Making an AppVM a disposable template empties its application menu

[ramboman]

How to file a helpful issue

Qubes OS release

4.2.1 (R4.2)

Brief summary

When I turn an AppVM into a disposable template, its applications, in the new application menu, disappears.

Steps to reproduce

In dom0:

• Start Qubes Manager
• Press on the New qubes button
• Let's create a new vm:
  • Name and label: c
  • Type: AppVM (persistent home, volatile root)
  • Template: fedora-39-xfce (default)
  • Networking: default
• Press Ok
• Goto: Application menu -> Apps -> c
• Check the default list of applications:
  • Firefox
  • Setting Manager
  • Thunar File Manager
  • Xfce Terminal
• Goto: Application menu -> Apps -> c -> Settings -> Advanced
• Check the box: Disposable template
• Press Ok
• Goto: Application menu -> Apps -> c
• Check the default list of applications:

Expected behavior

The following applications should be listed:

• Firefox
• Setting Manager
• Thunar File Manager
• Xfce Terminal

Actual behavior

There is no application in the list

[docelic]

I can confirm this on 4.2.2.

Every time a qube is switched in Settings->Advanced from Non-disposable to Disposable, the list of its applications in the start menu becomes empty.

There are two ad-hoc solutions to make applications appear again:

1. Go to Settings->Advanced and change qube back to non-disposable (obviously not the preferred solution).

2. Go to Settings->Applications and make any change that enables the Apply button, then click Apply. Clicking Apply will make all apps (even those that weren't affected by the change) appear again.

Note for (2): Removing and adding the same app back immediately is not enough -- it probably gets detected as no-change when Apply is clicked. Some (any) app must be removed or added and Apply clicked. The list of apps in the start menu will then appear, and the app can then be added or removed to get back to original setup.

[ramboman]

I used to go to Settings -> Applications and press Refresh Applications to get my applications back in the menu, but your n.2 solution is faster.