BUG: FL Open with Flickering & Constant CPU usage even when doing nothing

[fiso64]

Checks

• I have checked that this issue has not already been reported.

• I am using the latest version of Flow Launcher.

Problem Description

Flow Launcher constantly uses about 0.5% of the CPU even when hidden and doing nothing. There is also almost constant I/O.

See also #128. As already stated there, it's not a lot, but it's weird that there is any activity at all while it's inactive.

To Reproduce

1. Run flow launcher
2. Close the search bar
3. Observe the cpu usage in sysinternals process monitor.

Screenshots

No response

Flow Launcher Version

1.19.5

Windows Build Number

10.0.19044.5487

Error Log

There are no errors in the error log.

[deefrawley]

Flow is showing 0% CPU and no IO when hidden on my system. What plugins have you installed? Can you run Process Explorer and show the performance graph over a few minutes?

[fiso64]

After restarting the application for the third time, I can no longer reproduce it. I also remember that while it was doing that IO and using the cpu, every time I would open the search bar with the shortcut it would also flicker while opening, which does not happen now.

I don't have any additional plugins.

[Jack251970]

I think it can relate to Window CPU usage algorithm since #128 seems to provide a fix already.

[Jack251970]

If you are able to reproduce this issue - particularly the flickering behavior when opening the search bar with the shortcut, please let us know so we can investigate further.

[fiso64]

@Jack251970 I haven't been able to reproduce the CPU usage issue, but the startup flicker happened again. Video example where I open it multiple times:

20250315_223100.mp4

Again, no errors appear in the logs, and I don't know how to reproduce this. The shortcut I use is the default alt+space, and I don't have any additional plugins installed.

[Jack251970]

@Jack251970 I haven't been able to reproduce the CPU usage issue, but the startup flicker happened again. Video example where I open it multiple times:

20250315_223100.mp4

Again, no errors appear in the logs, and I don't know how to reproduce this. The shortcut I use is the default alt+space, and I don't have any additional plugins installed.

Thanks for your report! Could you please install prerelease version and enable Debug log level in the settings about page? This can help FL output more log info. https://github.com/Flow-Launcher/Prereleases/releases/tag/v1.19.5.10078

[Jack251970]

@fiso64 We are planning to remove the window movement animation in #3271. And it will be fixed in it.

[Jack251970]

Could you please check this prerelease version to check if this issue is fixed?

https://ci.appveyor.com/project/JohnTheGr8/flow-launcher/builds/51704934/artifacts

[fiso64]

Trying it now. I will report back if I encounter this problem again.
I'm not sure if it installed correctly though. It still says 1.19.5 on the about page and in the details view in file explorer, not 1.19.5.10117. While installing there was only a window that appeared for a bit on my task bar and quickly closed.
Edit: Nevermind, I have confirmed that it is another version because the animation is gone.

[Jack251970]

Trying it now. I will report back if I encounter this problem again.
I'm not sure if it installed correctly though. It still says 1.19.5 on the about page and in the details view in file explorer, not 1.19.5.10117. While installing there was only a window that appeared for a bit on my task bar and quickly closed.
Edit: Nevermind, I have confirmed that it is another version because the animation is gone.

hi, this is the updated installer: https://ci.appveyor.com/project/JohnTheGr8/flow-launcher/builds/51705647.

And 1.19.5 is right because FL does not support mini version for now.

[Jack251970]

And this is the version with redesigned animation.

[fiso64]

The same flicker issue happens in the new version, but now for the clock and search icon instead of the entire search bar. No log entries are written.

20250316_183656.mp4