On GNOME3, the notification icon is not visible is some cases

Question

On GNOME3, the notification icon is not visible is some cases

Opened this issue 4 years ago · 18 comments

Environment

Operating system: Debian Testing
Hyperkeys version: HyperKeys-1.1.10.AppImage

Describe the bug and how to reproduce
chmod a+x HyperKeys-1.1.10.AppImage
./HyperKeys-1.1.10.AppImage

the program seems to want to start, but nothing happens. This is the output:

getPath /tmp/.mount_HyperKDCCSkm/hyperkeys
getDataPath /home/rusconi/.config/hyperkeys
/tmp/.mount_HyperKDCCSkm/resources/app/icon.png

and it stalls.

Expected behavior
Something should happen, for example, check if the config file is there and just work or if the config file is not there open the config dialog.

Config file
Please provide the macros.json file, found at %APPDATA%\hyperkeys\storage on windows, ~/.config/hyperkeys/storage on Linux.

That file does not exist.

I went to the directory where the appimage was mounted and indeed find the stuff there. Then I tried to run the hyperkeys binary directly from that directory and the output was analog to the one mentioned above. Same when running AppRun from the same mounted directory.

I will provide any details if necessary.

Thank you,
lopippo

Answer 1 · 2021-01-27T08:54:11.000Z

Thank you for you interest for Hyperkeys.

What is the desktop environment that you are using ?
The app icon should be visible in the notification area. It is however possible that it is not working properly on some environments.
It has been tested on GNOME2 and GNOME3

Answer 2 · 2021-01-27T09:16:19.000Z

Thank you for you interest for Hyperkeys.

What is the desktop environment that you are using ?
The app icon should be visible in the notification area. It is however possible that it is not working properly on some environments.
It has been tested on GNOME2 and GNOME3

I am running GNOME3, package version: 3.38.
And, yes, indeed, I do not see anything appearing in the notification area.
Thank you for developing Free Software!

Answer 3 · 2021-01-27T10:23:36.000Z

Weird... I'm using GNOME 3.38 as well. It has been initially created for this environment.
Could you send your GNOME plugins list ? Maybe one is clashing with it.

Answer 4 · 2021-01-27T16:10:59.000Z

I created a fresh GNOME3 session under Manjaro and the notification icon appears on the top-right.
Please tell me if it's not the case under Debian.

Answer 5 · 2021-01-28T10:01:28.000Z

I created a fresh GNOME3 session under Manjaro and the notification icon appears on the top-right.
Please tell me if it's not the case under Debian.

A screen shot to illustrate the situation :-)

Answer 6 · 2021-01-28T13:11:39.000Z

I know that the notification area is somewhat unstable in GNOME... I believe this is the root cause.
For a quick fix : you might find a solution using a plugin for the notification area.
In the meantime, I'll take a look to find a solution in your type of environments :-)

Answer 7 · 2021-01-28T17:24:25.000Z

I found a quick fix :
You need to install libappindicator3-1 to get the tray icon :

sudo apt-get install libappindicator3-1

I tried it on a fresh Debian stable with success.

Answer 8 · 2021-01-28T17:58:28.000Z

Thank you for your endeavours,

I tried this on my testing box:

apt search libappindicator

Sorting... Done
Full Text Search... Done
libappindicator1/now 0.4.92-8 amd64 [installed,local]
allow applications to export a menu into the panel
libappindicator3-0.1-cil/testing 12.10.0+git20151221-5.1 amd64
CLI binding for libayatana-appindicator3 using GObject introspection
libappindicator3-0.1-cil-dev/testing 12.10.0+git20151221-5.1 amd64
CLI binding for libayatana-appindicator3 using GObject introspection
libghc-status-notifier-item-dev/testing 0.3.0.5-1+b3 amd64
StatusNotifierItem/libappindicator dbus implementation
libghc-status-notifier-item-doc/testing 0.3.0.5-1 all
StatusNotifierItem/libappindicator dbus implementation; documentation
libghc-status-notifier-item-prof/testing 0.3.0.5-1+b3 amd64
StatusNotifierItem/libappindicator dbus implementation; profiling libraries

So it seems it is not available with version 3 in debian testing at the moment. I looked in debian sid and indeed it is there. So I'll wait for it to percolate to testing and I'll let you know. Maybe that is the library that you should include in the AppImage bundle ?

Thank you again for your research.

Answer 9 · 2021-01-28T18:21:16.000Z

"Maybe that is the library that you should include in the AppImage bundle ?"
I'm currently trying that, but to be honest I don't know exactly how to do it...

You can also try to use libindicator1 which is referenced in the electron docs. It didn't work on my test, though.

Answer 10 · 2021-01-28T22:09:18.000Z

You may try to copy it directly in the AppDir/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu directory. Or in the AppDir/usr/lib/ directory ?

Answer 11 · 2021-01-28T22:52:45.000Z

I think I figured it out.

Could you try this version ?

https://github.com/xurei/hyperkeys/releases/download/v1.1.11-rc1/HyperKeys-1.1.11.AppImage

Answer 12 · 2021-01-29T15:01:03.000Z

I am sorry to have to tell you that it did not change anything. What is odd, is that the binary that is run does not seem to complain about a missing library...

Answer 13 · 2021-01-29T16:11:30.000Z

Apparently it works if you have gnome-shell-extension-appindicator installed.
You can also install it from GNOME extensions page: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/615/appindicator-support/

I keep searching ;-)

Answer 14 · 2021-01-29T16:21:45.000Z

Well, yes :-) and no :-(
Indeed, installing that extension has make one software that I use appear in the notification bar (so the extension works). However, the HK icon did not show up there... Sorry.

Answer 15 · 2021-01-29T16:44:28.000Z

Have you tried with the APT package or the gnome extension website ?
I'm not sure, but I think the APT does not work indeed :-\

Answer 16 · 2021-01-29T16:50:11.000Z

I am not sure I will be able to make it as seamless as I want :-(
There is a long issue on Electron about it.

So I think the best path from here would be to show the main window if the extension is not installed, with a link to the extension.
Not the best solution, but given the number of comments on the main thread, I don't think I will find a magical solution where Slack and Discord didn't.

It would at least allow you to try the app.

What's your opinion about this ?

Answer 17 · 2021-01-29T18:10:34.000Z

Have you tried with the APT package or the gnome extension website ?
I'm not sure, but I think the APT does not work indeed :-\

No, I did install the extension using the browser mechanism (not apt install).

Answer 18 · 2021-01-29T18:12:55.000Z

I am not sure I will be able to make it as seamless as I want :-(
There is a long issue on Electron about it.

So I think the best path from here would be to show the main window if the extension is not installed, with a link to the extension.
Not the best solution, but given the number of comments on the main thread, I don't think I will find a magical solution where Slack and Discord didn't.

Yeah, I think this is by far the best option. Indeed, who cares for the icon in the tray if the functionality is actually there, sitting in front of you in all its glory in a desktop window?

It would at least allow you to try the app.
Exactly !

Then, at least, you would get more users to try the app and maybe help you iron out the remaining glitches....

Good idea. Eager to test a new version soon !
Cheers

What's your opinion about this ?