Update MATE to 1.24

Update MATE to 1.24

[Jonathan Brielmaier]

Hi folks,

as the next release is approaching fast, I thought it would be nice to
have MATE 1.24 in. Compared to other desktop environments (hi GNOME)
updating is straight forward.

I tested MATE 1.24 in a VM. There are two problems:
* MATE suffers from https://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/38135, so you
can't start any applications from the menu. This is a MAJOR usability
bug. The fix for it is in core-updates.
* atril requires a newer glib/gio (also in core-updates).

I have two branches:
https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24 based on master
https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24-co based on
core-updates

I tried a VM on core-updates, but there are no substitutes. So I can't
really built it on my laptop.

So I guess we need a core-updates merge before a release, if we wanna
have MATE in a "release able" state.

~Jonathan

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[Marius Bakke]

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Jonathan Brielmaier <jonathan.brielmaier@web.de> writes:

> Hi folks,
>
> as the next release is approaching fast, I thought it would be nice to
> have MATE 1.24 in. Compared to other desktop environments (hi GNOME)
> updating is straight forward.
>
> I tested MATE 1.24 in a VM. There are two problems:
> * MATE suffers from https://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/38135, so you
> can't start any applications from the menu. This is a MAJOR usability
> bug. The fix for it is in core-updates.

There is an easy workaround for this problem though: installing
glib:bin.  We could propagate it for now, or simply add it to
%base-packages.

> * atril requires a newer glib/gio (also in core-updates).

Is it just Atril that needs the newer GLib?  We could give Atril its own
version of GLib without having to update the "main" one.

> I have two branches:
> https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24 based on master
> https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24-co based on
> core-updates

Great!  Would you like to apply for a Savannah account so users don't
have to pull from a third party to test it?  I'm happy to vouch for you.

Thanks,
Marius

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Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[Jonathan Brielmaier]

On 25.03.20 18:09, Marius Bakke wrote:
> There is an easy workaround for this problem though: installing
> glib:bin.  We could propagate it for now, or simply add it to
> %base-packages.

I added glib:bin to my config.scm and MATE can start applications again.
Propagating to %base-packages seems like a good quick-fix until
core-updates merges. It can also help XFCE, which might also suffer from
this problem.

>> * atril requires a newer glib/gio (also in core-updates).
>
> Is it just Atril that needs the newer GLib?  We could give Atril its own
> version of GLib without having to update the "main" one.

Atril is the only one requiring a newer Glib. I would just leave atril
on 1.22 and update it later. It's only a leaf package and 1.22 is fine
enough, I think.

>> I have two branches:
>> https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24 based on master
>> https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24-co based on
>> core-updates
>
> Great!  Would you like to apply for a Savannah account so users don't
> have to pull from a third party to test it?  I'm happy to vouch for you.

So only two members vouching for me left :P

Other findings
==============
* You can't shutdown or reboot. There is now button in MATE nor in GDM
after logging out.
* If you install a program or add it to your config.scm it only appears
in the App menu after the next reboot.
* pluma: installing external plugins fails with: "plugin loader python3
not found". Can be maybe fixed with propagating python. Plugins who are
installed by default do work.
* atril: Logo in about page is not an SVG.
* mate-control-center: `Preferred Applications` does not start/work.
`Time and Date Manager` does not work as well (dbus error).

I would only call the first issue major. But that's maybe due to testing
in a VM. I don't know.

~Jonathan

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[sirgazil]

 ---- On Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:32:57 -0500 Jonathan Brielmaier <jonathan.brielmaier@web.de> wrote ----
 > On 25.03.20 18:09, Marius Bakke wrote:
 > > There is an easy workaround for this problem though: installing
 > > glib:bin.  We could propagate it for now, or simply add it to
 > > %base-packages.
 > 
 > I added glib:bin to my config.scm and MATE can start applications again.
 > Propagating to %base-packages seems like a good quick-fix until
 > core-updates merges. It can also help XFCE, which might also suffer from
 > this problem.

Yes it does, and also fixes using Nautilus in sway (see http://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/39843).


 > >> * atril requires a newer glib/gio (also in core-updates).
 > >
 > > Is it just Atril that needs the newer GLib?  We could give Atril its own
 > > version of GLib without having to update the "main" one.
 > 
 > Atril is the only one requiring a newer Glib. I would just leave atril
 > on 1.22 and update it later. It's only a leaf package and 1.22 is fine
 > enough, I think.
 > 
 > >> I have two branches:
 > >> https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24 based on master
 > >> https://gitlab.com/jonsger/Guix/-/tree/wip-mate-1.24-co based on
 > >> core-updates
 > >
 > > Great!  Would you like to apply for a Savannah account so users don't
 > > have to pull from a third party to test it?  I'm happy to vouch for you.
 > 
 > So only two members vouching for me left :P
 > 
 > Other findings
 > ==============
 > * You can't shutdown or reboot. There is now button in MATE nor in GDM
 > after logging out.

Yes, I saw the same in MATE 1.22 (no button in the desktop for shutting down and rebooting).

 > * If you install a program or add it to your config.scm it only appears
 > in the App menu after the next reboot.

This may be a common problem in other desktop environments (see http://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/35594).


 > * pluma: installing external plugins fails with: "plugin loader python3
 > not found". Can be maybe fixed with propagating python. Plugins who are
 > installed by default do work.
 > * atril: Logo in about page is not an SVG.
 > * mate-control-center: `Preferred Applications` does not start/work.
 > `Time and Date Manager` does not work as well (dbus error).


Other problems I noticed in 1.22 were:

* Overlapping icons in panel applets.
* Not possible to add/remove workspaces.
* Not possible to enable system alert sounds.
* IBus didn't run when I activated it.

I have more information about these issues, but was waiting to see if they were solved in MATE 1.24 before reporting them.

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[Jonathan Brielmaier]

On 25.03.20 22:58, sirgazil wrote:
> Other problems I noticed in 1.22 were:
>
> * Overlapping icons in panel applets.
I added some applets to the panel. Their icons doesn't overlap. At least
not to my eyes :)

> * Not possible to add/remove workspaces.
You mean the workspace switcher in the applet panel? Or do you mean that
one cannot reduce/increase the number of shown workspaces (default: 4)?
This also doesn't work at 1.24.

> * Not possible to enable system alert sounds.
> * IBus didn't run when I activated it.
>
> I have more information about these issues, but was waiting to see if they were solved in MATE 1.24 before reporting them.

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[sirgazil]

 ---- On Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:43:58 -0500 Jonathan Brielmaier <jonathan.brielmaier@web.de> wrote ----
 > On 25.03.20 22:58, sirgazil wrote:
 > > Other problems I noticed in 1.22 were:
 > >
 > > * Overlapping icons in panel applets.
 > I added some applets to the panel. Their icons doesn't overlap. At least
 > not to my eyes :)

Great :)

 > > * Not possible to add/remove workspaces.
 > You mean the workspace switcher in the applet panel? Or do you mean that
 > one cannot reduce/increase the number of shown workspaces (default: 4)?
 > This also doesn't work at 1.24.

When I right-clicked the worskpaces switcher, and selected preferences, I saw this:

https://multimedialib.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mate-1.22-disabled-workspaces-spin-box-2020-03-23.png

The +/- buttons to add/remove workspaces don't work and you can even see that the number field (which shows 4 by default) is disabled. So you are not able to modify the number of workspaces, which is a bug, because MATE documentation says you can.

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[Jonathan Brielmaier]

On 30.03.20 22:42, sirgazil wrote:
>  > > * Not possible to add/remove workspaces.
>  > You mean the workspace switcher in the applet panel? Or do you mean that
>  > one cannot reduce/increase the number of shown workspaces (default: 4)?
>  > This also doesn't work at 1.24.
>
> When I right-clicked the worskpaces switcher, and selected preferences, I saw this:
>
> https://multimedialib.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mate-1.22-disabled-workspaces-spin-box-2020-03-23.png
>
> The +/- buttons to add/remove workspaces don't work and you can even see that the number field (which shows 4 by default) is disabled. So you are not able to modify the number of workspaces, which is a bug, because MATE documentation says you can.

I can confirm this. Can you open a bug for please?

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[sirgazil]

 ---- On Mon, 30 Mar 2020 15:43:42 -0500 Jonathan Brielmaier <jonathan.brielmaier@web.de> wrote ----
 > On 30.03.20 22:42, sirgazil wrote:
 > >  > > * Not possible to add/remove workspaces.
 > >  > You mean the workspace switcher in the applet panel? Or do you mean that
 > >  > one cannot reduce/increase the number of shown workspaces (default: 4)?
 > >  > This also doesn't work at 1.24.
 > >
 > > When I right-clicked the worskpaces switcher, and selected preferences, I saw this:
 > >
 > > https://multimedialib.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mate-1.22-disabled-workspaces-spin-box-2020-03-23.png
 > >
 > > The +/- buttons to add/remove workspaces don't work and you can even see that the number field (which shows 4 by default) is disabled. So you are not able to modify the number of workspaces, which is a bug, because MATE documentation says you can.
 > 
 > I can confirm this. Can you open a bug for please?

Sure.

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[sirgazil]

 ---- On Mon, 30 Mar 2020 15:43:42 -0500 Jonathan Brielmaier <jonathan.brielmaier@web.de> wrote ----
 > On 30.03.20 22:42, sirgazil wrote:
 > >  > > * Not possible to add/remove workspaces.
 > >  > You mean the workspace switcher in the applet panel? Or do you mean that
 > >  > one cannot reduce/increase the number of shown workspaces (default: 4)?
 > >  > This also doesn't work at 1.24.
 > >
 > > When I right-clicked the worskpaces switcher, and selected preferences, I saw this:
 > >
 > > https://multimedialib.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/mate-1.22-disabled-workspaces-spin-box-2020-03-23.png
 > >
 > > The +/- buttons to add/remove workspaces don't work and you can even see that the number field (which shows 4 by default) is disabled. So you are not able to modify the number of workspaces, which is a bug, because MATE documentation says you can.
 > 
 > I can confirm this. Can you open a bug for please?
 > 

Done: http://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/40334

By the way, Jonathan, can you reproduce this one?

## Steps to reproduce

* Go to System → Control Center → Sound.
* Go to the Sound Effects tab.

## Expected result

I can pick a sound theme, and then a sound from the list of alert sounds.


## Unexpected result

The sound theme and list of sounds are disabled, so I have to use the selected default (which provides no sound).

Re: Update MATE to 1.24

[Jonathan Brielmaier]

I have opened bugs for the issues, so we don't loose them.

On 25.03.20 22:32, Jonathan Brielmaier wrote:
> Other findings
> ==============
> * You can't shutdown or reboot. There is now button in MATE nor in GDM
> after logging outhttp://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=40327

> * If you install a program or add it to your config.scm it only appears
> in the App menu after the next reboot.
> * pluma: installing external plugins fails with: "plugin loader python3
> not found". Can be maybe fixed with propagating python. Plugins who are
> installed by default do work.
http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=40328

> * atril: Logo in about page is not an SVG.
http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=40329

> * mate-control-center: `Preferred Applications` does not start/work.
> `Time and Date Manager` does not work as well (dbus error).
http://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=40330