Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

1eth1lambo · 2023-01-28 15:50:37

Hi everyone

I've just installed polybar through the terminal:
sudo apt install polybar

and then I've tried to run it through on the command line. I was expecting the bar to pop up on the top but there is no such file.

I've also tried installing it through the Synaptic Package Manger also, which shows v 3.5.5. I tried running it through the command line again, and get the same result(polybar does not show up on the top part of the screen.)

I've tried logging off and logging back in again. Also have tried rebooting the machine.

I've previously used polybar on my Arch installation without any hiccups. I've also reconstructed and re-used the ./config/polybar/config.ini file too from my Arch install(its the standard config file that was generated), and the system still does not show the polybar.

I'm running Tint2 panel on the bottom, and PLANK on the left hand side on the monitor if that makes any difference.
I have also tried running polybar with PLANK process not running.

rbh · 2023-01-28 23:52:50

1eth1lambo wrote:

and then I've tried to run it through on the command line. I was expecting the bar to pop up

Here, polybar starts ok when command is given in terminal.
What response du you get in the terminal after you start polybar?

I've also tried installing it through the Synaptic Package Manger also,

There is no difference if you install deb package with apt, apt-get, dpkg, aptitude, gdebi, synaptic or gnome-software-center.
If you are unsure of status for a deb package, command: "apt policy [package-name], will enlight you.
Have you grepped for polybar from running processes after you tried to start polybar? (ps -ef | grep polybar)

I've also reconstructed and re-used the ./config/polybar/config.ini file too from my Arch install(its the standard config file that was generated),

Maybe you should test to copy over to ~.. the default config.ini from /etc/polybar/config.ini? If that works, you have som syntax error in your re-used config.ini.

1eth1lambo · 2023-01-29 14:11:15

Hi,
I did a fresh install of BunsenLabs today on a 16GB USB flash drive. And I tried doing another install of polybar on the system.
System was updated and upgraded also.
Here's a screenshot of what you mentioned:

PackRat · 2023-01-29 15:58:35

1eth1lambo wrote:

I've previously used polybar on my Arch installation without any hiccups. I've also reconstructed and re-used the ./config/polybar/config.ini file too from my Arch install(its the standard config file that was generated), and the system still does not show the polybar.

Start polybar from the command line and post any error messages. If there is a synstax error or something specific to your Arch install, polybar will fail.

Was the Arch install on a different computer?

1eth1lambo · 2023-01-29 18:20:24

If you check the screenshot, there doesn't show any errors when I start it from the terminal.

The Arch install was on the same PC. I also use the exact same brand and model of the USB drives(SanDisk Ultra Fit)

The one on the bottom left.

EDIT: I install the Linux OS's using the USB, as I'm use them in a multi-boot on Ventoy.

Last edited by 1eth1lambo (2023-01-29 18:41:22)

PackRat · 2023-01-29 20:28:14

1eth1lambo wrote:

If you check the screenshot, there doesn't show any errors when I start it from the terminal.

Looks like polybar can't find the config.ini file.

Try:

polybar -c path_to_config

rbh · 2023-01-29 21:49:50

Default systemwide config file is /etc/polybar/config.ini.
Personal config file ~/.config/polybar/config.ini has precedence (will not be installed by package).
The program ought to find it.

I asked you t backup ~/.config/polybar/config.ini and copy over /etc/polybar/config.ini and see if you then could run polybar.

It it then starts, there is some syntax error in your old config.ini. Run meld on those files and copy a few lines at a time and try to start polybar.

1eth1lambo · 2023-01-30 18:01:06

That's weird. I would have thought that those directories would have been created during the sudo apt install polybar command.
They were present after I installed it on the Arch USB I was using.
I will have to try that solution you mentioned, copy/make the config.ini from /etc/polybar.

I had a quick check, on the Bunsen install, those directories don't exist.

rbh · 2023-01-30 21:43:46

1eth1lambo wrote:

That's weird. I would have thought that those directories would have been created during the sudo apt install polybar command.

If "/etc/polybar/config.ini" wasn't created during the installation, the installation failed.
If you didn't copy config to ~/.config/polybar/config.ini, where did you save it?

Debians configfile states:

To learn more about how to configure Polybar
go to https://github.com/polybar/polybar

Also, debian man page lists default location for config file...

There is many other packages in Debian, where you have to copy systemwide configfile to $HOME/.. if you are not satisfied with systems default settings.

Debian has some few configfiles in /etc/skel/, that are copied to users home when they are created.
Debian has some more configfiles in /usr/share/bunsen/skel/, that are copied to users home first time they are logging in.
Som applications create configile in $HOME, first time you run them. Others create configile in $HOME if you from gui, change default settings.

PackRat · 2023-01-31 01:10:34

rbh wrote:

If "/etc/polybar/config.ini" wasn't created during the installation, the installation failed.
If you didn't copy config to ~/.config/polybar/config.ini, where did you save it?

Not necessarily. It's a bug or error in the documentation. Neither Void, nor Arch create the default config.ini in he documented locations.

On an Arch system, the default config.ini is created in /usr/share/doc/polybar/

known issue - https://www.reddit.com/r/Polybar/commen … dont_have/

You can check to see if Debian is placing it there. Void doesn't create it at all.

Edit - found this on the polybar reddit page. Debian comes with dpkg-query

dpkg-query -L polibar

lists all the installed files.

or try:

sudo find / -name config.ini

Void has it installed in /usr/share/examples/polybar/config.ini

Last edited by PackRat (2023-01-31 01:18:45)

rbh · 2023-01-31 18:27:06

PackRat wrote:

It's a bug or error in the documentation. Neither Void, nor Arch create the default config.ini in he documented locations.
On an Arch system, the default config.ini is created in /usr/share/doc/polybar/

Ah, I see:
I installed polybar on one laptop with BL/Debian Buster around a year ago. Probably regular repo. Did not use it after testing. It was upgraded to Bookworm some months ago. It has now polybar version 3.6.3-1 and configiles:
/usr/share/doc/polybar/examples/config.ini
/etc/polybar/config.ini

Today, I installed polybar in an ArchLinux VM. It is version 3.6.3-3 and has same configfiles as above.

Also installed on an BL/Debian Buster, from standard repo, version 3.5.5-1.
Got /usr/share/doc/polybar/config.

Upgraded to polybar/backports, version 3.6.3-1~bpo11+1.
Got both configfiles in /usr and /etc.

Void has it installed in /usr/share/examples/polybar/config.ini

Void has version 3.6.3 of polybar. Ought to provide configfile in /etc...

Directory /usr/share/doc/, contains documentation. There is other packages whom have example configfile there and working confifile in /etc/*

1eth1lambo · 2023-02-14 07:51:48

Update: I kind of gave up on using polybar.
I ended up using custom conky scripts to get the information that I needed to display at 'quick glance'. And I managed to get RSS feeds to show up on desktop so more than happy with that. Can't seem to delete this thread, not sure if mods want to keep it open.

johnraff · 2023-02-14 08:11:35

In general, policy is not to delete threads.
There might be information here that could help someone else.

#1 2023-01-28 15:50:37

Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#2 2023-01-28 23:52:50

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#3 2023-01-29 14:11:15

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#4 2023-01-29 15:58:35

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#5 2023-01-29 18:20:24

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#6 2023-01-29 20:28:14

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#7 2023-01-29 21:49:50

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#8 2023-01-30 18:01:06

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#9 2023-01-30 21:43:46

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#10 2023-01-31 01:10:34

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#11 2023-01-31 18:27:06

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#12 2023-02-14 07:51:48

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

#13 2023-02-14 08:11:35

Re: Polybar 3.5.5 not showing up on top of screen

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