[SOLVED] gtk-launch doesnt work on new .desktop files until reboot

enigma9o7 · 06-28-2020, 11:44 AM

gtk-launch is supposed to launch any desktop file from /usr/share/applications or ~/.local/share/applications.

Every document and every single piece of info online says that it should work immediately, put the desktop file in the right folder, then can gtk-launch.

Not happening for me.

Code:

gtk-launch: no such application

Dunno if its something bodhi is missing or a problem with my system or what. As soon as I put the desktop file in appropriate folder it appears on menu, works fine, etc. But can't gtk-launch it until reboot.

Is there some service that should be running? Is there a command I can run to update the cache it uses or something? (ctrl-alt-end doesn't do it)

The Squash · 06-28-2020, 09:22 PM

Like I am wont to do, I just read the source code for gtk-launch and have noted that gtk-launch by itself does next to nothing. It signals some other program to launch the application.

Try logging out and then logging back in, instead of rebooting. This is not the solution; it is a way of getting to the bottom of the issue.

Thank you.

EdGr · 06-28-2020, 10:29 PM

The cause is most likely a stale mime database. You can update it manually with update-mime-database.

Code:

% strace gtk-launch gtk3-demo |& grep ^open | grep -v ENOENT | grep mime
openat(AT_FDCWD, "/home/ed/.config/mimeapps.list", O_RDONLY) = 10
openat(AT_FDCWD, "/usr/share//mime//mime.cache", O_RDONLY) = 10
openat(AT_FDCWD, "/usr/share/applications/mimeinfo.cache", O_RDONLY) = 10

Ed

ondoho · 06-28-2020, 11:31 PM

.desktop files execute automagically on my filemanager, no gtk-launch required.
Is this something Bodhi-specific?

enigma9o7 · 06-29-2020, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

.desktop files execute automagically on my filemanager, no gtk-launch required.

It's a tool for launching desktop files from command line, so that it uses your exec line and working path and icon etc just like openining it from file-manager.