amarok doesn't run

[sa00044@…]

I have recently installed Amarok. How do I run it now? I can see an Amarok icon in the Applications/Macports/KDE4 folder but when I click on it, Amarok doesn't start. The icon just bounces for some time on the dock and then freezes. My only option then is to Force quit the application. Should I do something else?

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

I see the same issue as you do. Not sure if this makes any difference (it doesn't for me), but there are NOTES in the various dependencies to follow:

##########################################################
# Don't forget that dbus needs to be started as the local 
# user (not with sudo) before any KDE programs will launch
# To start it run the following command:                  
# launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist
##########################################################
 
######################################################
#  Programs will not start until you run the command 
#  'sudo chown -R $USER ~/Library/Preferences/KDE'  
#  replacing $USER with your username.              
######################################################

when I try the former, I get back "nothing found to load". The latter path didn't exist so I created it. When I use a terminal, I get back that DBUS isn't running:

$ cd /Applications/MacPorts/KDE4/Amarok.app/Contents/MacOS
$ ./Amarok
<unknown program name>(19992)/ mac_initialize_dbus: warning: unable to initialize D-Bus environment!
Dynamic session lookup supported but failed: launchd did not provide a socket path, verify that org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist is loaded!
<unknown program name>(19992)/: KUniqueApplication: Cannot find the D-Bus session server:  "Not enough memory"

If you try the above, what do you get?

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Try this: "sudo" edit the file "/Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist", and change the value for key "Disabled" to "false" (follow the plist's formatting, not the quotes I use). After editing, save the file & exit emacs, then do:

launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist

(no sudo necessary). Then go into the Finder and double-click Amarok.app & it should work (it does for me, following these steps). Let me know if this works for you.

[sa00044@…]

Replying to michaelld@…:

Try this: "sudo" edit the file "/Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist", and change the value for key "Disabled" to "false" (follow the plist's formatting, not the quotes I use). After editing, save the file & exit emacs, then do:

launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist

(no sudo necessary). Then go into the Finder and double-click Amarok.app & it should work (it does for me, following these steps). Let me know if this works for you.

How do I edit the file? Can you write here what the file should look like? Thanks

[sa00044@…]

Replying to michaelld@…:

If you try the above, what do you get?

<unknown program name>(15685)/ mac_set_dbus_address: set session bus address to "unix:path=/tmp/launch-Wj7Tpr/session"
<unknown program name>(15685)/: KUniqueApplication: Cannot find the D-Bus session server:  "Failed to connect to socket /tmp/launch-Wj7Tpr/session: Connection refused" 

[sa00044@…]

By the way, when I open org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist, either by doubleclicking on it, or using TextEdit, there is no "Disabled" key available, so I created one, using TextEdit.

[sa00044@…]

I have started an update now using

sudo port upgrade outdated

in case something changes. I'll post back when everything has finished.

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Patch to enable use of the dbus lauchagent, hopefully.

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Download the attached patchfile; I'll assume this is saved locally as "~/Downloads/patch-org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist.diff". Then from a terminal with 'sudo' access, and, assuming ${prefix} is "/opt/local" (the default) for your MacPorts' install, do:

pushd /opt/local/Library/LaunchAgents
sudo patch -p0 < ~/Downloads/patch-org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist.diff
popd

and the 'patch' command should come back with (only):

patching file org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist

and if there's an issue ('patch' says it can't or whatever) try reinstalling (uninstall, install) the port 'dbus' in order to get that file back to its original state.

Assuming you get here w/o errors, then you can do:

launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist

and this last command should now just return w/o printing anything. If so, find Amarok's .app & double click on it ... it should now run (does for me, after the above steps).

[sa00044@…]

After doing

pushd /opt/local/Library/LaunchAgents
sudo patch -p0 < ~/Downloads/patch-org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist.diff

I get the following:

patch unexpectedly ends in middle of line
patch: **** Only garbage was found in the patch input.

I guess that means I am going to have to uninstall dbus, right? But when I try to uninstall dbus, it asks to uninstall many other dependencies first, including qt4-mac. Is there a way around this?

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Here's the modified version from my install (it's not very big; next attachement). Try moving the current one out of the way & moving this one into place, and then doing the 'launchctl' thing.

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Patched plist file for dbus.

[sa00044@…]

Replying to michaelld@…:

Here's the modified version from my install (it's not very big; next attachement). Try moving the current one out of the way & moving this one into place, and then doing the 'launchctl' thing.

Sorry, no results. I think my last chance is to finish the upgrade process and retry, just in case.

[sa00044@…]

What if I deleted everything and installed Amarok from scratch?

Could that be a viable option?

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Sure; that should do the trick. Might take a while to download / install all the dependencies, but if you have the time and need it should be considered an option.

[sa00044@…]

Okay, I'll think about it. Should I uninstall just the ports or Macports as well and start from zero ground?

I believe that this article ​http://guide.macports.org/#installing.macports.uninstalling should do the trick, right?

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

It's easier to delete everything & start from scratch. I used to do that pretty regularly when MacPorts was 1.0-1.5: corrupt database, some files got lost, or whatever. I haven't had to do it in a long while, so I think MacPorts' internals have gotten more stable (yay!).

After your "upgrade" is done (assuming it works), and if the "launchctl" still doesn't work, then I think you should first try:

sudo port -f uninstall dbus
sudo port install dbus

then either do the patch or copy the file and try it again. The "-f" will force the uninstall (might need a version if more than one is installed), and reinstalling from scratch often takes care of some issues.

[sa00044@…]

Ok, I'll try that first. Thank you so much. You have dedicated so much time in helping me. Thank you

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

You're welcome! I hope it's working for you ... please do reply so that I know & if so then we can close this ticket.

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Cc Me!

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

I'm assuming that the changes worked for you & hence I'm closing this ticket. Please reopen it if required.

[sa00044@…]

Replying to michaelld@…:

I'm assuming that the changes worked for you & hence I'm closing this ticket. Please reopen it if required.

Hello again. sorry I didn't post anything during the last days but I was on a little vacation, with no internet access on a technically "deserted" island. I have just come back, so I will be checking the "Amarok affair" during the next hours/days. I'll post back when I have news to share with you. Thanks again.

[sa00044@…]

Ok, here is the verdict: I decided to try once again to launch Amarok, before removing everything and then try to reinstall it. For the first time, Amarok splash screen appears and the icon remains active on the dock, but that's all. Amarok does nothing more form that point on.

[sa00044@…]

I changed the status to reopened as I am still having the problem I talked about 11 days before.

The Amarok splash screen appears but no Amarok runs!

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Try starting it up from a terminal, and seeing if maybe the debug printouts help shed any light. I've done what I can, since it works for me now. Maybe "illogic-al" has some wisdom here?

[sa00044@…]

Replying to michaelld@…:

Try starting it up from a terminal, and seeing if maybe the debug printouts help shed any light. I've done what I can, since it works for me now. Maybe "illogic-al" has some wisdom here?

Does that mean anything to you?

sudo port load amarok
Error: Target org.macports.load returned: Launchd plist /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.macports.amarok.plist was not found
Log for amarok is at: /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_release_ports_kde_amarok/main.log
Error: Status 1 encountered during processing.
To report a bug, see <http://guide.macports.org/#project.tickets>

[sa00044@…]

Amarok Launch Log

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

I was thinking of, from a terminal:

$ /Applications/FOO.app/Contents/MacOS/FOO

changed to work for wherever Amarok.app is installed (I don't have it installed right now). Then, watch what is printed out & maybe something useful will come of it.

[sa00044@…]

Replying to michaelld@…:

I was thinking of, from a terminal:

$ /Applications/FOO.app/Contents/MacOS/FOO

changed to work for wherever Amarok.app is installed (I don't have it installed right now). Then, watch what is printed out & maybe something useful will come of it.

-bash: /Applications/macports/kde4/FOO.app/Contents/MacOS/FOO: No such file or directory

[sa00044@…]

/Applications/macports/kde4/amarok.app/Contents/MacOS/amarok
<unknown program name>(745)/ mac_set_dbus_address: set session bus address to "unix:path=/tmp/launch-IdBG8L/unix_domain_listener"
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
amarok(745): Failed to lock file "/Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan/kpc/kde-icon-cache.lock" , last result = 2 
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
amarok(745): Couldn't create index file "/Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan/kpc/kde-icon-cache.index" 
QFile::remove: Empty or null file name
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/tmp-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
amarok(745): No ksycoca4 database available! 

amarok(745)/kdecore (trader) KServiceTypeTrader::defaultOffers: KServiceTypeTrader: serviceType  "Amarok/Plugin"  not found 
amarok(745): No ksycoca4 database available! 

amarok(745)/kdecore (trader) KServiceTypeTrader::defaultOffers: KServiceTypeTrader: serviceType  "Amarok/Plugin"  not found 
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/socket-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
kdeinit4: Aborting. bind() failed: Permission denied
Could not bind to socket '/Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/socket-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan/kdeinit4_'
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share: Permission denied
kbuildsycoca4 running...
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
trying to create local folder /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan: Permission denied
kbuildsycoca4: ERROR creating database '/Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/cache-unknown-00-23-32-da-74-2c.lan/ksycoca4'! Insufficient permissions in target directory.
QFile::remove: Empty or null file name
amarok:  ********************************************************************************************** 
amarok:  ** AMAROK WAS STARTED IN NORMAL MODE. IF YOU WANT TO SEE DEBUGGING INFORMATION, PLEASE USE: ** 
amarok:  ** amarok --debug                                                                           ** 
amarok:  ********************************************************************************************** 
amarok(745): No ksycoca4 database available! 

amarok(745)/kdecore (trader) KServiceTypeTrader::defaultOffers: KServiceTypeTrader: serviceType  "Amarok/Plugin"  not found 

[sa00044@…]

The following message appears many times in the log above:

No ksycoca4 database available!

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Yeah; seems as though you have a local permissions issue. If you do:

ls -ld /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE
ls -ld /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share

make sure it comes back with what you'd expect for a local directory -- mine are:

drwxr-xr-x  3 FOO  staff  204 Jul  7 20:25 /Users/FOO/Library/Preferences/KDE/
drwx------  4 FOO  staff  136 Jul  7 20:25 /Users/FOO/Library/Preferences/KDE/share/

so I would expect yours to be something like:

drwxr-xr-x  3 Nikolas  staff  [stuff]  /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/
drwx------  3 Nikolas  staff  [stuff]  /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE/share

If you find instead that they are not owned by you ("Nikolas" & "staff"), then you'll want to change them to be do, e.g.:

sudo chown -R Nikolas /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE
sudo chgrp -R staff /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE

You might also consider checking other parts of ~/Library and ~/Library/Preferences to make sure you own them; lack of ownership causes issues!

[sa00044@…]

I have done those two things

sudo chown -R Nikolas /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE
sudo chgrp -R staff /Users/Nikolas/Library/Preferences/KDE

and guess what...IT FINALLY WORKED!!!

Along with Amarok have also opened "kglobalaccel" and "kwallet". I suppose this is normal, right?

After almost two months trying to install Amarok, I am finally listening to music using it :)

Thank you very much for your help. You have been great all the way!!!

Many many thanks !!!

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

Yay! Thanks for your patience, and, you're welcome.

[michele.pao@…]

Hello i've some crashes with amarok on my snow leopard. This is the output of the command "sudo port load amarok"

Error: Target org.macports.load returned: Launchd plist /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.macports.amarok.plist was not found
Log for amarok is at: /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_release_tarballs_ports_kde_amarok/amarok/main.log
Error: Status 1 encountered during processing.
To report a bug, see <http://guide.macports.org/#project.tickets>

if i open console i can see several errors about, for example "Unable to start Dr. Konqi" and "too many open files"

any ideas? thanks

[michele.pao@…]

PS: i tried everything you wrote previously and this is the log for amarok:

version:1
:debug:main Executing org.macports.main (amarok)
:debug:load load phase started at Tue Nov  8 07:46:56 CET 2011
:debug:load Executing org.macports.load (amarok)
:error:load Target org.macports.load returned: Launchd plist /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.macports.amarok.plist was not found
:debug:load Backtrace: Launchd plist /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.macports.amarok.plist was not found
    while executing
"$procedure $targetname"
:info:load Warning: the following items did not execute (for amarok): org.macports.load
:notice:load Log for amarok is at: /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_release_tarballs_ports_kde_amarok/amarok/main.log

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

There's a new qt4-mac and phonon out, which might fix this issue. Please do a "port selfupdate" and then "upgrade outdated" and then try again.

[jmroot (Joshua Root)]

comment:33 doesn't even make sense; amarok doesn't create a StartupItem.