Howdy is broken in Linux Mint 22 - Python errors and lock screen bug

[seths22]

I have spent a large amount of time trying to get Howdy working in Linux Mint 22 (based on Ubuntu 24.04), which came out this week. I had many issues right off the bat, including the externally-managed-environment python error (see issue #807) which has apparently been occurring for a while after an update to Python, and many others. I was finally able to get Howdy to work on initial login and with sudo by following all steps in the last post of issue #927 and manually creating the /lib/security/howdy/snapshots directory. However, it also broke my lock screen functionality. When I tried to unlock my computer from the lock screen, my IR emitters briefly turn on but I am unable to actually unlock the screen. I am also unable to use my password to unlock the screen in this state, when I enter it I simply see the "checking" message indefinitely. The only way to unlock is to manually power the computer off and restart it. I ended up removing Howdy, as I need the capability to lock my screen without having to power off my computer, and after removing Howdy my lock screen functioned normally. Does anyone know what could be causing this issue, or how it could be fixed?

Another semi-related question: I really love this project, and have been using Howdy for years, but it is getting very hard to make it work with the recent changes to Python that break installation (as can be seen with the many issues created related to this problem). Is there an update planned that will fix this?

Linux distribution: Linux Mint 22

Howdy version (sudo howdy version): 2.6.1

[mxcxpx]

i have same problem with mint22

`Entpacken von howdy (2.6.1) ... howdy (2.6.1) wird eingerichtet ... /var/lib/dpkg/info/howdy.postinst:145: SyntaxWarning: invalid escape sequence '\w' "davisking-dlib-\w+/(dlib/(http_client|java|matlab|test/)|"

Upgrading pip to the latest version

error: externally-managed-environment

× This environment is externally managed ╰─> To install Python packages system-wide, try apt install python3-xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to install.

If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package,
create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv.
Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make
sure you have python3-full installed.

If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application,
it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a
virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed.

See /usr/share/doc/python3.12/README.venv for more information.

note: If you believe this is a mistake, please contact your Python installation or OS distribution provider. You can override this, at the risk of breaking your Python installation or OS, by passing --break-system-packages. hint: See PEP 668 for the detailed specification. Error while running last command dpkg: Fehler beim Bearbeiten des Paketes howdy (--configure): »installiertes post-installation-Skript des Paketes howdy«-Unterprozess gab den Fehlerwert 1 zurück Trigger für man-db (2.12.0-4build2) werden verarbeitet ... Fehler traten auf beim Bearbeiten von: howdy E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1) `

[jordanss1]

HI @mxcxpx would you like to try this? I had a very similar issue with dlib/pip and following this article is what actually fixed a similar issue when installing the package. Might be worth a try to follow that article and then proceed with the installation.

[mxcxpx]

ok i tryed to install but i could not complete

[jordanss1]

I had a few errors too and managed to sort things out. Google is your best friend. Any errors you get just Google until you can come to solutions to your problems.

[seths22]

Believe me I did plenty of googling (or rather duck-duck-go-ing). Like I said, I was finally able to get Howdy in an operational state by reading solutions posted in other issues here, but wasn’t able to fix the lock screen issue. If you had this issue, how did you fix it? And my other point was that for this project to remain relevant, it really needs to be updated to work with the new Python standard. Because most people aren’t going to be able or willing to jump through all the hoops necessary to make it work with the new standard.

Sent from Proton Mail for iOS

On Sun, Aug 11, 2024 at 6:54 AM, Jordan @.***(mailto:On Sun, Aug 11, 2024 at 6:54 AM, Jordan < wrote:

I had a few errors too and managed to sort things out. Google is your best friend. Any errors you get just Google until you can come to solutions to your problems.

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: @.***>

[jordanss1]

Hi Seth, I wasn't referring to your original post I was responding to the other guy who just posted today. I don't think I could bring myself to respond to your original post with such a useless comment lol

[mxcxpx]

HI @mxcxpx would you like to try this? I had a very similar issue with dlib/pip and following this article is what actually fixed a similar issue when installing the package. Might be worth a try to follow that article and then proceed with the installation.

so i tryed but sudo -H pip2 install -U pip numpy -> ...not found sudo -H pip3 install -U pip numpy -> error: externally-managed-environment

[mxcxpx]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoikLVHUhec i did like her in the video installed virtual . than install howdy . but even in the virtual same issue.

i do not understand what to do

[jordanss1]

I just did a quick Google search of

sudo -H pip3 install -U pip numpy -> error: externally-managed-environment

And found quite a few options that could work. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what will fix it for you and I can only advise you to continue to search and try new things until it is resolved.

[TriAttack238]

Something similar is happening to me on Ubuntu 24.04.

[versionDefect]

Also having this issue on Ubuntu 24.04