xpad does not work correctly in Ubuntu 22.04LTS

[S Michael Smith]

The app, as installed from repo, starts, but the notes are arranged across the screen from top left, and cannot be resized nor moved. They're simply fixed in place.

The installed version is 5.4, which is all that's available. There are no instructions that I can find to build the 5.8 version on launchpad.

[Arthur Borsboom (arthurborsboom)]

To build xpad from source:

Download source code and unpack
./autogen.sh
./configure
make
sudo make install

If an error occurs, then the most common cause is a missing a build dependency.

Do you get it working?

[S Michael Smith (mrzx4l98d4tp89jab6giohdrjqysbyjs4npz2ccq25kvjmf5h8u4cmidcko7s4tfr6ur1teuv4ju1af4klpd-ubuntu)]

No, it does not work. Apparently at least version 5.8 cannot be built in Ubuntu 22.04LTS. The installed version of GTK2 seems to be too old.

I've nearly given up on xpad in 22.04, anyway, but thanks.

[S Michael Smith (mrzx4l98d4tp89jab6giohdrjqysbyjs4npz2ccq25kvjmf5h8u4cmidcko7s4tfr6ur1teuv4ju1af4klpd-ubuntu)]

I have tried all the way back to 5.5, and still problem with GTK2 version. 5.4 is the version in 22.04 repo, but it does not work due to problems mentioned.

[Arthur Borsboom (arthurborsboom)]

Xpad uses GTK3, not GTK2.

I have performed a search in the Ubuntu repositories for the Xpad package.
From Ubuntu 23.04 Ubuntu uses Xpad 5.8

https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=xpad&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all

Maybe this helps?

[S Michael Smith (mrzx4l98d4tp89jab6giohdrjqysbyjs4npz2ccq25kvjmf5h8u4cmidcko7s4tfr6ur1teuv4ju1af4klpd-ubuntu)]

Perhaps, but the build error reports GTK3 version is OK, but GTK2 version is not. I've no idea why that happens.

[S Michael Smith (mrzx4l98d4tp89jab6giohdrjqysbyjs4npz2ccq25kvjmf5h8u4cmidcko7s4tfr6ur1teuv4ju1af4klpd-ubuntu)]

This morning, I discovered the problem, but have no solution: In 22.04, Wayland is on by default. This breaks xpad and all other similar apps. It also breaks ability for any app to fix at a specific window position, I don't know details or design reasoning. Xpad, with Wayland on, cannot be moved or resized.

I turned Wayland off, and zpad would work correctly. but then Firefox will not even open, and a number of other applications are adversely affected. It appears to me that Wayland is poorly conceived and designed, but that's just me. I don't understand why it's necessary to change things that once worked.

[Arthur Borsboom (arthurborsboom)]

Ah yes, Wayland. That rings a bell!
There is similar bug report

https://bugs.launchpad.net/xpad/+bug/1932020

Thanks for figuring it out and reporting it back.

MS> I don't understand why it's necessary to change things that once worked.

Apparently, Xorg server is aging. Several design decisions of past 20 years have become problematic, including security. These days, there is little development effort going into Xorg server; it is almost abandoned except for some security fixes.

This transition period from Xorg to Wayland is not handy for Linux users, since it leads to issues that you and I are encountering. Every 6 months I retry a Wayland session, but my work gets blocked by one or more applications not functioning properly. So, keep reverting back to Xorg. I do notice that a Wayland session works better and better every time. There will be one day I will stick to Wayland.

Xpad needs to be adapted as well to become Wayland compatible.
I have zero experience in that. If you know anyone who can help out, please let me know.

[S Michael Smith (mrzx4l98d4tp89jab6giohdrjqysbyjs4npz2ccq25kvjmf5h8u4cmidcko7s4tfr6ur1teuv4ju1af4klpd-ubuntu)]

I'm afraid this is my first Wayland experience, and I'm NOT IMPRESSED!!!

I also find there are other applications that have mis-behaving windows, such as, it appears no longer possible to fix any windows to a specific location or monitor: they all come back to screen #1, upper left corner after boot, and have to be relocated every time.

Besides, I'm aging, too (about to hit 70), I can barely see, but still seem to function (mostly!) :-)

I don't believe software actually ages. Only the concept of applying it seems to age. Software doesn't wear out as mechanical devices may.

The "transition" period has already been more than 4 years, yet Ubuntu can't seem to move forward without major collisions. This is not by any means my only complaint with 22.04: there are many bugs, that weren't in 20.04, but to me, there is no gain in the changes. All I see is that I can no longer run the apps or do the work I used to do with the "upgraded" OS.

Thanks for your efforts.

I understand that Ubuntu is mostly "free" software, and I appreciate the efforts many put into it. But half a product is never a complete product, no matter which way one spins it...