Kate won't start from Dolphin as root

[perspectoff]

One of my most common tasks is editing configuration files which have root (superuser) privileges.

In all previous versions, I could start Dolphin with root (superuser) privileges using

kdesudo dolphin or kdesu dolphin

and then "Open with Kate..." to edit any file with root (superuser) privileges.

However, in Precise when I do this, the error

KDEInit could not launch '/usr/bin/kate'

appears.

This only happens in Dolphin; I am able to start kate as the superuser from the command-line:

kdesudo kate or sudo kate

and edit files without problems.

Any solutions?

[Snowhog]

DON'T launch GUI applications using sudo. Use kdesudo application_name instead.

That said however, start Dolphin and click on Settings > Configure Dolphin... > Services > Download New Services... and click on Rating (Order by: ) then click on Rootactions Servicemenu and click on Install.

This will add a Root actions service menu to Dolphin. This is one of the first things I install after installing a fresh Kubuntu. Very useful addition.

[bra|10n]

I sometimes get the same message, KDEInit could not launch '/usr/bin/kate', but not often...
kdesu kate <path-to-file-name> always works for me.

[perspectoff]

I sometimes get the same message, KDEInit could not launch '/usr/bin/kate', but not often...
kdesu kate <path-to-file-name> always works for me.

That's not a very good solution. That means I would have to type the entire path of the filename by hand every time. Kinda defeats the purpose of having a file manager...

[perspectoff]

[QUOTE=Snowhog;297427]DON'T launch GUI applications using sudo. Use kdesudo application_name instead.


I've used both kdesudo dolphin, kdesu dolphin, and sudo dolphin rather interchangeably for a long time (over several versions of Kubuntu) without any noticeable problems. Of course, I can't use sudo (and must use kdesudo or kdesu) from a menu item.

Besides, my problem occurs when launching Dolphin using kdesudo (or using kdesu from a menu item) anyway, and only in Precise -- not in Oneiric.

I did install the Root Actions Servicemenu in Dolphin as suggested, and that is working (thanks). I installed ruby first (per the module instructions).

sudo apt-get install ruby

The service menu only appears in Dolphin after a complete reboot. Also, I had to install the Root Actions Servicemenu separately in the kdesudo dolphin instance (the root (superuser) instance) and for the regular dolphin instance.

Installing the Root Actions Servicemenu in the regular dolphin instance only is insufficient because many folders are only accessible with root privileges (so I must use the kdesudo dolphin instance to access them).

Wow, this took a lot of effort to fix something that used to work fine. There's always a bit of reinventing the wheel with every new version, I guess...

[Snowhog]

DON'T launch GUI applications using sudo. Use kdesudo application_name instead.

That's nonsense.

There is a 'risk' in running graphical applications launched using sudo. See Running Sudo Graphically by psycho cat.

[perspectoff]

There is a 'risk' in running graphical applications launched using sudo. See Running Sudo Graphically by psycho cat.

So where is the .ICEauthority in Kubuntu that the Psychocats link references? Is that the same as the .Xauthority ?

[kubicle]

KDEInit could not launch '/usr/bin/kate'

I've seen this error using the legacy kdesu (/usr/lib/kde4/libexec/kdesu-distrib/kdesu) launching kate from dolphin works if you use kdesudo instead of kdesu.

On that note, on newer kubuntu releases, kdesu (/usr/bin/kdesu) either does not exist or is a symlink to kdesudo (through /etc/alternatives), is your system setup differently?

[perspectoff]

I've seen this error using the legacy kdesu (/usr/lib/kde4/libexec/kdesu-distrib/kdesu) launching kate from dolphin works if you use kdesudo instead of kdesu.

On that note, on newer kubuntu releases, kdesu (/usr/bin/kdesu) either does not exist or is a symlink to kdesudo (through /etc/alternatives), is your system setup differently?

No, the error happens no matter whether I launch using kdesudo dolphin or kdesu dolphin.

Yes, I note kdesudo in /usr/bin but I can't find kdesu (it's not in /usr/bin).

I'm using a brand new installation of 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin which I downloaded and installed yesterday. It has KDE 4.8.2.

[kubicle]

No, the error happens no matter whether I launch using kdesudo dolphin or kdesu dolphin.

Yes, I note kdesudo in /usr/bin but I can't find kdesu (it's not in /usr/bin).

I'm using a brand new installation of 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin which I downloaded and installed yesterday. It has KDE 4.8.2.

I'm on quantal, but it shouldn't be much different from precise yet, what do you get with:
'which kdesu'
'which kdesudo'

[perspectoff]

I'm on quantal, but it shouldn't be much different from precise yet, what do you get with:
'which kdesu'
'which kdesudo'

which kdesu

returns no output (from my default bash), whereas

which kdesudo returns

/usr/bin/kdesudo

Wait... I found it where you mentioned: in /usr/lib/kde4/libexec

It is a symlink to /etc/alternatives/kdesu which in turn is a symlink to /usr/bin/kdesudo. So you are correct: kdesu is now essentially just a symlink to kdesudo.

kdesu works when placed in a menu item (since I assume the KDE menu envrionment includes the /usr/lib/kde4/libexec in its PATH) but does not work from the command line (since I don't think the PATH used by bash includes /usr/lib/kde4/libexec).

In a way I think this is a problem in Kubuntu -- having separate PATHS for the command-line environment and for the graphical environment. I like to script lots of things for the command-line environment, but if they are happening to files in different PATHS, well, that can be a problem.

BTW, you're the kubicle who wrote the Root Actions Servicemenu ? Thanks for that...

[Snowhog]

I just can't find where it is located. I suspect there is a symlink somewhere, as you mentioned...

It's linked to /usr/bin/kdesudo, and that link is in /etc/alternatives:

ls -la /etc/alternatives/kdesu

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 16 Mar 3 13:50 kdesu -> /usr/bin/kdesudo

[zzzleepy]

DON'T launch GUI applications using sudo. Use kdesudo application_name instead.

That said however, start Dolphin and click on Settings > Configure Dolphin... > Services > Download New Services... and click on Rating (Order by: ) then click on Rootactions Servicemenu and click on Install.

This will add a Root actions service menu to Dolphin. This is one of the first things I install after installing a fresh Kubuntu. Very useful addition.

Thanks for the tip! Very useful indeed...

[kubicle]

It's linked to /usr/bin/kdesudo, and that link is in /etc/alternatives:

ls -la /etc/alternatives/kdesu

True, but /etc/alternatives is commonly not in $PATH, so I'm not exactly sure how perspectoff can use 'kdesu', On my end using kdesu results in "command not found"

@perspectoff:
Now I tried it again with 'kdesudo dolphin' and got the error when launching kate...and I'm positive it worked 15 minutes ago when I tried it before my earlier posts...so there is something fishy there. I'm leaning towards a dbus issue, but not sure yet.

EDIT:

BTW, you're the kubicle who wrote the Root Actions Servicemenu ? Thanks for that...

I am, thanks for the thanks

[Snowhog]

True, but /etc/alternatives is commonly not in $PATH, so I'm not exactly sure how perspectoff can use 'kdesu', On my end using kdesu results in "command not found"

Same here. One would have to assume that he either has kdesudo aliased as kdesu or that he has specified the use of kdesu via update-alternatives.