Geany frequently freezes all desktop on .gvfs files

[EragonSoftware]

This issue has been persisting for years, since about Linux Mint 17, or at least since 5 years ago. I've reported it back then, still nothing has been fixed.
If you edit files via .gvfs in Linux Mint, and using Geany, keep the files open for a while, about 10 minutes, and Geany will freeze, not allow you to save the file, (even though frequently pressing CTRL+S is a reflex), and freezes all desktop.
The only thing one can do in these cases is kill geany's process, but then, you start coding again what was lost since last save.
While it's hung, you also cannot start a new geany instance.
Current version of geany: 1.38 "Sulamar", (built on or after 2021-10-14), Using GTK+ v3.24.33 and GLib v2.72.4 runtime libraries, on Linux Mint 21.3 Vera (just updated about a day ago, issue is the same on all Mint versions since about 5 years ago !)

[elextr]

Gvfs is part of Gnome, not Geany. The fact that the desktop freezes is likely what freezes Geany, not the other way around. Note that Geany does not actually "keep the files open", it opens the file, loads it into the buffer and closes it again. Could the gvfs system be deciding that the mount is no longer needed and removing it and so confusing everything?

The fact that the problem has existed for so long is likely because nobody has the same configuration as you, and you havn't specified it in any detail, what backend for Gvfs are you using? Which saving settings are you using in Geany? How are you setting up Gvfs and what are the settings? Maybe with full information somebody with a close enough configuration might be able to replicate it.

Otherwise you have to provide more information, can you run Geany under gdb and get a backtrace when its "frozen"? Or the desktop? Can Gvfs be run with some debugging or logging to find whats going on?

[EragonSoftware]

I presume it's a Geany issue, not a gvfs issue, because if I edit the same file with another text editor, this doesn't happen. But none of those editors come even close to how handy Geany is.
But I understand... can't reproduce (did you even try ?) = nothing to solve.
Thanks anyway

[elextr]

another text editor

Which text editor? Is it one that is integrated with Gnome and knows of the existence of Gvfs maybe? As I said above, Geany is not a Gnome application.

can't reproduce (did you even try ?)

Reproduce what? Only a small fraction of the Geany contributors and users use non-local filesystems, and only a small percentage of those use Gvfs (and neither of those categories includes me), so you need to provide all the information that small percentage could possibly need to try to reproduce it, they can't see over your shoulder how your system is set up, nor what the "other editor" is, you need to tell us or it will continue that nobody is able to help you.

[EragonSoftware]

The other text editor would be Xed, but it also applies to pluma, as I also had it for a while before Xed was added as a main choice in Linux Mint.
I understand your stance, but again, it's not that hard to reproduce.
Install Linux Mint, right now it's at 21.3, but any version would do,
install geany, with gvfs-fuse installed, and load a file from gvfs - like a PHP file from another server
load a browser, start navigating somewhere on the net, either on the file you've loaded in Geany, or anywhere else, and in about 5 minutes (you haven't touched the file in Geany for 5 minutes or so)... everything will start to freeze, get sluggish.

On another note, there's no need to complicate things. You don't need any other information then this, to actually reproduce the issue, since it's been the same on several laptops I used Linux Mint on, in the last few years, and it's pointless to attack me, as you've done.

I've submitted the issue in the hope that it will help Geany's developers make it better, fix a bug.
No need to get personal, sometimes (well, most of the times) the issue is simpler then you are making it.

[elextr]

and it's pointless to attack me

Nothing was intended as an attack on you, and I am sorry if you saw it that way. I am trying to narrow down the problem so someone might be able to reproduce it. I didn't close the issue, I presume you did so by accident, so I will re-open it.

As I said, most Geany contributors do not use remote filesystems day to day, so what is simple and obvious for you is something others would have to set up specially. So knowing all details of your setup is important to not waste their time, everyone is a volunteer doing Geany stuff in their own time. For instance what protocol does your server use? IIUC GVFS can use several, eg NFS or SMB but even SFTP can be used for file serving. For someone to set up a similar system to you they need that sort of information.

You also only now point out that there is a need to use a browser whilst letting Geany sit for a while to reproduce.

Since there have not been a large number of similar complaints it is likely that not any/many other users have the same configuration as you, so it is important to know what is special about your setup and actions to reproduce the problem.

Xed is a fork of Pluma, so they are essentially the same underneath, and Pluma is Gnome software and is likely to use GIO in a way that avoids gvfs-fuse. This is a known "feature" of GIO and doing that for Geany has been explored, but it has so many other implications that it has stagnated.

[EragonSoftware]

I figured it out ! It's not a geany issue, but a gvfs issue ! If I do
killall gvfsd when then hangup happens, and then reopen the same network folder, I can save the file immediately, and geany becomes responsive again !
I think it's safe to say, it's more of a gvfs issue, then a geany issue.
Geany just can't communicate with the resource's original location, and as such, becomes unresponsive.

Thank you !