Applications menu corrupted with template update (fedora 30 -> 31)

[tumbletree]

Qubes OS version:

4.0

Affected component(s) or functionality:

Applications menu
template update

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Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. installed a new template by switching, as described here https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/templates/#switching

587 sudo qubes-dom0-update qubes-template-fedora-31

2. Cloned the template to fedora-31-mod. (Modified Firefox about:config to my liking, but later discovered it wasn't propgated through the template).

3. Went straight on to setting the disposable template. This was a mistake re instructions, I skipped step 2 (using Qubes Template Manager).

I made a few typos, but leave them in for transparency. Terminal history output:

  588  qvm-create -l red -t fedora-31 fedora-31-dvm
  589  qvm-create -l red -t fedora-31-mod fedora-31-dvm-mod
  590  qvm-delete fedora-31-dvm-mod
  591  qvm --help
  592  qvm-remove
  593  qvm-remove fedora-31-dvm
  594  qvm-remove fedora-31-dvm-mod
  595  qvm-create -l red -t fedora-31-mod fedora-31-mod-dvm
  596  qvm-prefs fedora-31-mod-dvm template_for_dispvms True
  597  qvm-features fedora-31-mod appmenus-dispvm 1
  598  qubes-prefs default-dispvm fedora-31-mod-dvm

4. Used Qube Settings box in the Qubes Manager, one-by-one, to reset each vm's to the new fedora-31-mod. I got about half done (~10) before a break.

5. The system updater called for fedora-31 and fedora-31-mod and I ran it. I can't remember if I rebooted somewhere in here.

6. Check the Applications menu and discovered the malfunction.

7. Stare in horror.

8. PartB: recovery attempts. Tried lots of advice and experiments (see Reddit/r/qubes thread) https://www.reddit.com/r/Qubes/comments/haiisn/upgrade_to_fedora31_applications_menu_borked_help/. I made a mistake in following advice, deleted all contents of ~/.local/share/desktop rather than .desktop files. Lost all qubes in Applications menu.

Expected or desired behavior:

Nothing at all should have hapened to the Application menu.

Template should have simplly swapped over. There should be no difference between adjusting template in Qubes Manager/Settings box versus Template Manager.

Or, it should be clearly documented and/or clearly signalled in that operation.

Recovery from this - e.g. a re-set of the entire Application menu for ALL vms - should be trivial. A single command should be able to repopulate all menu items. Nothing I can find has done that (see reddit dialog).

Actual behavior:

All apps whose template I changed by Qubes Manager/Settings were then listed in Applications menu as "Disposable: [insert qube name here]" (complete with icon).
-They aren't behaving like they are disposable. I can create a file, close the vm and the new file is there on re-opening.
-The fedora-31-mod template entry in Applications also displayed as a "Disposable: fedora-31-mod".

App-menu items on each vm were not working. The qube itself didn't start. Only Qubes Settings can be launched. Everything launches fine from the dom0 command-line.

For my remaining vms, I used Qubes Template Manager (I reviewed the instructions). These appvms do not have any problems.

General notes:

I have tried a bunch of things to correct this, including replacing the template with a new one, and accidentally deleted all contents of ~/.local/share/desktop.

Vms seem to be popping back in the Applications menu now after I modify the Applications in Qubes Manager > Settings. That hasn't always been the case; there seems to be a time lag ( similar to (?) to #5588?) in some case.

Most puzzling of all was why two vm's would not display (in app-menu) all the applications assigned to them in Settings. Then today, it has started working.

I am not going to troubleshoot all that.

The focus of this Issue report should be on
a) why reassigning a new template via Qubes Manager > Settings should screw up my Applications menu
b) why is there now all-vm re-set/re-populate option (or documentation of it)?

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I have consulted the following relevant documentation:

most prominently:

https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/managing-appvm-shortcuts/
https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/template/fedora/upgrade/

Also, see advice given on https://www.reddit.com/r/Qubes/comments/haiisn/upgrade_to_fedora31_applications_menu_borked_help/

I am aware of the following related, non-duplicate issues:

app-menus not populating properly #4218
#5588

[github-actions]

This issue is being closed because:

• This issue is on the "Release 4.0 updates" milestone.
• Qubes OS 4.0 reached EOL (end-of-life) over one year ago.
• There has not been any activity on this issue in over one year.

If anyone believes that this issue should be reopened and reassigned to an active milestone, please leave a brief comment.
(For example, if a bug still affects Qubes OS 4.1, then the comment "Affects 4.1" will suffice.)