This has never been confirmed by anyone. In [community] there's amsn 0.97 now, please check if it still happens and report here. If no one confirms this BR within a week, then I propose to close it.

If I knew how to confirm it, I would've done that 2 months ago. I'm having the exact same problem, even after upgrading to amsn 0.97-1 as you recommended. Exactly the same versions of tk/tcl/... as described above. I tried recompiling it from source, as to be sure to use the versions of tk/tcl/... that are installed on my system, but the problem persists.

I hope this counts as a confirmation :)

I have no idea how to solve this thing, so it'd be really great if you guys can do something about it :)

Yes, this is a confirmation. Finally =)

Step one is trying to debug. Launch "gdb wish /usr/bin/amsn", then on the prompt call "run". Wait for it to crash, ask for a backtrace (command: "bt") and paste the whole output here.

In addition, since these problems with amsn are usually caused by tcl, if you feel like you want to try, you could install tcl and tk from testing (and recompile amsn, since the community package is not compatible with tcl/tk 8.5).

Here it is, had to run it like "gdb wish" and then give the run command in gdb with /usr/bin/amsn as an argument. The backtrace is below.

I'll try and compile amsn with the 8.5 versions as you proposed, I'll write a comment with the relevant information.

<start backtrace>

zaxxx@waldorf ~ $ gdb wish
GNU gdb 6.7.1
Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. Type "show copying"
and "show warranty" for details.
This GDB was configured as "i686-pc-linux-gnu"...
(no debugging symbols found)
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/libthread_db.so.1".
(gdb) run /usr/bin/amsn
Starting program: /usr/bin/wish /usr/bin/amsn
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
[New Thread 0xb7b946c0 (LWP 811)]
[New Thread 0xb7b93b90 (LWP 814)]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
[Switching to Thread 0xb7b946c0 (LWP 811)]
0xb7c27867 in strcasecmp () from /lib/libc.so.6
(gdb) bt
#0 0xb7c27867 in strcasecmp () from /lib/libc.so.6
#1 0xbfd7b290 in ?? ()
#2 0x00000000 in ?? ()

<end backtrace>

This doesn't seem a tcl-related problem, you'd have seen the segfault on a TkSomething() function. Looking around in the official amsn forum it seems like a font problem. This is the thread I'm talking about: http://www.amsn-project.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=24430
The site is really slow here, so I'm posting the proposed solution:

<quote>
Also, go to the directory which contains the font you are using now and type these commands:
(as root)
Code:
mkfontdir -o fonts.dir
mkfontscale -o fonts.scale
fc-cache -fv

and restart aMSN. This might fix the issue.
</quote>

If it works it'd be great if you could track down which font causes this problem. If you know the date the bug showed up (it should be around the end of November or the beginning of December, judging from the report date), could you please look around in /var/log/pacman.log and post the fonts you upgraded in those days?

OK, installed the 8.5 packages from testing, recompiled amsn, all fine so far. Starts up, but when I want to log in, amsn tells me it needs TLS from now on. It has some kind of auto-installer for TLS, which I don't really need to do since I already had both the TLS and gnuTLS packages installed. I tried various things: saying it already was installed, saying I'd install it myself, saying I'd download and compile it from source, but with every option it keeps crashing. Not crashing and closing like the initial problem, but it just hangs.

Ran it through gdb again, had to kill it by quitting gdb. The backtrace is below:

<begin backtrace tls problem>This GDB was configured as "i686-pc-linux-gnu"...
(no debugging symbols found)
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/libthread_db.so.1".
(gdb) run /usr/bin/amsn
Starting program: /usr/bin/wish /usr/bin/amsn
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
[New Thread 0xb7a3dac0 (LWP 6237)]
[New Thread 0xb7a3cb90 (LWP 6240)]
(no debugging symbols found)
Error while mapping shared library sections:
utils/TkCximage/TkCximage.so: No such file or directory.
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
Error while mapping shared library sections:
utils/linux/traydock/libtray.so: No such file or directory.
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)This GDB was configured as "i686-pc-linux-gnu"...
(no debugging symbols found)
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/libthread_db.so.1".
(gdb) run /usr/bin/amsn
Starting program: /usr/bin/wish /usr/bin/amsn
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
[New Thread 0xb7a3dac0 (LWP 6237)]
[New Thread 0xb7a3cb90 (LWP 6240)]
(no debugging symbols found)
Error while mapping shared library sections:
utils/TkCximage/TkCximage.so: No such file or directory.
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
Error while mapping shared library sections:
utils/linux/traydock/libtray.so: No such file or directory.
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)

(no debugging symbols found)
(no debugging symbols found)

Program received signal SIGINT, Interrupt.
[Switching to Thread 0xb7a3dac0 (LWP 6237)]
0xb7fdb410 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
(gdb) bt
#0 0xb7fdb410 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
#1 0xb7db8878 in connect () from /lib/libpthread.so.0
#2 0xb7ea3fa3 in CreateSocket () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#3 0xb7ea453e in Tcl_OpenTcpClient () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#4 0xb7e5e271 in Tcl_SocketObjCmd () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#5 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#6 0xb7dfbafa in TclEvalEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#7 0xb7dfbd4e in Tcl_EvalEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#8 0xb7dfc1ff in TclEvalObjEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#9 0xb7e069c7 in Tcl_EvalObjCmd () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#10 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#11 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#12 0xb7e83433 in TclObjInterpProcCore () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#13 0xb7e83941 in TclObjInterpProc () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#14 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#15 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#16 0xb7e83433 in TclObjInterpProcCore () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#17 0xb7e83941 in TclObjInterpProc () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#18 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#19 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#20 0xb7e48c7e in TclCompEvalObj () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#21 0xb7dfc145 in TclEvalObjEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#22 0xb7dfc4fb in Tcl_EvalObjEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#23 0xb7f15e07 in TkInvokeButton () from /usr/lib/libtk8.5.so
#24 0xb7f178a8 in ButtonWidgetObjCmd () from /usr/lib/libtk8.5.so
#25 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#26 0xb7dfbefe in Tcl_EvalObjv () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#27 0xb7dfc381 in TclEvalObjEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#28 0xb7dfc4fb in Tcl_EvalObjEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#29 0xb7e83e1b in Tcl_UplevelObjCmd () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#30 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#31 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#32 0xb7e83433 in TclObjInterpProcCore () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#33 0xb7e83941 in TclObjInterpProc () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#34 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#35 0xb7dfbafa in TclEvalEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#36 0xb7dfbd4e in Tcl_EvalEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#37 0xb7eeba94 in Tk_BindEvent () from /usr/lib/libtk8.5.so
#38 0xb7ef14a1 in TkBindEventProc () from /usr/lib/libtk8.5.so
#39 0xb7ef7607 in Tk_HandleEvent () from /usr/lib/libtk8.5.so
#40 0xb7ef795e in WindowEventProc () from /usr/lib/libtk8.5.so
#41 0xb7e74dfb in Tcl_ServiceEvent () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#42 0xb7e750a6 in Tcl_DoOneEvent () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#43 0xb7e3b803 in Tcl_VwaitObjCmd () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#44 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#45 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#46 0xb7e83433 in TclObjInterpProcCore () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#47 0xb7e83941 in TclObjInterpProc () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#48 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#49 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#50 0xb7e83433 in TclObjInterpProcCore () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#51 0xb7e83941 in TclObjInterpProc () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#52 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#53 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#54 0xb7e83433 in TclObjInterpProcCore () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#55 0xb7e83941 in TclObjInterpProc () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
in TclObjInterpProcCore () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#55 0xb7e83941 in TclObjInterpProc () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#56 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#57 0xb7e401c2 in TclExecuteByteCode () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#58 0xb7e48c7e in TclCompEvalObj () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#59 0xb7dfc145 in TclEvalObjEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#60 0xb7e0cbd9 in Tcl_IfObjCmd () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#61 0xb7dfb06c in TclEvalObjvInternal () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
---Type <return> to continue, or q <return> to quit---
#62 0xb7dfbafa in TclEvalEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#63 0xb7dfbd4e in Tcl_EvalEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#64 0xb7e663b9 in Tcl_FSEvalFileEx () from /usr/lib/libtcl8.5.so
#65 0xb7f05545 in Tk_MainEx () from /usr/lib/libtk8.5.so
#66 0x080488cb in main ()

<end backtrace tls problem>

Hope this helps, and that I didn't fsck up my system ;)

That one should be a completely different problem. If I remember correctly you should edit /usr/lib/tls1.50/pkgIndex.tcl, go to the line that says:

package ifneeded tls 1.5 "[list load [file join $dir .. libtls1.50.so] ] ; [list source [file join $dir tls.tcl] ]"

and change 1.5 in 1.50. It should stop asking you to download tls, and maybe stop crashing the app. Again, if it doesn't stop it, post here ;-)

Changing the font from Helvetica to Deja Vu Sans before login seems to solve the issue.

Helvetica doesn't seems to be installed on my system, so maybe it's an alias to other font.

OK, so I edited the pkgIndex.tcl as suggested by bardo (with the 8.5 versions and recompiled amsn), which makes it able to log in :) Great, a semi-victory. I can see my contacts, see who's online and so on, but engaging in a conversation - that's something else. I started some conversations as a test, but amsn doesn't seem to be able to set up a connection... Maybe a TLS problem?

Should I gdb this as well? And after what exact actions should I print the backtrace?

Thx anyway, we're one step further already...

OK, another update on my previous comment (as from 09/01/08, 20:14): just waited 5 minutes, tried to engage in a conversation again, and it just worked fine!

Thanks a lot to bardo and noalwin, it seems that upgrading tcl/tk to 8.5 and then recompiling amsn from source, and adjusting the tcl1.50 lib does the trick after all.

Hopefully this will be helpful to other people as well.

@Zaxxx: Great! I'm happy it worked :) I think you're also appreciating the new antialias... I'll see if I should file a bug for tls, too.

@noalwin: helvetica should be included in xorg-fonts-100dpi or xorg-fonts-75dpi, so please check if you have at least one of them. If you don't, could I ask you to make another test? Set helvetica again and close it. Then install one of these packages to verify it works.

I had xorg-fonts-75dpi-1.0.1-2 and xorg-fonts-100dpi-1.0.1-1 installed. I guess that I didn't search the font correctly because it's installed.

I reinstalled the fonts packages but amsn still segfaults if I use Helvetica

Ok, thanks for the report. Another test is the one I posted to Zaxxx (mkfontdir -o fonts.dir && mkfontscale -o fonts.scale && fc-cache -fv), because it's fonts.scale could be broken. Otherwise I don't know where else to look =P

I have tried

mkfontdir -o fonts.dir
mkfontscale -o fonts.scale
fc-cache -fv

on /usr/share/fonts/100dpi and /usr/share/fonts/75dpi and it didn't helped

I also have rebuild the packages and it still segfaults

Any news on this? Did anything change with the latest upgrades to xorg packages?

It seems to be fixed now
It seems to use Vera Sans instead helvetica by default. In fact, I can't configure it to use Helvetica