Hello,

I've started setting up my first Arch install a few days ago and run into a lot of problems and still have a lot to solve. But none I could/can not solve by trial & error or searching online. Until yesterday I run into this really strange problem:

When I try to launch some apps (not all but e.g Firefox and Pulse GUI config) using the applications launcher or the "run command" field of KDE I only get a task bar entry with a loading icon. This entry dissapears after a few seconds without a window beeing openend. The only thread I found online describing my problem is this one, which does not provide a solution.

The strange thing is: After launching Firefox from the Konsole the applications launcher is able to start more instances. But when I close all again (including the one started from the Konsole) the problem reoccurs.

I am really desperate right now and wasted >10 hours trying to solve this so I am happy for anything I can try because I am out of ideas and can not find anything online.

Executing the firefox.desktop file in /usr/share/applications/ manually does work. Setting the "Run in terminal" flag in KDE Menu Editor also works. So why can't KDE just launch the .dekstop file on its own?
"kioclient exec name.desktop" from terminal does also work. It is not the .desktop files they do work: I tried a working one and replaced the "Exec=" command. I really do not know what to do.... I could have just reinstalled the whole system instead of trying to solve this, but I want this to be solved...

I also tried: Different users, reinstalling plasma-workspace

sounds as if those applications rely on some environment variable that doesn't make it up to the session (but is only present in your textshell settings)

Try to replace the exec by

Code: Select all

/bin/bash -c firefox


As long as firefox is running, calling it will usually not spawn a new process, but only a new window (so environments to the triggering call should have less impact)

*Why* this happens? No idea, but journalctl (for firefox) mayy have complaints after a failed launch.