cannot execute xulrunner application: "Obtaining the module object from Python failed."

[Bronsen]

Binary package hint: xulrunner-1.9

Following this how to https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Getting_started_with_XULRunner I get as far as "Step 8: Run the application", where I get the following error message:
=========================================
housetier@reliant:~/Desktop/Work/myapp$ xulrunner application.ini
Obtaining the module object from Python failed.

Traceback (most recent call last):
cant import cStringIO
<type 'exceptions.ImportError'>: /usr/lib/python2.5/lib-dynload/time.so: undefined symbol: PyExc_ValueError
housetier@reliant:~/Desktop/Work/myapp$
=========================================

I have Intrepid Ibex, "apt-cache policy xulrunner-1.9" reports:
=========================================
xulrunner-1.9:
  Installiert: 1.9.0.3+nobinonly-0ubuntu1
  Kandidat: 1.9.0.3+nobinonly-0ubuntu1
  Versions-Tabelle:
 *** 1.9.0.3+nobinonly-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://de.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
=========================================

It looks similar to an issue with liferea in hardy, however I do not see how to apply that workaround to this problem.

I can provide even more information if told how to produce it.

[skoczko (skoczko)]

Same issue here: staring xulrunner ends up with:

Obtaining the module object from Python failed.

Traceback (most recent call last):
cant import cStringIO
<type 'exceptions.ImportError'>: /usr/lib/python2.5/lib-dynload/time.so: undefined symbol: PyExc_ValueError
Obtaining the module object from Python failed.

Traceback (most recent call last):
cant import cStringIO
<type 'exceptions.ImportError'>: /usr/lib/python2.5/lib-dynload/time.so: undefined symbol: PyExc_ValueError

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

On Fri, Nov 07, 2008 at 01:38:06PM -0000, housetier wrote:
> Public bug reported:
>
> Binary package hint: xulrunner-1.9
>
> Following this how to https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Getting_started_with_XULRunner I get as far as "Step 8: Run the application", where I get the following error message:
> =========================================
> housetier@reliant:~/Desktop/Work/myapp$ xulrunner application.ini
> Obtaining the module object from Python failed.
>
> Traceback (most recent call last):
> cant import cStringIO
> <type 'exceptions.ImportError'>: /usr/lib/python2.5/lib-dynload/time.so: undefined symbol: PyExc_ValueError
> housetier@reliant:~/Desktop/Work/myapp$
> =========================================

Seems to be a bit python related. Does this still happen or did this
just go away?

 - Alexander

[Bronsen (housetier-deactivatedaccount)]

It still happens; however, I get to see the expected content (a window with a label "hello world" as per the example). The error is still

housetier@io:~/Apps/myapp$ xulrunner-1.9 application.ini
Obtaining the module object from Python failed.

Traceback (most recent call last):
cant import cStringIO
<type 'exceptions.ImportError'>: /usr/lib/python2.5/lib-dynload/time.so: undefined symbol: PyExc_ValueError
Obtaining the module object from Python failed.

Traceback (most recent call last):
cant import cStringIO
<type 'exceptions.ImportError'>: /usr/lib/python2.5/lib-dynload/time.so: undefined symbol: PyExc_ValueError

Some more version information:
housetier@io:~/Apps/myapp$ apt-cache policy python xulrunner-1.9
python:
  Installed: 2.5.2-1ubuntu1
  Candidate: 2.5.2-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 2.5.2-1ubuntu1 0
        500 http://de.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
xulrunner-1.9:
  Installed: 1.9.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.8.10.1
  Candidate: 1.9.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.8.10.1
  Version table:
 *** 1.9.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.8.10.1 0
        500 http://de.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid-updates/main Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com intrepid-security/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     1.9.0.3+nobinonly-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://de.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid/main Packages

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

On Sun, Dec 07, 2008 at 03:36:08PM -0000, housetier wrote:
> It still happens; however, I get to see the expected content (a window
> with a label "hello world" as per the example). The error is still
>
> housetier@io:~/Apps/myapp$ xulrunner-1.9 application.ini
> Obtaining the module object from Python failed.

does that work beter if you add /usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.0.5/ (or 0.4 if
that exists on your system) to LD_LIBRARY_PATH before starting stuff?

 - Alexander

[chocolateboy (chocolateboy)]

This appears to be a python bug: http://bugs.python.org/issue4434

It also causes the same warning when launching xpcshell, though it doesn't prevent xpcshell running. Setting LD_LIBRARY_PATH correctly doesn't remove the warnings.

As a temporary workaround (for apps that don't need python):

    cd /usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.0.5
    sudo mv libpyxpcom.so libpyxpcom.so.orig

- works with xpcshell. (I can't see if it fixes xulrunner as xulrunner doesn't produce this error on my system.)

Intrepid
xulrunner-1.9

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

This package has been removed from Ubuntu. Closing all related bugs.