GNOME Shell extensions: gsettings does not find the schema.

[alexeymuranov]

Describe the bug

On NixOS (20.03), gsettings tool cannot be used to configure parameters of GNOME Shell extensions, even when they are installed in system profile.

An example with caffeine:

$ gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.caffeine show-indicator false
No such schema “org.gnome.shell.extensions.caffeine”

This seems to be a common problem for all extensions.

To Reproduce

1. Install some GNOME Shell extension in system profile. An example for caffeine:

   # /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
   { config, pkgs, ... }:
   { # ...
   environment.systemPackages = [ #...
    pkgs.gnomeExtensions.caffeine
   ];
   }

2. Log in with GNOME 3 desktop.

3. Activate GNOME Shell extensions in Gnome Tweaks. (Not sure if this step is important.)

4. Try to change parameters of some extensions using gsettings. An example with caffeine:

   $ gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.caffeine show-indicator false
   No such schema “org.gnome.shell.extensions.caffeine”

Expected behavior

gsettings should change parameters as requested. Required schema should be found automatically.

Additional context

1. On Ubuntu (20.04), gsettings automatically finds the schema for extensions installed system-wide (with apt).

2. Apparently, gsettings is expected not to find the schema for extensions installed into user directory automatically: No such schema “org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock”.

Notify maintainers

Metadata

$ nix-shell -p nix-info --run "nix-info -m"
 - system: `"x86_64-linux"`
 - host os: `Linux 5.4.50-hardened, NixOS, 20.03.2437.d6260a33e43 (Markhor)`
 - multi-user?: `yes`
 - sandbox: `yes`
 - version: `nix-env (Nix) 2.3.6`
 - channels(alexey): `""`
 - channels(root): `"nixos-20.03.2437.d6260a33e43"`
 - nixpkgs: `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos`

Maintainer information:

# a list of nixpkgs attributes affected by the problem
attribute:
# a list of nixos modules affected by the problem
module:

[worldofpeace]

On Ubuntu (20.04), gsettings automatically finds the schema for extensions installed system-wide (with apt).

gsettings schemas aren't installed system wide on nixos.

[jtojnar]

See also https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/33277 and the discussion in https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/54083

https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/86451#discussion_r419019540

[kevincox]

I think this is the same root cause for gnome-control-center failing to start which is a major issue for desktop usability.

% gnome-control-center

(gnome-control-center:13069): GLib-GIO-ERROR **: 16:04:23.959: Settings schema 'org.gnome.GPaste' is not installed
zsh: trace trap (core dumped)  gnome-control-center

[jtojnar]

That is a different issue with the same underlying cause. Eventually, I want to patch gnome-control-center as described in https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/43992#issuecomment-407058615 but until that is done we will need to partially revert https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/commit/f63d94eba340c05cd241c478deb518204514fce8. Edit: opened https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/96925

[ktor]

Here is a solution that I've copied from zettlr package: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/104668/files#diff-79504e99066ccb817007c83ef128705bf2aa35fc97dee10e57d3241f61b364a5R27

[stale[bot]]

I marked this as stale due to inactivity. → More info

[alexeymuranov]

still an issue

[seandheath]

I'm running into this with the gnomeExtensions.easyeffects-preset-selector package. The extension launches but every time it is clicked it sends an error:

It looks like this affects a few other gsettings programs, any fix?

[jtojnar]

That is unrelated to this issue. The extension needs to be patched in https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/a9bf34a2e57e94c8ef1d37eeb7000ed0f18188f5/pkgs/desktops/gnome/extensions/extensionOverrides.nix Similarly to what is done in https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/stable/#ssec-gnome-common-issues-unwrappable-package-gsettings-c