Package: gnome-terminal
Version: 3.46.8-1
Severity: normal
X-Debbugs-Cc: bartm@debian.org

When the value of /system/locale/region in .config/dconf/user is no
longer in /etc/locale.gen, then gnome-terminal silently fails to open.
The expected behavior is that gnome-terminal still opens. It could use
the locale from /etc/default/locale.

A quick fix/workaround is: dconf reset /system/locale/region

=== start of AI generated summary ===

Problem: GNOME Terminal Not Opening on Debian 12

After installing Debian 12, GNOME Terminal fails to open
without any error message. When running `gnome-terminal`
from an `xterm` window, the terminal fails to launch, and
`journalctl` shows a "locale not supported" error.

Diagnosis

1. Checking Locale Settings:

The issue was tied to incorrect locale settings. By
running the command `locale`, it showed that the system
was set to use `en_US.UTF-8`, but the `dconf` database
contained a conflicting `region=nl_BE.UTF-8` value under
`/system/locale/region`. This value had not been
generated on the system by `dpkg-reconfigure locales`.

2. Using `dconf dump /`:

Running `dconf dump /` confirmed that the
`region=nl_BE.UTF-8` setting was present, which was
causing the mismatch between the locale setting and the
system's available locales.

Solution

1. Generate the Missing Locale:

Run the following command to generate the correct
locales, including `nl_BE.UTF-8` if necessary: `sudo
dpkg-reconfigure locales` Ensure that `en_US.UTF-8` (or
any other desired locales) are selected during the
process.

2. Reset the Incorrect `dconf` Locale Region:

Since the `dconf` database had an incorrect region value,
reset it by running: `dconf reset /system/locale/region`

3. Re-test GNOME Terminal:

After generating the correct locales and resetting the
`dconf` region, GNOME Terminal should now open correctly.

Conclusion

The issue was caused by a mismatch between the locale set in
the system (`en_US.UTF-8`) and a conflicting `region`
setting in `dconf` (`nl_BE.UTF-8`). By generating the
correct locale using `dpkg-reconfigure locales` and
resetting the `region` in `dconf`, the problem was resolved,
allowing GNOME Terminal to open normally.

=== end of AI generated summary ===

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 7:21 PM Bart Martens <bartm@debian.org> wrote:

When the value of /system/locale/region in .config/dconf/user is no
longer in /etc/locale.gen, then gnome-terminal silently fails to open.
The expected behavior is that gnome-terminal still opens. It could use
the locale from /etc/default/locale.

A quick fix/workaround is: dconf reset /system/locale/region

=== start of AI generated summary ===

I think your AI had the order backwards. It would be more helpful to a maintainer with steps for how to reproduce the bug rather than how to
solve it.

I figured out two ways to set the locale:
1. Install dconf-editor and set /system/locale/region to a nonexistent locale Log out and log back in: this is an important step that the AI left out!

2. Open the Settings app (gnome-control-center). Go to the Region &
Language page and change the format to one of the listed locales.
The Settings app will helpfully tell you need to log out for it to go
into effect.
Somehow delete that locale from your system.


What do you think about https://salsa.debian.org/gnome-team/meta-gnome3/-/merge_requests/15 as
a possible solution to this issue for Trixie?

I guess it would still be possible for someone to manually break their
system from the command line but I think it would be nice if people
did not need to use the command line to switch between languages (or
regional formats).

Thank you,
Jeremy Bícha

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 09:46:31PM -0400, Jeremy Bícha wrote:

On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 7:21 PM Bart Martens <bartm@debian.org> wrote:

When the value of /system/locale/region in .config/dconf/user is no
longer in /etc/locale.gen, then gnome-terminal silently fails to open.
The expected behavior is that gnome-terminal still opens. It could use
the locale from /etc/default/locale.

A quick fix/workaround is: dconf reset /system/locale/region

How to reproduce the problem: Use "dpkg-reconfigure locales" for adding a locale, then select that locale in gnome settings, and then use "dpkg-reconfigure locales" for deleting that locale. No need to logout+login.

What do you think about https://salsa.debian.org/gnome-team/meta-gnome3/-/merge_requests/15 as
a possible solution to this issue for Trixie?

The expected behavior is that gnome-terminal still opens, like any other application still opens.

Cheers,

Bart

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Control: forwarded -1 https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-terminal/-/issues/7472

On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 5:35 AM Bart Martens <bartm@debian.org> wrote:

How to reproduce the problem: Use "dpkg-reconfigure locales" for adding a locale, then select that locale in gnome settings, and then use "dpkg-reconfigure locales" for deleting that locale. No need to logout+login.

Thank you for the extra details; however I am unable to duplicate the
issue without logging out and logging back in.

What do you think about https://salsa.debian.org/gnome-team/meta-gnome3/-/merge_requests/15 as
a possible solution to this issue for Trixie?

The expected behavior is that gnome-terminal still opens, like any other application still opens.

I think you're missing my point. Why should someone need to use the
command line to switch to a different language or regional format?

One of the gnome-terminal maintainers proposed a patch a year ago at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-terminal/-/issues/7472 that
appears to fix your specific issue.

Thank you,
Jeremy Bícha

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 06:31:59AM -0400, Jeremy Bícha wrote:

Control: forwarded -1 https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-terminal/-/issues/7472

On Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 5:35 AM Bart Martens <bartm@debian.org> wrote:

What do you think about https://salsa.debian.org/gnome-team/meta-gnome3/-/merge_requests/15 as
a possible solution to this issue for Trixie?

It does not solve the problem. But is an interesting change in itself.

The expected behavior is that gnome-terminal still opens, like any other application still opens.

I think you're missing my point. Why should someone need to use the
command line to switch to a different language or regional format?

Where did you get that? Do you mean a user? Or the sysadmin?

One of the gnome-terminal maintainers proposed a patch a year ago at https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-terminal/-/issues/7472 that
appears to fix your specific issue.

That is about a different issue. But the patch does also solve the issue of this bug report, just tested.

Thank you,
Jeremy Bícha

--

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)