Error Codes when Launching Programs from Konsole

[prodonjs]

I'm trying to make myself use the Konsole for as much as possible now that I'm starting to become more familiar with it. It's been very difficult, but I'm trying to break myself from that reliance on the GUI that Windows users often have.

Anyways though, when I try to start a program from the command line, this is what I get.
After executing: kate

X Error: BadDevice, invalid or uninitialized input device 168
Major opcode: 145
Minor opcode: 3
Resource id: 0x0
Failed to open device
X Error: BadDevice, invalid or uninitialized input device 168
Major opcode: 145
Minor opcode: 3
Resource id: 0x0
Failed to open device
ScimInputContextPlugin()
QObject::disconnect: Unexpected null parameter
QFile:pen: No file name specified
~ScimInputContextPlugin()

But then the program starts normally and runs perfectly fine. This happens no matter what program I try to run. They all give this same error code, but they start and work normally. I suppose if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I wondered what the reason behind this could be.

[cantab]

Re: Error Codes when Launching Programs from Konsole

I don't know either, but just ignore it. I _suspect_ some are because Ubuntu puts lines in /etc/X11/xorg.conf about input devices such as tablets that aren't connected all the time but you might plug in at some point. I wouldn't advise messing around with aforementioned file just to get rid of these warnings.

One case where you'll get errors that are actually important is if you try

sudo gui_program

in a terminal. Use

kdesu gui_program

instead.

Incidentally, starting Kate, or any other GUI app, from the console is both of questionable value and not really getting away from the GUI at all. You should familiarise yourself with the basic command set and at least one text editor.

Personally, most work or play I do in the GUI, but a lot of system admin and maintenance I do from the command line.

[eriefisher]

Re: Error Codes when Launching Programs from Konsole

If your launching a gui program you should use the run command.

K>>Run Command or

right click>>Run Command

You can run as a user or click option to run as a different user(root).

[prodonjs]

Re: Error Codes when Launching Programs from Konsole

Yeah I realize that launching a simple app like Kate isn't really what the command line is for. I was reading through some of the information on LinuxCommand.com and trying to learn as much as I can about the shell. I was proud of myself today for moving the contents of a folder into another folder without using any standard copy/paste type stuff. Doing it from the command line was actually easier and a little bit more precise when I really examined what it is I was trying to do.

On that tutorial though, it mentions being able to use the su command to become the temporary superuser. I've used sudo often in conjunction with another program to run it with the superuser privilages, but if I just try to use su, or kdesu, it doesn't let me login. Is that a security feature built into the system to make sure you specify what program you want to run as a superuser, and not just login as the superuser without any intent?

If I try su, it prompts for my password but then when I enter it correctly, it tells me that authentication failed. Again, I can use sudo to perform a specific operation, but I wondered if Kubuntu prevents me from just logging in as the superuser arbitrarily.

[eriefisher]

Re: Error Codes when Launching Programs from Konsole

It' basically a security feature.

Try sudo su and then password. This will give you a root Konsole/terminal.

To close it you need to type exit twice.

[cantab]

Re: Error Codes when Launching Programs from Konsole

EDIT: Or Alt+F2 for the Run dialogue. Sorry for any confusion.

However, sometimes launching from a terminal is useful. If it's playing up and you need to view diagnostic messages for example. Or if you're sshed into a remote machine.

One other thing I forgot; when launching gui programs from the command line, end with an & character to background it and free the shell for further use. If you forget, ctrl-Z in the shell will suspend the running program (be it gui or cli), and it will be assigned a job number, starting from 1. 'jobs' will list the jobs, 'bg #' will run it in the background, and 'fg #' brings it to the foreground (e.g. for a cli app that needs input)

And once you understand all that, check out dcop. But bear in mind that's an outgoing technology. You can do fun things with it though.

With regard to becoming root; Ubuntu is a bit weird in that the root account is locked; you can't login or su to it directly. However, the command 'sudo' will run a command as root while prompting for your USER password. (If that sounds insecure; the behaviour is configurable to restrict to certain users or commands only). Sudo su or sudo -i will get you an interactive shell; only do that if you're doing a lot of stuff as root.

[prodonjs]

Re: Error Codes when Launching Programs from Konsole

I see, thanks a ton guys. This is really a great help and it is definitely what I need to start feeling more comfortable with this great OS.