Lubuntu - attract mode freeze at first startup

[implacabilemastino]

Hi,
I'm setting up my mame cab.
I choosed AM among the several front end because it seems to be the smarter.

I set up almost everything, installing from ppa.

The only very strange thing is that at the first launch AM freezes and I have to press alt+tab to open the terminal and kill it.
If I start it again it works perfectly. I tried also to change the layout to verify if the issue was related to it but with the same result.

You understand that it's a mess once I close my laptop in the cab.

I tried looking in the forum for similar issues but most are for windows.

I'm using lubuntu 14.04and AM 2.2.0-3-dirty.


Do you have any idea to solve it?

Regards,
Francesco

Update:

I tried to launch a script:
attract & exit
killall attract
attract

But it stop at first attract screen (pacman layout still and inputs don't work)
A good suggestion could be also about how to write a script that lauch AM twice, but I couldn't generate one that goes after the first attract mode.

Please help me, the cab is finished, I welded an external power button to my laptop etc...this is just the LAST step.

[implacabilemastino]

None of the script I tried works. I tried several configurations similar to:

(attract &> /dev/null &)
sleep 3
killall attract
attract

But it seems to be impossible to overcome the firts stuck of the program. The only thing that I can do is using xkill or ctrl+c from terminal to kill the process.
This is not an option once the pc is inside the cab.

If no ideas I'll switch to another fe.

Just to be clear, the fe is well configured in fact the second time I start it I can play mame, nes, znes roms.

[implacabilemastino]

Whit the following script I get in nohup.out file the following output at the first launch and then at the next launch of the same session.
@ first start

Code: [Select]

Starting Attract-Mode v2.2.0-3-dirty (Linux)
XIO:  fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server ":0"
      after 96 requests (96 known processed) with 0 events remaining.
AL lib: ReleaseALC: 1 device not closed

@ next  starts

Code: [Select]

Starting Attract-Mode v2.2.0-3-dirty (Linux)
Config: /home/fra/.attract/attract.cfg

*** Initializing display: 'mame'
 - Loaded master romlist 'mame' in 0 ms (20 entries kept, 0 discarded)
 - Constructed 2 filters in 0 ms (40 comparisons)
 - Loaded layout: /usr/share/attract/layouts/Attrac-Man/ (layout.nut)

were could be the difference?
I really can't get it.

Please answer

[keilmillerjr]

I can't really help with Linux, but I had the same issue on Mac OS X and it was driving me nuts. Updating from 2.1 to 2.2 resolved the issue some how. I see your on 2.2 already, so I'm stumped. Have you tried replacing the binary? Maybe it somehow got messed up.

[implacabilemastino]

Hi, thank you for replying. I tried with 1.6 but the issue remains. I tried several scripts that try to launch the program twice, but I can't go beyond the first launch...graphic server freeze. And next commands are not executed.
I don't know what to do more

[akafox]

Lubuntu is what I use on one of my systems...running AM 2.2.0-3 dirty..same as you..but on 16.04

14.04? try 16.04 please.. I'll load 14.04 if I can today and see if I have the same problems

give me details on your problem please...

your keyboard still works I notice..you should just be able to press F11 and "force" AM to windowed mode. (F11 is a shortcut key for the linux desktop) that way you can bring up your task manager

You may have to delete your attract.cfg in your home/user/.attract folder and restart am thus building a new attract.cfg. It will not delete your emulator(s) cfg. You will have to "create" them again so AM knows they are there. (Go to configuration menu --> emulators --> choose a system --> rebuild the list.

As for using another front end..well for linux at least AM is the best an easiest..trust me I have tried them all. I'll help you get running..I know how much of a pain it is for penguin lovers lol

[implacabilemastino]

Hi, today I compiled the latest version but the problem remains. Yes the keyboard works out of the program, I can press ctrl+tab to select the termianl and kill the process and run it again.

Finally I found a workaround writng a launch script such as:

Code: [Select]

  xterm -hold -e bash -c 'sleep 5; attract' &
 xterm -hold -e bash -c 'sleep 20; killall attract' &
  xterm -hold -e bash -c 'sleep 25; attract' &   
It's not so elegant and it take time but I can run the front end with the laptop in the cab. This is the only solution I found. If you have ideas to make it work at the first you are welcome!!

[rcampbel3]

I run Ubuntu 14.04 and had some issues with attract from ppa freezing including not supporting video files. I fixed my issue by installing a real ffmpeg update from some other ppa -- don't have it handy at the moment, and then checking out the code from git and building the source.

YMMV, but it's working fine for me on 14.04