fix(theme): Disable broken gnome theme

[p-fruck]

As QGnomePlatform is no longer maintained, the theme should be set to KDE by default. This fixes broken rendering on newer gnome desktops. fixes #115

[flathubbot]

Started test build 83241

[flathubbot]

Build 83241 failed

[flathubbot]

Started test build 86150

[flathubbot]

Build 86150 failed

[flathubbot]

Started test build 86151

[flathubbot]

Build 86151 successful
To test this build, install it from the testing repository:

flatpak install --user https://dl.flathub.org/build-repo/68813/com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud.flatpakref

[pktiuk]

@tilosp

[julianfairfax]

As QGnomePlatform is no longer maintained

Is there a way to stop flatpak from wanting to install it along with Nextcloud?

[p-fruck]

I am not sure about that but I think the QGnomePlatform is shipped with your Gnome Runtime until 39 and has been removed with Gnome 40. I think this flatpak does not affect QGnomePlatform presence on the installed system.

[flathubbot]

Started test build 89043

[flathubbot]

Build 89043 successful
To test this build, install it from the testing repository:

flatpak install --user https://dl.flathub.org/build-repo/71719/com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud.flatpakref

[BryanMaker]

By the way for those who don't want to reinstall but just want to repair their current installation. It is recommended to use the tool Flatseal (flatpak install flathub com.github.tchx84.Flatseal) to fix it, you just need to navigate to nextcloud then navigate to the environment variables section and add QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=kde and then restart nextcloud

[geez0x1]

For those that prefer the command line, a one-time command to fix this issue is
sudo flatpak override --env=QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=kde com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud

That said, it would be nice if the flatpak package could fix this for less tech-savvy users. Is there no way to add environment variables retroactively?

[azuredusk10]

Running the command from @geez0x1 fixed the problem for me. Thanks! I'd always wondered what text was supposed to be in those empty spaces 😂

I agree; I'd assumed that if this bug got fixed I'd receive the patch via a software update. I'm glad I stumbled across this thread but I imagine there are many users who are putting up with this, unaware that they would have to fix it manually. It did put me off recommending Nextcloud to my partner because parts of the app were unreadable.

[slwr]

For those that prefer the command line, a one-time command to fix this issue is sudo flatpak override --env=QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=kde com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud

That said, it would be nice if the flatpak package could fix this for less tech-savvy users. Is there no way to add environment variables retroactively?

This workaround did the job in the past but for me it does not work any more.

Nextcloud GmbH - Nextcloud desktop synchronization client

          ID: com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud
         Ref: app/com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
     Version: 3.12.3
     License: GPL-2.0+
      Origin: flathub
  Collection: org.flathub.Stable
Installation: system
   Installed: 186,3 MB
     Runtime: org.kde.Platform/x86_64/5.15-23.08
         Sdk: org.kde.Sdk/x86_64/5.15-23.08

      Commit: 8a4fd02cb3a8c7beca3e65c168b83255821201f0282695f38dc7ac632e8f510d
      Parent: 85e7ceb16107232af1b07cc4347d7aef0e5389f720bbb769b4347981b55c08fb
     Subject: Update desktop.git to 3.12.3 (7e914eaa)
        Date: 2024-03-28 16:41:25 +0000

I am using Arch Linux with GNOME:

gnome-autoar 0.4.4-1
gnome-backgrounds 46.0-1
gnome-bluetooth-3.0 46.0-1
gnome-calendar 46.1-2
gnome-characters 46.0-1
gnome-color-manager 3.36.0+r62+g82000f1d-1
gnome-console 46.0-2
gnome-contacts 46.0-1
gnome-control-center 46.1-2
gnome-desktop 1:44.0-1
gnome-desktop-4 1:44.0-1
gnome-desktop-common 1:44.0-1
gnome-disk-utility 46.0-1
gnome-keyring 1:46.1-2
gnome-logs 45.0-1
gnome-menus 3.36.0-2
gnome-online-accounts 3.50.1-1
gnome-session 46.0-1
gnome-settings-daemon 46.0-1
gnome-shell 1:46.1-1
gnome-shell-extension-gtile 59-1
gnome-system-monitor 46.0-1
xdg-desktop-portal-gnome 46.1-1

[BigmenPixel0]

⬆️
The same problem on Fedora Workstation 40

[azuredusk10]

My Nextcloud client has gone back to the bugged state with invisible text and icons:

I'm on Fedora Workstation 40. I noticed this a few weeks back.

For those that prefer the command line, a one-time command to fix this issue is sudo flatpak override --env=QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=kde com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud

That said, it would be nice if the flatpak package could fix this for less tech-savvy users. Is there no way to add environment variables retroactively?

Running this code again didn't fix the issue.

[Trim]

I've installed a fresh Debian 12 with nextcloud desktop from flathub.

I've seen too the previous override fix do not work anymore too.

As it's a freshed install, only nextcloud is using the KDE flatpak plateform, so I tried to remove all GNOME theme related KDE flatpak extensions:

$ sudo flatpak remove org.kde.PlatformTheme.QGnomePlatform org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QAdwaitaDecorations org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QGnomePlatform-decoration
Info: applications using the extension org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QGnomePlatform-decoration branch 5.15-23.08:
   com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud
Really remove? [y/n]: y
Info: applications using the extension org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QAdwaitaDecorations branch 5.15-23.08:
   com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud
Really remove? [y/n]: y
Info: applications using the extension org.kde.PlatformTheme.QGnomePlatform branch 5.15-23.08:
   com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud
Really remove? [y/n]: y

And after that it worked again. I think this is not a long-term solution as I expect that some future platform update or application installation will certainly take back these extensions.

For me it's ok to remove these extensions as I prefer to have working well applications rather than not-well adapted themes with my Desktop (see the https://stopthemingmy.app/ arguments which are proved to be true for this thread).

[slwr]

Issue still exists on my side:

• QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME environment variable/flatpak override does not solve the issue.
• "sudo flatpak remove org.kde.PlatformTheme.QGnomePlatform org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QAdwaitaDecorations org.kde.WaylandDecoration.QGnomePlatform-decoration" does not solve the issue.

I am not able to change what to synchronize.

OS: Arch Linux x86_64
Kernel: 6.9.6-arch1-1
DE: GNOME
WM: Mutter
WM Theme: Adwaita
Theme: Adwaita-dark [GTK2/3]
Icons: Adwaita [GTK2/3]

[Trim]

Issue still exists on my side:

For your information, I had to kill the nextcloud desktop process after I made these changes because the application stay in background if you just click the window close button.

[azuredusk10]

Someone from Nextcloud has looked into the issue and believes the problem lies in the flatpak and potentially its libraries being out of date.
Their comment: nextcloud/desktop#5949 (comment)

[p-fruck]

Can confirm, seems to work fine with QT6 (see above PR). I think the kde runtime 5.15 for flatpak is just not updated anymore as QT5 is considered EOL

[edofe99]

For those that prefer the command line, a one-time command to fix this issue is sudo flatpak override --env=QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=kde com.nextcloud.desktopclient.nextcloud

That said, it would be nice if the flatpak package could fix this for less tech-savvy users. Is there no way to add environment variables retroactively?

This does not work anymore.

[rafalglowacz]

I also just run into the issue with invisible UI elements and flatpak override... plus killing nextcloud processes also didn't work for me. However, after reboot the UI is fully functional.