Startup: Emulator switches to blank window after startup

[KosiehBarter]

Github issues should be used for bugs and feature requests. Use Stack Overflow for general "how-to" questions.

Version

4.15.1-linux

Describe the bug

White blank window with no input elements (buttons, input fields) after random set of time (mostly 15-30 seconds) after program startup.

To Reproduce

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Have Arch Linux distro installed.
2. Set the BotFramework-Emulator-4.15.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage binary as executable either graphically or chmod +x.
3. Execute the BotFramework-Emulator-4.15.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage binary either via terminal or double-click
4. Wait for the Emulator to load completelly
5. Wait up to 30 seconds for the white blank screen to occur

Expected behavior

Bot Framework Emulator is expected to have input fields fully loaded

Screenshots

Additional context

uname -ar
Linux b550msl 6.11.4-arch2-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Sun, 20 Oct 2024 18:20:12 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Desktop Environment: MATE
Distribution: Arch Linux

I am aware of:

• https://stackoverflow.com/search?q=%5Bbotframework%5D+blank&s=346a1f98-071e-4457-8340-1997ae577376

Start-up log when running via command line:

./BotFramework-Emulator-4.15.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage
(node:3066) [DEP0111] DeprecationWarning: Access to process.binding('http_parser') is deprecated.
(Use @bfemulatormain --trace-deprecation ... to show where the warning was created)
[3066:1024/103712.261586:ERROR:object_proxy.cc(590)] Failed to call method: org.freedesktop.portal.Settings.Read: object_path= /org/freedesktop/portal/desktop: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name is not activatable
libva error: vaGetDriverNames() failed with unknown libva error
Error reading file /home/USER/.config/@bfemulator/main/botframework-emulator/bots.json: Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, stat '/home/USER/.config/@bfemulator/main/botframework-emulator/bots.json'
Removing extension JSON
Adding extension JSON
Removing extension LUIS
Adding extension LUIS
Removing extension QNAMaker
Adding extension QNAMaker
Server listens on port 41725
Web Socket host server listening on 38651...

[rido-min]

Hi @KosiehBarter

Thanks for reporting this issue. Can you confirm this issue does not repro in the previous version?

From the start-up log, this seems an electron issue in ArchLinux, related to desktop notifications, not sure if this article might help https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Desktop_notifications#Standalone

[KosiehBarter]

I was using previous version of the Emulator and it was working.
I have also realized, that I have not added my version of DE I use. Will update the message.

EDIT:
Older version had troubles with:
4959:1024/222646.872184:FATAL:gpu_data_manager_impl_private.cc(445)] GPU process isn't usable. Goodbye

Adding a --no-sandbox in commandline has started the older version, newer version has the same bug as without the argument.

[ydalton]

I can reproduce this issue with the latest version of the Emulator, version 4.15.1. Within 8 seconds I get the blank screen. This seems to be a regression, I used version 4.8.0 and I did not have any issue. I am running Gentoo Linux with KDE Plasma desktop. Here are the logs, first from version 4.15.1:

(node:11444) [DEP0111] DeprecationWarning: Access to process.binding('http_parser') is deprecated.
(Use `@bfemulatormain --trace-deprecation ...` to show where the warning was created)
Error reading file /home/xxxx/.config/@bfemulator/main/botframework-emulator/bots.json: Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, stat '/home/xxxx/.config/@bfemulator/main/botframework-emulator/bots.json'
Removing extension JSON
Adding extension JSON
Removing extension LUIS
Adding extension LUIS
Removing extension QNAMaker
Adding extension QNAMaker
Server listens on port 45435
[11477:1118/150844.983193:ERROR:gl_surface_presentation_helper.cc(260)] GetVSyncParametersIfAvailable() failed for 1 times!
Web Socket host server listening on 46713...
[11477:1118/150847.220100:ERROR:gl_surface_presentation_helper.cc(260)] GetVSyncParametersIfAvailable() failed for 2 times!
[11477:1118/150854.488326:ERROR:gl_surface_presentation_helper.cc(260)] GetVSyncParametersIfAvailable() failed for 3 times!
Error sending from webFrameMain:  Error: Render frame was disposed before WebFrameMain could be accessed
    at WebFrameMain.send (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:94495)
    at WebContents.send (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:79721)
    at Object.dispatch (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/state/middleware/forwardToRenderer.js:56:59)
    at dispatch (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/state/store.js:101:34)
    at BrowserWindow.<anonymous> (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/main.js:296:31)
    at BrowserWindow.emit (node:events:513:28)
Error sending from webFrameMain:  Error: Render frame was disposed before WebFrameMain could be accessed
    at WebFrameMain.send (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:94495)
    at WebContents.send (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:79721)
    at Object.dispatch (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/state/middleware/forwardToRenderer.js:56:59)
    at dispatch (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/state/store.js:101:34)
    at BrowserWindow.<anonymous> (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/main.js:296:31)
    at BrowserWindow.emit (node:events:513:28)
Error sending from webFrameMain:  Error: Render frame was disposed before WebFrameMain could be accessed
    at WebFrameMain.send (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:94495)
    at WebContents.send (node:electron/js2c/browser_init:2:79721)
    at Object.dispatch (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/state/middleware/forwardToRenderer.js:56:59)
    at dispatch (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/state/store.js:101:34)
    at BrowserWindow.<anonymous> (/tmp/.mount_BotFraiqi0O8/resources/app.asar/app/server/main.js:296:31)
    at BrowserWindow.emit (node:events:513:28)

And from version 4.8.0:

zenity, kdialog, Xdialog missing. Skipping /tmp/.mount_BotFraCCadHD/AppRun.
Error reading file /home/xxxx/.config/@bfemulator/main/botframework-emulator/bots.json: Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, stat '/home/xxxx/.config/@bfemulator/main/botframework-emulator/bots.json'
Removing extension JSON
Adding extension JSON
Removing extension LUIS
Adding extension LUIS
Removing extension QNAMaker
Adding extension QNAMaker
Web Socket host server listening on 36307...

From these logs, it looks like an Electron error.

[sepatel]

Confirmed that I'm getting the same error under Linux Mint. The previous version works fine (4.14.1) but the latest (4.15.1) does not.

Roughly about a 3 to 4 second screentime before it goes blank. Indeed appears to be an electron error.

[KeithHanson]

Experiencing this today on version 4.15.1

[rbnswartz]

Same issue on 4.15.1 on Ubuntu 24.04

[rido-min]

I downloaded the artifacts from this run

And the app opens in Ubuntu 24.04.2

Can you check if are there any logs with some details? (View->Toggle Developer Tools)

[patrickjaja]

workaround:

• the version before is still working https://github.com/microsoft/BotFramework-Emulator/releases/tag/v4.14.1