GNU bug report logs - #48910
Very slow startup of GTK+ applications

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name>
To: bug-guix <at> gnu.org
Subject: Very slow startup of GTK+ applications
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2021 18:30:10 -0400

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

For the last couple months, I've noticed that GTK+ applications can be
very slow to start on my Guix / Debian system. It may take up to a
minute before they finish launching.

Here's an strace log of 'mousepad' startup. The pause occurs at line
3638, and then resumes after the the timeout is reached. Excerpt:

------
3621 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=7, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3622 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=6, revents=POLLIN}])
3623 [pid 10026] recvmsg(6, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="l\2\1\1\0\0\0\0\f\0\0\0005\0\0\0", iov_len=16}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG     _CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 16
3624 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=7, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3625 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=6, revents=POLLIN}])
3626 [pid 10026] recvmsg(6, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="\6\1s\0\6\0\0\0:1.337\0\0\5\1u\0\n\0\0\0\7\1s\0\24\0\0\0"..., iov_len=56}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_f     lags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 56
3627 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=7, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3628 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=6, revents=POLLIN}])
3629 [pid 10026] recvmsg(6, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="l\2\1\1\0\0\0\0\r\0\0\0005\0\0\0", iov_len=16}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG     _CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 16
3630 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=7, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3631 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=6, revents=POLLIN}])
3632 [pid 10026] recvmsg(6, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="\6\1s\0\6\0\0\0:1.337\0\0\5\1u\0\v\0\0\0\7\1s\0\24\0\0\0"..., iov_len=56}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_f     lags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 56
3633 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=7, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3634 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3635 [pid 10026] write(7, "\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 8) = 8
3636 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}, {fd=7, events=POLLIN}], 2, -1) = 1 ([{fd=7, revents=POLLIN}])
3637 [pid 10026] read(7, "\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 16) = 8
3638 [pid 10026] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}, {fd=7, events=POLLIN}], 2, -1 <unfinished ...>
3639 [pid 10024] <... poll resumed> )        = 0 (Timeout)
------

[mousepad-startup.log.xz (application/octet-stream, attachment)]

Message #8 received at 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name>
To: 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: Very slow startup of GTK+ applications
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2021 18:34:59 -0400

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Here is another strace log, for gnome-calculator.

It pauses at line 3755:

------
3738 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3739 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3740 [pid 10510] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="l\2\1\1\0\0\0\0\n\0\0\0005\0\0\0", iov_len=16}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG     _CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 16
3741 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3742 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3743 [pid 10510] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="\6\1s\0\6\0\0\0:1.343\0\0\5\1u\0\t\0\0\0\7\1s\0\24\0\0\0"..., iov_len=56}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_f     lags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 56
3744 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3745 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3746 [pid 10510] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="l\2\1\1\0\0\0\0\v\0\0\0005\0\0\0", iov_len=16}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG     _CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 16
3747 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3748 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3749 [pid 10510] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="\6\1s\0\6\0\0\0:1.343\0\0\5\1u\0\n\0\0\0\7\1s\0\24\0\0\0"..., iov_len=56}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_f     lags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 56
3750 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3751 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3752 [pid 10510] write(6, "\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 8) = 8
3753 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}, {fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 2, -1) = 1 ([{fd=6, revents=POLLIN}])
3754 [pid 10510] read(6, "\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 16) = 8
3755 [pid 10510] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}, {fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 2, -1 <unfinished ...>
3756 [pid 10508] <... poll resumed> )        = 0 (Timeout)
------

[gnome-calculator-startup.log.xz (application/octet-stream, attachment)]

Message #11 received at 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name>
To: 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: Very slow startup of GTK+ applications
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2021 18:37:47 -0400

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

On Mon, Jun 07, 2021 at 06:34:59PM -0400, Leo Famulari wrote:
> Here is another strace log, for gnome-calculator.

And another, but with less abbreviation. It pauses at line 3775:

------
3757 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3758 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3759 [pid 10717] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="l\2\1\1\0\0\0\0\n\0\0\0005\0\0\0", iov_len=16}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG     _CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 16
3760 [pid 10717] sendmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="l\1\0\1(\0\0\0\v\0\0\0\203\0\0\0\1\1o\0\25\0\0\0/org/freedesktop/DBus\0\0\0\2\1s\0\24\0\0\0org.freedesktop.DBus\0     \0\0\0\6\1s\0\24\0\0\0org.freedesk"..., iov_len=192}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=0}, MSG_NOSIGNAL) = 192
3761 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3762 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3763 [pid 10717] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="\6\1s\0\6\0\0\0:1.345\0\0\5\1u\0\t\0\0\0\7\1s\0\24\0\0\0org.freedesktop.DBus\0\0\0\0", iov_len=56}], msg_iovlen=1     , msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 56
3764 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3765 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3766 [pid 10717] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="l\2\1\1\0\0\0\0\v\0\0\0005\0\0\0", iov_len=16}], msg_iovlen=1, msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG     _CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 16
3767 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3768 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 1 ([{fd=5, revents=POLLIN}])
3769 [pid 10717] recvmsg(5, {msg_name=NULL, msg_namelen=0, msg_iov=[{iov_base="\6\1s\0\6\0\0\0:1.345\0\0\5\1u\0\n\0\0\0\7\1s\0\24\0\0\0org.freedesktop.DBus\0\0\0\0", iov_len=56}], msg_iovlen=1     , msg_controllen=0, msg_flags=MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC}, MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC) = 56
3770 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3771 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout)
3772 [pid 10717] write(6, "\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 8) = 8
3773 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}, {fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 2, -1) = 1 ([{fd=6, revents=POLLIN}])
3774 [pid 10717] read(6, "\1\0\0\0\0\0\0\0", 16) = 8
3775 [pid 10717] poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN}, {fd=6, events=POLLIN}], 2, -1 <unfinished ...>
3776 [pid 10715] <... poll resumed> )        = 0 (Timeout)
------

[gnome-calculator-startup.log.xz (application/octet-stream, attachment)]

Message #14 received at 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name>
To: 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: Very slow startup of GTK+ applications
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2021 21:11:41 -0400

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Googling, I found some similar bug reports:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=243737
https://forum.level1techs.com/t/gtk-applications-are-super-slow-at-startup/166540

The Arch discussion is very similar, as we are both using i3 launched
with startx.

The Arch discussion pointed to their wiki page on xinit, which
includes this note:

------
Note: At the very least, ensure that the last if block in
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc is present in your ~/.xinitrc file to ensure that
the scripts in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d are sourced.
------

I did that, and it fixed the problem.

The file /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc on my Debian system merely sources
/etc/X11/Xsession, which is attached for your reference.

It does a lot of things and references other files... I have no idea
what actually fixed my problem.

[Xsession (text/plain, attachment)]

Message #17 received at 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Ludovic Courtès <ludo <at> gnu.org>
To: Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name>
Cc: 48910 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#48910: Very slow startup of GTK+ applications
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2021 11:22:28 +0200

Hi,

Leo Famulari <leo <at> famulari.name> skribis:

> Googling, I found some similar bug reports:
>
> https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=243737
> https://forum.level1techs.com/t/gtk-applications-are-super-slow-at-startup/166540
>
> The Arch discussion is very similar, as we are both using i3 launched
> with startx.
>
> The Arch discussion pointed to their wiki page on xinit, which
> includes this note:
>
> ------
> Note: At the very least, ensure that the last if block in
> /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc is present in your ~/.xinitrc file to ensure that
> the scripts in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d are sourced.
> ------
>
> I did that, and it fixed the problem.
>
> The file /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc on my Debian system merely sources
> /etc/X11/Xsession, which is attached for your reference.
>
> It does a lot of things and references other files... I have no idea
> what actually fixed my problem.

Weird.

I conclude this is not a Guix-specific issue and can be closed, right?

Thanks for sharing the tip!

Ludo’.

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