still in the middle of its regular support lifecycle.

[David Barth (dbarth)]

Only security issues are now being considered for this release of Compiz (0.8).