GNU bug report logs - #4968
Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows

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Message #5 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Duncan Mercer <d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au>
To: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:51:03 +1100

I have just instaled ubuntu (karmic koala), which comes with emacs23.1-gtk+
and I have found the emacs can hang the whole of my Xwindows.

I am using this new version of emacs with my default .emacs configuration file
which I have used for a number of years.

The problem arises when I have the configuration parameter
(blink-cursor-mode -1) set in my .emacs file. If I attempt to resize an
emacs window when B.C.M set to -1 (or 0) then emacs will hang X windows.
Nothing functions. The only way I can regain control is to use
<CTRL><ALT>F1 to get to a console prompt, 'killall emacs' and then
swap back to Xwindows. If instead I set blink-cursor-mode to 1 then
everything behaves as I'd expect it to.

Also get a similar behaviour  if I use the menu to disable the blinking cursor
(deselect Menu->Options->Blinking Cursor) .
Only this time I have to resize the window twice before it hangs X windows.

Best regards
Duncan




If Emacs crashed, and you have the Emacs process in the gdb debugger,
please include the output from the following gdb commands:
    `bt full' and `xbacktrace'.
If you would like to further debug the crash, please read the file
/usr/share/emacs/23.1/etc/DEBUG for instructions.


In GNU Emacs 23.1.1 (i486-pc-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 2.18.3)
 of 2009-11-11 on vernadsky, modified by Debian
Windowing system distributor `The X.Org Foundation', version 11.0.10604000
configured using `configure  '--build=i486-linux-gnu'
'--host=i486-linux-gnu' '--prefix=/usr' '--sharedstatedir=/var/lib'
'--libexecdir=/usr/lib' '--localstatedir=/var/lib'
'--infodir=/usr/share/info' '--mandir=/usr/share/man' '--with-pop=yes'
'--enable-locallisppath=/etc/emacs23:/etc/emacs:/usr/local/share/emacs/23.1/site-lisp:/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp:/usr/share/emacs/23.1/site-lisp:/usr/share/emacs/site-lisp:/usr/share/emacs/23.1/leim'
'--with-x=yes' '--with-x-toolkit=gtk' '--with-toolkit-scroll-bars'
'build_alias=i486-linux-gnu' 'host_alias=i486-linux-gnu'
'CFLAGS=-DDEBIAN -g -O2' 'LDFLAGS=-g' 'CPPFLAGS=''

Important settings:
  value of $LC_ALL: nil
  value of $LC_COLLATE: nil
  value of $LC_CTYPE: nil
  value of $LC_MESSAGES: nil
  value of $LC_MONETARY: nil
  value of $LC_NUMERIC: nil
  value of $LC_TIME: nil
  value of $LANG: en_AU.UTF-8
  value of $XMODIFIERS: nil
  locale-coding-system: utf-8-unix
  default-enable-multibyte-characters: t

Major mode: Fundamental

Minor modes in effect:
  shell-dirtrack-mode: t
  global-cwarn-mode: t
  tooltip-mode: t
  tool-bar-mode: t
  mouse-wheel-mode: t
  menu-bar-mode: t
  file-name-shadow-mode: t
  global-font-lock-mode: t
  blink-cursor-mode: t
  global-auto-composition-mode: t
  auto-encryption-mode: t
  auto-compression-mode: t
  line-number-mode: t
  transient-mark-mode: t

Recent input:
<help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo>
<help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo>
<help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo>
<help-echo> <menu-bar> <help-menu> <about-emacs> <help-echo>
C-l C-x k <return> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo>
<help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo>
<help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo> <help-echo>
<help-echo> <menu-bar> <help-menu> <about-emacs> <help-echo>
<help-echo> M-x r e p o <tab> <down> <backspace> <backspace>
<backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace>
<backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace>
<backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace>
<backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace>
<backspace> <backspace> <backspace> <backspace> r e
p o r t <tab> <return>

Recent messages:
Loading /home/djlm/.emacs_cfg/cpp/cpp_parse_function.el (source)...done
Loading /home/djlm/.emacs_cfg/cpp/cpp_init.el (source)...done
Loading /home/djlm/.emacs_cfg/taskjug.el (source)...done
Loading `~/.emacs_cfg/shell-command': old-style backquotes detected!
Loading /home/djlm/.emacs_cfg/init.el (source)...done
For information about GNU Emacs and the GNU system, type C-h C-a.
Loading vc-svn...done
For information about GNU Emacs and the GNU system, type C-h C-a. [2 times]
Making completion list...
/usr/bin/mail is not an executable.  Setting mail-interactive to t.


-- 
Dr Duncan Mercer
Australian Centre for Field Robotics
The Rose Street Building, J04
The University of Sydney.
2006 NSW, Australia
Tel:  +61 (0) 2 9036 7178
Fax: +61 (0) 2 9351 7474

Message #10 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Jan Djärv <jan.h.d <at> swipnet.se>
To: d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au, 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Cc: bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#4968: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:37:02 +0100

Duncan Mercer skrev:
> I have just instaled ubuntu (karmic koala), which comes with emacs23.1-gtk+
> and I have found the emacs can hang the whole of my Xwindows.

"Xwindows" doesn't really exist :-):

" The  X.Org  Foundation  requests  that the following names be used when
       referring to this software:

                                          X
                                   X Window System
                                    X Version 11
                             X Window System, Version 11
                                         X11
"

But anycase, it sounds a lot like 
https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=392889. You have to scroll down a 
bit, initially it was about something else.

Also, there are known issues with Emacs 23.1 and Gtk+ 2.18, but this sounds 
extreme.

Are you sure it is X that locks up?  Can it be the window manager that grabs 
the mouse and keyboard?  To check, go to a console prompt and do
% xterm -display :0

If it produces a window, X isn't really hung.

What window manager are you running?  Can you try Emacs CVS and see if it works?

	Jan D.

Message #20 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Duncan Mercer <d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au>
To: Jan Djärv <jan.h.d <at> swipnet.se>
Cc: 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#4968: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:48:41 +1100

Hi Jan.

> "Xwindows" doesn't really exist :-):
>
> " The  X.Org  Foundation  requests  that the following names be used when
> referring to this software:

Thanks for that. I have admit I wasn't really sure what the "official"
term was so I figured that "Xwindows" was generic and would be
understood (even if not correct ;-)

> But anycase, it sounds a lot like
> https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=392889. You have to scroll down a
> bit, initially it was about something else.

"My" bug certainly sounds  a lot like the one described by Rodney
Dawes (comment 11). Both resizing the window and Alt+Tab will cause
the "hang". Contrary to my previous post I do not actually need to
kill emacs to "unlock" X, if I just use Ctrl+Alt+F1 to switch to a new
shell and then Ctrl+F7 to switch back to X then the system will be
functioning normally again.

Most of the rest of the discussion on the metacity bug that you
forwarded does not immediately enlighten me as to the root of my
problem. Guess I don't understand my WM to this level of detail  :-(

> Also, there are known issues with Emacs 23.1 and Gtk+ 2.18, but this sounds
> extreme.

I saw the same behaiour when I used the emacs 22 packages which also
ship with Karmic. So I thought that I should try version 23 to see if
that changed the situation.

> What window manager are you running?  Can you try Emacs CVS and see if it
> works?

It will probably be a couple of days before I have chance to test the
CVS version, but will let you know what I find.

>Are you sure it is X that locks up?  Can it be the window manager that grabs the >mouse and keyboard?  To check, go to a console prompt and do
>% xterm -display :0

If I switch to a new shell and then switch back as described above
then I have a working system again. Launching xterm from the shell
prompt (as root) does succeed but I guess since I get a working system
without the launch step, I guess this is less diagnostic.

Regards
Duncan


Best regards
Duncan

-- 
Dr Duncan Mercer
Australian Centre for Field Robotics
The Rose Street Building, J04
The University of Sydney.
2006 NSW, Australia
Tel:  +61 (0) 2 9036 7178
Fax: +61 (0) 2 9351 7474

Message #30 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Jan Djärv <jan.h.d <at> swipnet.se>
To: d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au
Cc: 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#4968: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:59:34 +0100

Duncan Mercer skrev:

> 
> Most of the rest of the discussion on the metacity bug that you
> forwarded does not immediately enlighten me as to the root of my
> problem. Guess I don't understand my WM to this level of detail  :-(
> 

There was a Redhat bug on the same issue, but it wasn't resolved.  It was 
closed, because nobody had seen the behaviour for a long time.

You could try another WM to see if that helps.

	Jan D.

Message #40 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Jan Djärv <jan.h.d <at> swipnet.se>
To: d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au
Cc: 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#4968: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:04:38 +0100

Jan Djärv skrev:
> Duncan Mercer skrev:
> 
>>
>> Most of the rest of the discussion on the metacity bug that you
>> forwarded does not immediately enlighten me as to the root of my
>> problem. Guess I don't understand my WM to this level of detail  :-(
>>
> 
> There was a Redhat bug on the same issue, but it wasn't resolved.  It 
> was closed, because nobody had seen the behaviour for a long time.
> 

Or maybe it was this Ubuntu one:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/metacity/+bug/231034

Turning off "assistive technologies" seems to fix it.

	Jan D.

Message #50 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Richard Stallman <rms <at> gnu.org>
To: d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au, 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Cc: jan.h.d <at> swipnet.se, bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org, 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#4968: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:38:51 -0500

    > "Xwindows" doesn't really exist :-):
    >
    > " The  X.Org  Foundation  requests  that the following names be used when
    > referring to this software:

I have a vague recollection that this has something to with a promise
that the X Consortium made to Microsoft to settle a lawsuit.
If that is true, then although they had to ask us not to do it,
concern for them would not lead us to comply with their request.

I am not sure whether this is true, and I wouldn't necessarily trust a
statement by the X Consortium about the matter.  X.Org isn't the X
Consortium either.

Message #60 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Duncan Mercer <d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au>
To: Jan Djärv <jan.h.d <at> swipnet.se>
Cc: 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#4968: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:02:32 +1100

Hi Jan.

> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/metacity/+bug/231034
>
> Turning off "assistive technologies" seems to fix it.

Thanks for that tip. Yes this seems to fix the problem for me. If I
disable "assistive technologies", then all is good.

IE. Now resizing emacs no longer causes X to hang (with or without)
the blinking cursor.

Regards
Duncan

Message #70 received at submit <at> emacsbugs.donarmstrong.com (full text, mbox):

From: Jan Djärv <jan.h.d <at> swipnet.se>
To: d.mercer <at> acfr.usyd.edu.au
Cc: 4968 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org,
        4968-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#4968: Emacs 23.1-gtk+ hangs Xwindows
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:29:19 +0100

Duncan Mercer skrev:
> Hi Jan.
> 
>> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/metacity/+bug/231034
>>
>> Turning off "assistive technologies" seems to fix it.
> 
> Thanks for that tip. Yes this seems to fix the problem for me. If I
> disable "assistive technologies", then all is good.
> 
> IE. Now resizing emacs no longer causes X to hang (with or without)
> the blinking cursor.
> 

Closing this as there is a workaround, and the problem is probably not in 
Emacs anyway.

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