Desktop Environment (if applicable):
Example: GNOME, KDE Plasma,
Problem Description:
Experiencing horrific troubles due to the Wayland beta, I did
``sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop plasma-session-x11```
…in an attempt to get x11 back.
I hoped to be able to switch between gnome and KDE, but application configs, keystore and other things are not automatically properly shared.
Doing that command made a bastard of a desktop, with some fonts/icons/apps from KDE when logging into Ubuntu.
How can I undo this?
Also: Wayland is nowhere near ready for use, not evn being able to restore window-positions is a sad level of beta.
KiCad has many issues with it, many other programs show GUI artefacts too.
What are my options? - can I safely downgrade to 25.04 ? - will 26.04 fail to provide x11 too? / should I believe Wayland will get fixed/developed upgraded in the coming months - (or are we stuck with the current mess until 26.04?)
I could revert to Ubuntu 24.04 - but will 26.04 remove x11 too? - if not, I could maybe hold out for a while.
Due to other other development and nice features I’d like not to get stuck with 24.04 for the next x-years.
This is why I am trying to decide how to proceed.
How painful will reverting to 24.04 be ? - a fresh install, then restore most of .config and so on, or can I somehow downgrade 25.10 while keeping most config?
KiCad will not join the “modern” wayland until Wayland becomes at least semi-mature.
Not being able to place/restore window positions on it is borderline ridiculous.
KiCad uses many nice features, like dragging window-to-window, items between windows and such - things that simply do not exist yet on Wayland.
I can’t hold my breath for Wayland to evolve if they still have not even seen the use for restoring window-placement since 2008 - it is simply many years behind in functionality.
Then you have “simple” apps like PrusaSlicer (in terms of what they ask for), if window is resized, things go bad:
When there are compatibility issues with basic things like resizing a window, and restoring a window position is not possible, that’s quite telling about it’s state.
Yes, 24.04 may be the solution to this mess, or maybe I get to still enjoy more of the new stuff without breaking things with KDE or xfce.
It’s sad. I’ve been with Ubuntu since the start and 4.10
I am not sure, but I think that some of the Ubuntu family flavours will stay with x11 for the next long time support version, 26.04 LTS. For example, we can ask the developers of Lubuntu and Xubuntu and Ubuntu MATE, who are making flavours suitable for older and/or weaker hardware, and I think we can get answers soon.
Edit:
See this link, which I think is telling us that Xubuntu 26.04 LTS will still use x11.
See this link, which I think is telling us that Ubuntu MATE 26.04 LTS will still use x11.
Wayland is already mature enough to be the default in Ubuntu 24.04.
Together with Fedora, Debian, Manjaro (Gnome), RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi OS
Is it not incumbent for KiCad to adapt and, eventually, be included in the Ubuntu repositories?
As a “neutral” party (an End-User, not a developper) seeing that comment, I am a bit shocked that it completely ignores the “valid experiential” critique and feedback regarding the weaknesses/failures of Wayland to fully address the needs of the marketplace that it is attempting to supplant!
Again, as a neutral party, with Canonical/Ubuntu being the middleman between Wayland and the likes of KiCAD, it behooves Canonical/Ubuntu to
maybe work at clarifying/detailing where the market gaps in Wayland API pose categorical roadblocks for Applications that are expected to migrate, and
if I could be so bold as to say so, offer specific recommendations (i.e. methods/mechanisms/technology/coding) to each of Wayland API specifications and X-Window API “retirees”, on how to bridge or circumvent the chasm that prevents the desired adaptation which, I am sure, they want to pursue but for which they individually cannot spare the resources which are otherwise committed to serving the Customer-bases directly.
The case could surely be established that by facilitating that migration, it would free up other Canonical/Ubuntu resources to reduce its level of ongoing support for X-Windows based technologies wherever they may currently be integrated into the Ubuntu Linux ecosphere, if the X-Window overlay integration into Wayland can be done properly.
The support request part of this topic (the main element – it’s in the Support and Help category) has been correctly answered. Thanks, @tea-for-one
So I’m going to leave this topic closed.
The, er, strong opinions about Wayland aren’t relevant for a support request, so they are not adequate reason to leave this topic open.
Posting while frustrated often deters volunteers who might otherwise help…and 100% of support here is by volunteers.
Folks are welcome to complain to Gnome about their decision to withdraw X11 support. Be professional about it; the Gnome developers are nice people.
I’ll clarify that while you can install all the packages of multiple Desktop Environments onto Ubuntu, it requires some skill to get them to work together properly. It’s not recommended for beginners. Experts who want to improve that situation are welcome to get involved and help iron out the many thorny issues. Volunteers are what make Ubuntu better.
Folks are welcome to discuss the technical aspects, including shortcomings, of all elements of Ubuntu here…in the appropriate category (i.e. not in Support and Help). The Ubuntu Code of Conduct applies to ALL discussion on Ubuntu Discourse, so leave the flamethrowers behind, and keep the discussion professional.
