Bug in "molecule"?

ConnorBehan · 2007-09-13 03:37:25

Most GL screensavers work but here's what happens when I try to run "molecule" that comes with Xscreensaver. "Constructing molecules" appears in the upper left corner. Then everything hangs except the mouse. I can move the cursor around but nothing will close, keys do nothing and Ctrl+Alt+Backspace does not restart the X server. I serached google for this bug and ubuntuforums came up. Several ubuntu users are having problems with this too. I happens when I run the full screensaver, the mini preview or the windowed version. I have an ATI rage mobility M3 with direct rendering enabled.

Has anyone else had this problem? Would downgrading Xscreensaver (somehow) work? Or could I simply replace the molecule executable with an older version without downgrading the whole thing? I also don't know what version it was when this bug appeared. I would love to use this screensaver... it was cool back when I used ubuntu (Dapper) and I fed it PDB files that I made myself .

ConnorBehan · 2007-09-17 20:12:52

I'm fairly sure this is a bug now because I turned off DRI and molecule ran without freezing... albeit slowly. So I either have the choice of turning off DRI and running all screensavers slowly or turning on DRI and running all screensavers except molecule quickly. I guess I'll use DRI and hope jzw fixes the molecule bug.

ConnorBehan · 2007-09-28 20:27:28

Note, the "Endgame" and "Queens" do the same thing at least on my card. A safe way to reboot after they crash it would be to use Alt+SysRq+REISUB if you enable the magic sysrq kernel parameter. It was disabled for me by default.

ConnorBehan · 2008-12-27 19:06:10

Alright after trying hundreds of combinations and restarting between several of them I've discovered that molecule will work on my card if at least one of the following are met:

1. -wireframe is specified
2. -no-labels is specified

In molecule.c the draw_labels function disables lighting on line 1346 if wireframe is off and enables it again on 1415. Something about turning lighting on and off too quickly might hang my card.

Arch Linux

#1 2007-09-13 03:37:25

Bug in "molecule"?

#2 2007-09-17 20:12:52

Re: Bug in "molecule"?

#3 2007-09-28 20:27:28

Re: Bug in "molecule"?

#4 2008-12-27 19:06:10

Re: Bug in "molecule"?

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