How can I stop gvim from crashing when opening a file?

Question

I am on Ubuntu Desktop 16.04 LTS and gvim (vim with graphical user interface) keeps crashing on me when I try to open any file using the GUI/menu. However, I was able to open a file from the terminal, e.g:

user@computer:~$ vim -g ./path/to/file

The following error messages are printed to the terminal if I launch gvim from the terminal using vim -g and then cause the crash by trying to open a file via the GUI/menu bar:

(gvim:20175): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_ptr_array_insert: assertion 'index_ <= (gint)rarray->len' failed

** (gvim:20175): CRITICAL **: unity_gtk_menu_shell_get_item: assertion '0 <= index && index < items->len' failed

** (gvim:20175): CRITICAL **: unity_gtk_menu_item_get_child_shell: assertion 'UNITY_GTK_IS_MENU_ITEM (item)' failed

** (gvim:20175): CRITICAL **: unity_gtk_menu_shell_get_item: assertion '0 <= index && index < items->len' failed

** (gvim:20175): CRITICAL **: unity_gtk_menu_item_get_label: assertion 'UNITY_GTK_IS_MENU_ITEM (item)' failed

** (gvim:20175): CRITICAL **: unity_gtk_menu_item_get_icon: assertion 'UNITY_GTK_IS_MENU_ITEM (item)' failed
Vim: Caught deadly signal SEGV
Vim: Finished.

These are the vim-related packages I have installed:

user@computer:~$ apt list --installed | grep vim

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

vim-common/xenial-updates,now 2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1 amd64 [installed]
vim-gtk3/xenial-updates,now 2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1 amd64 [installed]
vim-gui-common/xenial-updates,xenial-updates,now 2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1 all [installed,automatic]
vim-runtime/xenial-updates,xenial-updates,now 2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1 all [installed,automatic]
vim-tiny/xenial-updates,now 2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1 amd64 [installed]

Tejas Shetty · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-17 06:44:30Z

11

Ubuntu 17.04

Things broke when I upgraded, and I solved it with:

sudo apt-get remove vim-gtk3
sudo apt-get install vim-gtk

vim-gnome mentioned in Adam P's answer says it points to vim-gtk3, so nothing would change.

vim-gtk however says it uses gtk 2, and worked.

edited Jul 17, 2019 at 6:44

Tejas Shetty

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answered Apr 14, 2017 at 14:11

Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com

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Adam P · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-25 21:26:57Z

I was able to stop the crashing (so far) by uninstalling the vim-gtk3 package and installing the vim-gnome package.

Uninstall vim-gtk3:

user@computer:~$ sudo apt remove vim-gtk3
[sudo] password for user: 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-4.4.0-34 linux-headers-4.4.0-34-generic
  linux-image-4.4.0-34-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-34-generic
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  vim-gtk3
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 18 not upgraded.
After this operation, 2,948 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] 
(Reading database ... 336958 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing vim-gtk3 (2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1) ...
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.tiny to provide /usr/bin/vi (vi) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.tiny to provide /usr/bin/view (view) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.tiny to provide /usr/bin/ex (ex) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /bin/nano to provide /usr/bin/editor (editor) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.tiny to provide /usr/bin/rview (rview) in auto mode

Install vim-gnome:

user@computer:~$ sudo apt install vim-gnome
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-4.4.0-34 linux-headers-4.4.0-34-generic linux-image-4.4.0-34-generic
  linux-image-extra-4.4.0-34-generic
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following additional packages will be installed:
  libbonoboui2-0 libbonoboui2-common libgnome2-0 libgnome2-bin libgnomeui-0 libgnomeui-common
Suggested packages:
  cscope vim-doc fonts-dejavu
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  libbonoboui2-0 libbonoboui2-common libgnome2-0 libgnome2-bin libgnomeui-0 libgnomeui-common
  vim-gnome
0 upgraded, 7 newly installed, 0 to remove and 18 not upgraded.
Need to get 1,619 kB of archives.
After this operation, 5,536 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] 
Get:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 libgnome2-bin amd64 2.32.1-5ubuntu1 [5,040 B]
Get:2 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 libgnome2-0 amd64 2.32.1-5ubuntu1 [1,656 B]
Get:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 libbonoboui2-common all 2.24.5-3ubuntu1 [11.9 kB]
Get:4 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 libbonoboui2-0 amd64 2.24.5-3ubuntu1 [154 kB]
Get:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 libgnomeui-common all 2.24.5-3.1 [16.3 kB]
Get:6 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 libgnomeui-0 amd64 2.24.5-3.1 [207 kB]
Get:7 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 vim-gnome amd64 2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1 [1,223 kB]
Fetched 1,619 kB in 0s (3,435 kB/s)  
Selecting previously unselected package libgnome2-bin.
(Reading database ... 336954 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libgnome2-bin_2.32.1-5ubuntu1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libgnome2-bin (2.32.1-5ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libgnome2-0:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../libgnome2-0_2.32.1-5ubuntu1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libgnome2-0:amd64 (2.32.1-5ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libbonoboui2-common.
Preparing to unpack .../libbonoboui2-common_2.24.5-3ubuntu1_all.deb ...
Unpacking libbonoboui2-common (2.24.5-3ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libbonoboui2-0:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../libbonoboui2-0_2.24.5-3ubuntu1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libbonoboui2-0:amd64 (2.24.5-3ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libgnomeui-common.
Preparing to unpack .../libgnomeui-common_2.24.5-3.1_all.deb ...
Unpacking libgnomeui-common (2.24.5-3.1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libgnomeui-0:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../libgnomeui-0_2.24.5-3.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libgnomeui-0:amd64 (2.24.5-3.1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package vim-gnome.
Preparing to unpack .../vim-gnome_2%3a7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking vim-gnome (2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.23-0ubuntu3) ...
Setting up libgnome2-bin (2.32.1-5ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libgnome2-0:amd64 (2.32.1-5ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libbonoboui2-common (2.24.5-3ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libbonoboui2-0:amd64 (2.24.5-3ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libgnomeui-common (2.24.5-3.1) ...
Setting up libgnomeui-0:amd64 (2.24.5-3.1) ...
Setting up vim-gnome (2:7.4.1689-3ubuntu1.1) ...
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/vim (vim) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/vimdiff (vimdiff) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/rvim (rvim) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/rview (rview) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/vi (vi) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/view (view) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/ex (ex) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/editor (editor) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/gvim (gvim) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/gview (gview) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/rgview (rgview) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/rgvim (rgvim) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/evim (evim) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/eview (eview) in auto mode
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/vim.gnome to provide /usr/bin/gvimdiff (gvimdiff) in auto mode
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.23-0ubuntu3) ...

As of 17.04, this will no longer work, as vim-gnome is now a transitional package to vim-gtk3. See the answer by Ciro Santilli for an updated workaround. Als see bug bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vim/+bug/1650666 — Confusion, Apr 23, 2017 at 13:26
Also just ran into this issue on 17.04 (zesty) gvim 8.0; uninstalling vim-gtk3 (which uninstalls vim-gnome), and installing vim-gtk fixed it for now, which I found from this bug bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vim/+bug/1611363 — michael, Sep 25, 2017 at 14:41

Eliah Kagan · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-31 06:03:14Z

2

For my case, I firstly removed installed gvim by:

sudo apt-get remove --auto-remove vim-gtk3

Then I installed gvim with:

sudo apt install vim-gtk3-py2

By the way, I am using Vim8 from:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonathonf/vim

edited Dec 31, 2016 at 6:03

Eliah Kagan

118k56 gold badges321 silver badges501 bronze badges

answered Dec 31, 2016 at 5:45

suns

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