Trying to start the NymVPN client under EndeavourOS either results in black app window or crash using Wayland

[snek]

Describe the issue
Trying to start the NymVPN client under EndeavourOS either results in black app window or crash.

Expected behaviour
I expect the client interface to be shown

Stack Traces
Using wayland seeing this error:

Gdk-Message: 07:52:40.174: Error 71 (Protocol error) dispatching to Wayland display.

Forcing GDK backend results in no errors

Steps to Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behaviour, if you're familiar with BDD syntax, please write it in this style:

• Given I am running EndeavourOS using Wayland when I start the nymvpn client from the command line then the application window fails to be shown and the program quits immediately
• Given I am running EndeavourOS using Wayland when I start the nymvpn client from the command line forcing GDM GDK_BACKEND=x11 nym-vpn-app then the application window shows but is empty/blank

Screenshots

Which area of Nym were you using?

• Application: NymVPN client
• OS: EndeavourOS (Linux 6.12.10-arch1-1)
• Version: nym-vpn-app 1.1.0

[doums]

Hi @snek can you try running from the terminal using

WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 GDK_BACKEND=x11 nym-vpn-app

and let me know if it works?

Also can you share the logs you get (if any) when you launch it without any custom env variables, from the terminal?
The app should work on Wayland, out of the box.

[snek]

Hi @doums adding WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 does indeed solve the problem.

Here are the logs when I just start the client without the env vars

2025-02-15T06:04:46.105937Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: app version: 1.3.0
2025-02-15T06:04:46.105946Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: Starting tauri app
2025-02-15T06:04:46.138654Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: app setup
2025-02-15T06:04:46.138661Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: Creating k/v embedded db
2025-02-15T06:04:46.138673Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::fs::path: app data dir: /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app
2025-02-15T06:04:46.138678Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::db: opening db at /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app/db
2025-02-15T06:04:46.160727Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::db: using existing db at /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app/db
2025-02-15T06:04:46.269517Z  WARN set_max_size: nym_vpn_app::window: failed to get current monitor details
2025-02-15T06:04:46.269531Z  INFO nym_vpn_app::fs::path: app config dir: /home/snek/.config/nym-vpn-app
2025-02-15T06:04:46.276372Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: using grpc IPC transport: /run/nym-vpn.sock
2025-02-15T06:04:46.277838Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: starting vpnd health spy
2025-02-15T06:04:46.277844Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: starting vpn tunnel spy
2025-02-15T06:04:46.278095Z  INFO tunnel_state: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: tunnel state Disconnected
2025-02-15T06:04:46.285120Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: vpnd version: 1.3.1
2025-02-15T06:04:46.285129Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: network env: mainnet
2025-02-15T06:04:46.285132Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: updated user agent: UserAgent { application: "NymVPN", version: "1.3.0 (1.3.1)", platform: "linux; Rolling Release; x86_64", git_commit: "484788a (b6e8bafcc8505eee6fd9261bc0d62c086d291620)" }
2025-02-15T06:04:46.285142Z  INFO watch:get_vpnd_status: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: daemon version compatibility check OK serving=Serving vpnd_info=Some(VpndInfo { version: "1.3.1", network: "mainnet" })
2025-02-15T06:04:46.285693Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: vpnd version: 1.3.1
2025-02-15T06:04:46.285701Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: network env: mainnet
2025-02-15T06:04:46.285706Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: updated user agent: UserAgent { application: "NymVPN", version: "1.3.0 (1.3.1)", platform: "linux; Rolling Release; x86_64", git_commit: "484788a (b6e8bafcc8505eee6fd9261bc0d62c086d291620)" }
2025-02-15T06:04:46.506157Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: starting UI
2025-02-15T06:04:46.521420Z  INFO daemon_status:check:get_vpnd_status: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: daemon version compatibility check OK serving=Serving vpnd_info=Some(VpndInfo { version: "1.3.1", network: "mainnet" })
2025-02-15T06:04:46.521466Z  INFO get_tunnel_state:tunnel_state: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: tunnel state Disconnected
2025-02-15T06:04:46.521889Z  INFO is_account_stored: nym_vpn_app::commands::account: account stored: false
2025-02-15T06:04:46.526543Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: show main window
2025-02-15T06:04:46.534887Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: no entry country saved, using default {"name":"Switzerland","code":"CH"}
2025-02-15T06:04:46.534911Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: no exit country saved, using default {"name":"Switzerland","code":"CH"}
2025-02-15T06:04:46.534994Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: network env changed mainnet, clearing cache
Gdk-Message: 07:04:46.593: Error 71 (Protocol error) dispatching to Wayland display.

I saw this error once afterwards as well

** (WebKitWebProcess:98462): ERROR **: 06:56:08.449: WebProcess didn't exit as expected after the UI process connection was closed

[snek]

Seems it's all related to this bug

https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=261874

[doums]

@snek can you confirm running the app with WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 only (not using GDK_BACKEND=x11) works?
Can you confirm you're using an nvidia gpu card?
Can you confirm that /dev/nvidia0 exists on your system?

[snek]

@doums

• I am indeed using an nvidia card (4070 SUPER to be exact)
• /dev/nvidia0 does indeed exist

crw-rw-rw- 1 root root 195, 0 18 feb 07:49 /dev/nvidia0

• If I leave out GDK_BACKEND=X11 the application does start but it's missing styling

Logs with only webkit variable enabled

snek@snek-endeavour ~> WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 nym-vpn-app
2025-02-18T07:22:47.402906Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: app version: 1.3.0
2025-02-18T07:22:47.402916Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: Starting tauri app
2025-02-18T07:22:47.436062Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: app setup
2025-02-18T07:22:47.436069Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: Creating k/v embedded db
2025-02-18T07:22:47.436081Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::fs::path: app data dir: /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app
2025-02-18T07:22:47.436086Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::db: opening db at /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app/db
2025-02-18T07:22:47.452367Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::db: using existing db at /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app/db
2025-02-18T07:22:47.547729Z  WARN set_max_size: nym_vpn_app::window: failed to get current monitor details
2025-02-18T07:22:47.547745Z  INFO nym_vpn_app::fs::path: app config dir: /home/snek/.config/nym-vpn-app
2025-02-18T07:22:47.554881Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: using grpc IPC transport: /run/nym-vpn.sock
2025-02-18T07:22:47.556338Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: starting vpnd health spy
2025-02-18T07:22:47.556347Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: starting vpn tunnel spy
2025-02-18T07:22:47.556572Z  INFO tunnel_state: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: tunnel state Disconnected
2025-02-18T07:22:47.562829Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: vpnd version: 1.3.1
2025-02-18T07:22:47.562837Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: network env: mainnet
2025-02-18T07:22:47.562840Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: updated user agent: UserAgent { application: "NymVPN", version: "1.3.0 (1.3.1)", platform: "linux; Rolling Release; x86_64", git_commit: "484788a (b6e8bafcc8505eee6fd9261bc0d62c086d291620)" }
2025-02-18T07:22:47.563489Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: vpnd version: 1.3.1
2025-02-18T07:22:47.563499Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: network env: mainnet
2025-02-18T07:22:47.563504Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: updated user agent: UserAgent { application: "NymVPN", version: "1.3.0 (1.3.1)", platform: "linux; Rolling Release; x86_64", git_commit: "484788a (b6e8bafcc8505eee6fd9261bc0d62c086d291620)" }
2025-02-18T07:22:47.563515Z  INFO watch:get_vpnd_status: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: daemon version compatibility check OK serving=Serving vpnd_info=Some(VpndInfo { version: "1.3.1", network: "mainnet" })
2025-02-18T07:22:47.678807Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: starting UI
2025-02-18T07:22:47.693483Z  INFO get_tunnel_state:tunnel_state: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: tunnel state Disconnected
2025-02-18T07:22:47.693534Z  INFO daemon_status:check:get_vpnd_status: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: daemon version compatibility check OK serving=Serving vpnd_info=Some(VpndInfo { version: "1.3.1", network: "mainnet" })
2025-02-18T07:22:47.693961Z  INFO is_account_stored: nym_vpn_app::commands::account: account stored: false
2025-02-18T07:22:47.698949Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: show main window
2025-02-18T07:22:47.707203Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: no entry country saved, using default {"name":"Switzerland","code":"CH"}
2025-02-18T07:22:47.707223Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: no exit country saved, using default {"name":"Switzerland","code":"CH"}
2025-02-18T07:22:47.707288Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: network env changed mainnet, clearing cache

Compared to using both variables:

Logs with both variables enabled

snek@snek-endeavour ~ [SIGINT]> WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 GDK_BACKEND=x11 nym-vpn-app
2025-02-18T07:24:26.531257Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: app version: 1.3.0
2025-02-18T07:24:26.531266Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: Starting tauri app
2025-02-18T07:24:26.542987Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: app setup
2025-02-18T07:24:26.543001Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: Creating k/v embedded db
2025-02-18T07:24:26.543016Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::fs::path: app data dir: /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app
2025-02-18T07:24:26.543023Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::db: opening db at /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app/db
2025-02-18T07:24:26.559033Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::db: using existing db at /home/snek/.local/share/nym-vpn-app/db
2025-02-18T07:24:26.643837Z  INFO nym_vpn_app::fs::path: app config dir: /home/snek/.config/nym-vpn-app
2025-02-18T07:24:26.651081Z  INFO new: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: using grpc IPC transport: /run/nym-vpn.sock
2025-02-18T07:24:26.652536Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: starting vpnd health spy
2025-02-18T07:24:26.652543Z  INFO nym_vpn_app: starting vpn tunnel spy
2025-02-18T07:24:26.652775Z  INFO tunnel_state: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: tunnel state Disconnected
2025-02-18T07:24:26.658989Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: vpnd version: 1.3.1
2025-02-18T07:24:26.659001Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: network env: mainnet
2025-02-18T07:24:26.659006Z  INFO update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: updated user agent: UserAgent { application: "NymVPN", version: "1.3.0 (1.3.1)", platform: "linux; Rolling Release; x86_64", git_commit: "484788a (b6e8bafcc8505eee6fd9261bc0d62c086d291620)" }
2025-02-18T07:24:26.659603Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: vpnd version: 1.3.1
2025-02-18T07:24:26.659611Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: network env: mainnet
2025-02-18T07:24:26.659616Z  INFO watch:update_vpnd_info: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: updated user agent: UserAgent { application: "NymVPN", version: "1.3.0 (1.3.1)", platform: "linux; Rolling Release; x86_64", git_commit: "484788a (b6e8bafcc8505eee6fd9261bc0d62c086d291620)" }
2025-02-18T07:24:26.659629Z  INFO watch:get_vpnd_status: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: daemon version compatibility check OK serving=Serving vpnd_info=Some(VpndInfo { version: "1.3.1", network: "mainnet" })
2025-02-18T07:24:26.798489Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: starting UI
2025-02-18T07:24:26.812995Z  INFO get_tunnel_state:tunnel_state: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: tunnel state Disconnected
2025-02-18T07:24:26.813046Z  INFO daemon_status:check:get_vpnd_status: nym_vpn_app::grpc::client: daemon version compatibility check OK serving=Serving vpnd_info=Some(VpndInfo { version: "1.3.1", network: "mainnet" })
2025-02-18T07:24:26.813442Z  INFO is_account_stored: nym_vpn_app::commands::account: account stored: false
2025-02-18T07:24:26.817524Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: show main window
2025-02-18T07:24:26.844698Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: no entry country saved, using default {"name":"Switzerland","code":"CH"}
2025-02-18T07:24:26.844714Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: no exit country saved, using default {"name":"Switzerland","code":"CH"}
2025-02-18T07:24:26.844834Z  INFO js: nym_vpn_app::commands::log: network env changed mainnet, clearing cache

[doums]

Thanks for the feedback. Okay, so far I thought this bug (specific to Nvidia) only affects X.
Indeed, it seems to affect Wayland too.
Which is a bit surprising because some users have reported it's not
see tauri-apps/tauri#9304 (comment) and tauri-apps/tauri#9394

As the root issue in webkit2gtk is not fixed yet, for now the workaround is to set WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 but this can have side effect like performance issues.
For X11, WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 is set in app code automatically (when running on X with an nvidia gpu detected).

Since you are the first user I personally see reporting the issue on Wayland, I would wait before setting this variable for Wayland too, because of the potential negative impacts.
But, if we get more user reports, then I'll enable the fix for Wayland.

For now, you can run the app with WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1. Note, you can set this env variable by overriding the desktop entry /usr/share/applications/nym-vpn.desktop, e.g., copying it under HOME/.local/share/applications/ and set the variable in the Exec's env

Exec=env WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 nym-vpn-app %U

I'll monitor user reports for that

[doums]

If I leave out GDK_BACKEND=X11 the application does start but it's missing styling

Based on your screenshot the style looks as expected. However, the app is running in light mode (as default) for some reason, which is weird because different from when you set the env var. Also in the logs I can see some failures

WARN set_max_size: nym_vpn_app::window: failed to get current monitor details

You could try with WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 WEBKIT_DISABLE_COMPOSITING_MODE=1 (without GDK_BACKEND).

But if this does not fix it, I'm out of a solution, I'm afraid.
Sadly, here we're hitting the edges of the infamously unstable Wayland/Nvidia combo. Perhaps the best for you is indeed using GDK_BACKEND=x11 WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1.