libproxy fails to call XInitThreads, breaks VLC UI

[Simon Brouillard]

Binary package hint: vlc

I try to install VLC with Ubuntu 11.04 Unity
but when i launch it... it does not work...

On my 2 other PCs with Unity 2D... it run ok...

I report a bug to VLC... but it seems to me
that they will not be happy...
I know the Ubuntu 11.04 is not available
at this time.

Thanks

[Benjamin Drung (bdrung)]

What happens when you launch it in Unity?

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

1- When i get the problem, i uninstall vlc...

2- To check: a) Re-Install vlc without mozilla-plugin-vlc

             b) Answer Yes to add to Unity Launcher and Wait a bit...

             c) At the end of installation process... The VLC icon
                was added to the Launcher...(OK)

             d) I start vlc... by clicking on the VLC button(in the launcher)
                and nothing happens...

             e) I try to open a .m3u file on my desktop with VLC...
                and nothing happens...

             f) I try to open a mp3 file with VLC and nothing happens

             g) I open a terminal and
             vlc /home/simon/Musique/Another Day.mp3
             I got this error message:

VLC media player 1.1.9 The Luggage (revision exported)
Warning: call to srand(1305975746)
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Using libdvdcss version 1.2.10 for DVD access
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
libdvdnav: Can't read name block. Probably not a DVD-ROM device.
libdvdnav: Unable to find map file '/home/simon/.dvdnav/.map'
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFilePath:findDVDFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFilePath:findDVDFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
Warning: call to srand(-1221572763)
Warning: call to srand(-1229969334)
Warning: call to srand(-1238361839)
Warning: call to srand(-1246752065)
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_ADDRESS")
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_BUS_TYPE")
Blocked: call to setenv("_PX_CONFIG_ORDER", "", 1)
Blocked: call to setenv("_PX_CONFIG_ORDER", "", 1)
../../../include/vlc_xlib.h:46:vlc_xlib_init: Xlib not initialized for threads.
This process is probably using LibVLC incorrectly.
Pass "--no-xlib" to libvlc_new() to fix this.
[0x9e67524] qt4 interface error: Xlib not initialized for threads
[0x9e67524] main interface error: no suitable interface module
[0x9d3092c] main libvlc error: interface "default" initialization failed
[0x9e2e5e4] access_http access error: cannot connect to mp3.live.tv-radio.com:80
[0x9e2e5e4] access_mms access error: cannot connect to mp3.live.tv-radio.com:80
[0x9e203fc] access_http access error: cannot connect to www.telepuertovirtual2.tv:80
[0x9e203fc] access_mms access error: cannot connect to www.telepuertovirtual2.tv:80

              h) Now... I'm waiting for... an good Angel!!!

Thanks for your support!

[Benjamin Drung (bdrung)]

What happens if you run "sudo /usr/lib/vlc/vlc-cache-gen /usr/lib/vlc/plugins"?

[Rémi Denis-Courmont (rdenis)]

The "culprit" should be exposed this way:
# gdb vlc
(gdb) break XOpenDisplay
y
(gdb) break XInitThreads
y
(gdb) run
...
(gdb) bt

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

For the following message i try...
What happens if you run sudo /usr/lib/vlc/vlc-cache-gen /usr/lib/vlc/plugins"?

From Benjamin Drung
The command run and stop with no error message
and I get ...nothing...

I Try to launch the vlc with the Launch bar... after this guess
and i get nothing..

and for the message ...

The "culprit" should be exposed this way:
# gdb vlc
(gdb) break XOpenDisplay
y
(gdb) break XInitThreads
y
(gdb) run
...
(gdb) bt

FROM Rémi Denis-Courmont...
i dont understand anything, sorry!

Possibly this message was not for me!

[Rémi Denis-Courmont (rdenis)]

If you are unable/unwilling to provide the requested, then I am unable to investigate.

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

Sorry... now... VLC run OK...in the AppStore!!!

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

Just a last comment to make you feel All the Desesperated... World...
VLC is running very well with Windows XP... Try IT!! With A Rope around your Neck
It Will be A 200 million Great Moment!

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

Sorry for the last comment...

I have to be more professional than
you...more serious... At first, i don't
want to blame you... but i'm oblige
to say you that you are opposite to
the Shuttleworth Vision...
It's not my job... but if you want
it, you will get it!

What i have to say for now... I'm knowing
that Ubuntu 11.04 and Unity cause problem
to VLC because it oblige VLC to get support
a new linux version... debian with Gnome
and KDE... and now A very different with
Unity... I know that a lot of software
developpers are thinking that Cannonical
make an error with The Unity Choice...
Before answering me... just ask to Mark
What he's thinking about your point of
view on User's relationship...
Users are not slave... !!!under a
neocolonial French behavior !!!
Oeniric...in french is onirique!!!
Je peux tout reecrire en Francais.!!!

[Benjamin Drung (bdrung)]

Simon, this is a bug report and not a user support request. Rémi uses his free time to try to figure out what went wrong with your system. Developers prefer to work on bugs that provide enough information and are written in proper English without rants and millions of exclamation marks.

I am not aware of any Unity related VLC problems. VLC runs fine under Unity.

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

I Know that is not an user support... but
when i say that when i click on The VLC button
in the Launcher Pad... and it's not do anything...
Im not a specialist with the software of VLC...
But what he request to me was not understanding!
And He doest not want to explain why i Want to
do to give him back the information they need...

You ask me some question... and i answer as
i can... if the communication in between us...
may seems not good... But may you told me
what he want to know... IF he speak about
c++ command... i will never understand!
Imagine a Young Child of 15 years Old In
Angola... What he will answer... or a 20
years old girl in Brasil...

The "culprit" should be exposed this way:
# gdb vlc
(gdb) break XOpenDisplay
y
(gdb) break XInitThreads
y
(gdb) run
...
(gdb) bt
What is mean???

Sorry for my 'hard written words' but...
i know that you have a lot of working
freely... but it'not a reason to
... be angry cause we cannot understand!

[Benjamin Drung (bdrung)]

Open a terminal and type into it what comes after the hash ("gdb vlc"). Then type "break XOpenDisplay" once you see the "(gdb)" input line and press enter. Answer the question with "y" (yes) and press enter. Then type "break XInitThreads" and press enter. Answer the question with "y" (yes) and press enter. Then type "run" and press enter. Then vlc should crash. Then type "bt" and press enter.

[Benjamin Drung (bdrung)]

Oh, and that are not c++ commands, but command that should be typed into a terminal.

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

I open a terminal, as you told me... and a copy a terminal listing...

run simon@simon-desktop:~$ gdb vlc
GNU gdb (Ubuntu/Linaro 7.2-1ubuntu11) 7.2
Copyright (C) 2010 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".
simon@simon-desktop:~$ gdb vlc
GNU gdb (Ubuntu/Linaro 7.2-1ubuntu11) 7.2
Copyright (C) 2010 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/vlc...(no debugging symbols found)...done.
(gdb) break XOpenDisplay
Function "XOpenDisplay" not defined.
Make breakpoint pending on future shared library load? (y or [n]) y

Breakpoint 1 (XOpenDisplay) pending.
(gdb) break XInitThreads
Function "XInitThreads" not defined.
Make breakpoint pending on future shared library load? (y or [n]) y

Breakpoint 2 (XInitThreads) pending.
(gdb) run
Starting program: /usr/bin/vlc
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
VLC media player 1.1.9 The Luggage (revision exported)
[New Thread 0xb7c3db70 (LWP 2627)]
[New Thread 0xb7bbcb70 (LWP 2628)]
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
Warning: call to srand(1306110232)
[New Thread 0xb7b01b70 (LWP 2629)]
Warning: call to srand(-1212319858)
[New Thread 0xb7300b70 (LWP 2630)]
Warning: call to srand(-1220677759)
libdvdread: Using libdvdcss version 1.2.10 for DVD access
[New Thread 0xb6affb70 (LWP 2631)]
Warning: call to srand(-1229004698)
[New Thread 0xb62feb70 (LWP 2632)]
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
libdvdnav: Can't read name block. Probably not a DVD-ROM device.
libdvdnav: Unable to find map file '/home/simon/.dvdnav/.map'
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFilePath:findDVDFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFilePath:findDVDFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
Warning: call to srand(-1237376535)
[New Thread 0xb5afdb70 (LWP 2633)]
[New Thread 0xb52fcb70 (LWP 2634)]
[Thread 0xb7bbcb70 (LWP 2628) exited]
[New Thread 0xb4afbb70 (LWP 2635)]
[New Thread 0xb42fab70 (LWP 2636)]
[New Thread 0xb3af9b70 (LWP 2637)]
[New Thread 0xb3a78b70 (LWP 2638)]
[New Thread 0xb39f7b70 (LWP 2639)]
[New Thread 0xb3976b70 (LWP 2640)]
[New Thread 0xb38f5b70 (LWP 2641)]
[New Thread 0xb37f3b70 (LWP 2643)]
[New Thread 0xb3874b70 (LWP 2642)]
[Thread 0xb38f5b70 (LWP 2641) exited]
[New Thread 0xb3772b70 (LWP 2644)]
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_ADDRESS")
Blocked: call to unsetenv("DBUS_ACTIVATION_BUS_TYPE")
[New Thread 0xb38f5b70 (LWP 2645)]
[Thread 0xb3772b70 (LWP 2644) exited]
Blocked: call to setenv("_PX_CONFIG_ORDER", "", 1)
Blocked: call to setenv("_PX_CONFIG_ORDER", ...

[Rémi Denis-Courmont (rdenis)]

So the problem is, libproxy uses Xlib, thus initializing Xlib for thread-unsafe operation. Thus both the VLC Qt4 interface and the VLC skins interface refuse to start afterward. So then VLC goes to command line mode. Therefore, it won't appear on the graphical desktop.

The "bug" lies in the GNOME module of libproxy. It uses Xlib to check whether GNOME is managing the desktop session. That being said, I don't know why VLC attempts to use HTTP before the VLC UI starts. Maybe podcasts are enabled?

There are two ways to properly fix this. Either way, libproxy needs to be fixed, not VLC:
 - switch libproxy to XCB instead of Xlib,
or
 - don't use X11 at all in libproxy (there must some cleaner way to detect GNOME).

It can be worked around in VLC by calling XInitThreads in the main function (bin/vlc.c), but this will totally ruin the vlc-nox package split. Then again, vlc-nox is already mostly ruined as libavcodec depends on VAAPI which depends on X. In my opinion, splitting the UI plugins from the rest would be smarter than splitting the X stuff from the rest (c.f. Debian bug #513177).

[Rémi Denis-Courmont (rdenis)]

The needed fix belongs in libproxy. I doubt that confirming the bug in 'vlc (Ubuntu)' will do much good.

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

I dont know if the following info will help you!

1- I get 3 Ubuntu PC...1 with Unity 11.04,
   and the 2 others with Ubuntu 11.04 Unity 2-D...
   On the 2 Unity 2-D... vlc runs OK...
   with the Unity vlc does not run!
( Another with Windows XP... vlc is ok)

2- I Installed 11.04 Unity 2-D from the installation CD...
   as a New OS.
3- With My First Computer with Unity 11.04, i dont install
   from a CD, but by the way of Update mandager from 10.10...
   I know that a lot of files was deleted... and was not
   reinstalled after the upgrading process.

4-I you want More information about this PC... told me!

Thanks for your effort... i'm sure that was a hard job
to correct that!

[Rémi Denis-Courmont (rdenis)]

I don't understand how it got there, 'vlc -vv' would tell that. But in any case, this bug does not look like it has anything to do with Unity.

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

In a terminal i wrote vlc -vv and i got this message:

....
m' '--disable-sqlite' '--disable-telx' '--enable-alsa' '--enable-atmo' '--enable-dc1394' '--enable-dv' '--enable-libva' '--enable-pvr' '--enable-udev' '--enable-v4l2' '--enable-svgalib' 'build_alias=i686-linux-gnu' 'CFLAGS=-g -O2' 'LDFLAGS=-Wl,--as-needed' 'CPPFLAGS=' 'CXXFLAGS=-g -O2'
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: translation test: code is "fr"
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: checking plugin modules
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: loading plugins cache file /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/plugins-04041e-e8.dat
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: recursively browsing `/usr/lib/vlc/plugins'
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: saving plugins cache /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/plugins-04041e-e8.dat
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: module bank initialized (394 modules)
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: opening config file (/home/simon/.config/vlc/vlcrc)
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: CPU has capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 FPU
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: looking for memcpy module: 3 candidates
[0x924092c] main libvlc debug: using memcpy module "memcpymmxext"
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: Creating an input for 'Bibliothèque'
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: Input is a meta file: disabling unneeded options
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: using timeshift path '/tmp'
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: `file/xspf-open:///home/simon/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf' gives access `file' demux `xspf-open' path `/home/simon/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='xspf-open' path='/home/simon/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x92ff05c] main demux debug: looking for access_demux module: 2 candidates
[0x92ff05c] main demux debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loaded
[0x92ff05c] main demux debug: TIMER module_need() : 75.972 ms - Total 75.972 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 75.972 ms)
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: creating access 'file' path='/home/simon/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x930908c] main access debug: looking for access module: 2 candidates
[0x930908c] filesystem access debug: opening file `/home/simon/.local/share/vlc/ml.xspf'
[0x930908c] main access debug: using access module "filesystem"
[0x930908c] main access debug: TIMER module_need() : 20.585 ms - Total 20.585 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 20.585 ms)
[0x930863c] main stream debug: Using AStream*Stream
[0x930863c] main stream debug: pre buffering
[0x930863c] main stream debug: received first data after 2 ms
[0x930863c] main stream debug: pre-buffering done 296 bytes in 0s - 134 KiB/s
[0x930826c] main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module: 5 candidates
[0x930826c] main stream debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
[0x930826c] main stream debug: TIMER module_need() : 17.403 ms - Total 17.403 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 17.403 ms)
[0x930826c] main stream debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
[0x930826c] main stream debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
[0x930826c] main stream debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.323 ms - Total 1.323 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.323 ms)
[0x92fae4c] main input debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='x...

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

And i try the vlc command on another pc

Report on vlc bug...(or unity bug...)

vlc -vv on my 2 other pv Unity 2D

VLC media player 1.1.9 The Luggage (revision exported)
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: VLC media player - 1.1.9 The Luggage
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: Copyright © 1996-2011 the VideoLAN team
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: revision exported
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: configured with ./configure '--enable-static' '--build=i686-linux-gnu' '--config-cache' '--disable-maintainer-mode' '--disable-silent-rules' '--disable-update-check' '--enable-fast-install' '--prefix=/usr' '--docdir=/usr/share/doc/vlc-nox' '--sysconfdir=/etc' '--with-binary-version=1ubuntu1' '--enable-a52' '--enable-aa' '--enable-bonjour' '--enable-caca' '--enable-dca' '--enable-dirac' '--enable-dvb' '--enable-dvbpsi' '--enable-dvdnav' '--enable-faad' '--enable-flac' '--enable-fluidsynth' '--enable-freetype' '--enable-fribidi' '--enable-ggi' '--enable-gnutls' '--enable-jack' '--enable-kate' '--enable-libass' '--enable-libmpeg2' '--enable-libproxy' '--enable-libxml2' '--enable-lirc' '--enable-live555' '--enable-mad' '--enable-mkv' '--enable-mod' '--enable-mozilla' '--enable-mpc' '--enable-mtp' '--enable-mux_ogg' '--enable-ncurses' '--enable-notify' '--enable-ogg' '--enable-pulse' '--enable-qt4' '--enable-realrtsp' '--enable-schroedinger' '--enable-sdl' '--enable-shout' '--enable-skins2' '--enable-smb' '--enable-speex' '--enable-svg' '--enable-taglib' '--enable-theora' '--enable-twolame' '--enable-upnp' '--enable-vcd' '--enable-vcdx' '--enable-vorbis' '--enable-x264' '--enable-zvbi' '--with-kde-solid=/usr/share/kde4/apps/solid/actions/' '--with-mozilla-pkg=libxul' '--disable-dxva2' '--disable-gnomevfs' '--disable-goom' '--disable-osso_screensaver' '--disable-portaudio' '--disable-projectm' '--disable-sqlite' '--disable-telx' '--enable-alsa' '--enable-atmo' '--enable-dc1394' '--enable-dv' '--enable-libva' '--enable-pvr' '--enable-udev' '--enable-v4l2' '--enable-svgalib' 'build_alias=i686-linux-gnu' 'CFLAGS=-g -O2' 'LDFLAGS=-Wl,--as-needed' 'CPPFLAGS=' 'CXXFLAGS=-g -O2'
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: translation test: code is "C"
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: checking plugin modules
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: loading plugins cache file /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/plugins-04041e-1e8.dat
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: recursively browsing `/usr/lib/vlc/plugins'
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: saving plugins cache /usr/lib/vlc/plugins/plugins-04041e-1e8.dat
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: module bank initialized (394 modules)
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: opening config file (/home/simon/.config/vlc/vlcrc)
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: CPU has capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 FPU
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: looking for memcpy module: 3 candidates
[0x941e914] main libvlc debug: using memcpy module "memcpymmxext"
[0x94b6e14] main input debug: Creating an input for 'Media Library'
[0x94b6e14] main input debug: Input is a meta file: disabling unneeded options
[0x94b6e14] main input debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
[0x94b6e14] main input debug: using timeshift path '/tmp'
[0x94b6e14] main input debug: `file/xspf-open:///home/simon/.local/share/vlc/ml.xs...

[Rémi Denis-Courmont (rdenis)]

'vlc --reset-config' should fix the problem. Be sure to not enable podcasts in the preference dialog. You don't need to enable it to use it anyway.

Correct fix would require change in libproxy.

[Simon Brouillard (simon-brouillard1)]

I do the vlc command and, surprise it was ok... as usual...
I check if i could hear my icecast directory always80
and i hear music ... I always love Vlc.... just a bit
angry against the Bug not against VLC...

Thanks a lot.... for your free helping...!