/srv/irclogs.ubuntu.com/2012/07/24/#ubuntustudio-devel.txt

micahglen-dt: umm, it depends on how it's installed02:29
Len-nbmicahg, I did a fresh precise install, then tried to remove -graphics and -video.02:48
Len-nbThe two meta files were removed but none of the deps03:03
micahgyeah, on install it won't work as the depends are not marked as auto installed03:04
Len-nbDon't know what happened to our user then.03:05
Len-nbI do need to move a font out of fonts on to desktop though.03:05
micahgLen-nb: you could just add it to desktop if the fonts metapackage is useful by itself without desktop03:07
Len-nbmicahg, OK, I will do that.03:08
Len-nbStill waiting for release on -settings. I don't know if it matters, but what I have done so far fixes some things in precise, What I have next is all quantal03:10
micahgah, crud, right, that should get in for alpha303:10
micahgLen-nb: not so sure I like adding more stuff to /etc/skel03:14
Len-nbI am not worried about the -look package so much, thought I did want to test it on install. It works fine on an allready installed system03:14
Len-nbmicahg, where would I put it?03:15
micahgTBH, it sounds like a maintenance burden...I'm not sure the best way to do that03:15
micahgLen-nb: mind if I revert that for alpha3?03:15
Len-nbOK03:15
micahgLen-nb: was Exec=Exec=exo-open a typo?03:16
Len-nbIt was one of the blueprint things. 03:16
micahgLen-nb: I'm referring to Exec being there twice03:17
Len-nbwhere is the exec thing? I'll look03:17
micahgLen-nb: commit 127 in -settings03:17
micahgotherwise, I think it's fine03:18
Len-nbThats strange... it works that way too.03:21
Len-nbOk I will change that.03:21
micahgalso, why in -look did you add a ubuntu-text.plymouth.in file?03:21
micahg(commit 138)03:22
Len-nbI was copying the way they did the vanilla ubuntu theme03:22
Len-nbI don't know why they have it either03:22
micahgright, but you should only need the Ubuntu Studio one, not the Ubuntu one03:22
Len-nbOK micahg settings typo fixed.03:26
micahgLen-nb: I assume it should still work that way...03:27
Len-nbI'll remove the extra file in the other branch03:27
micahgwfm03:28
micahgok, I'll revert the xchat thing then so I can get this uploaded and get to sleep03:28
Len-nbI'll check., ya it works03:31
micahgok, test building and uploading, is there anything else that should be uploaded aside from a new -meta?03:34
micahgLen-nb: you also need a depends on exo-utils to use exo-open in the package 03:36
* micahg is adding03:37
micahgLen-nb: ok, unless there's anything else, I'll upload -settings now03:43
Len-nbThanks. settings is done and I have done the font in desktop too03:44
micahgLen-nb: did you make any changes after the Exec fix?03:44
Len-nbin settings no03:44
micahgok, thanks, will upload then03:45
Len-nbThankyou micahg I will test tomorrows ISO?03:46
micahgthere should be one at some point (no more dailies until after alpha3)03:46
Len-nbI didn't know we were at alpha 303:47
micahgLen-nb: where is the theme shipped?03:48
Len-nbIt has been very quiet in here03:48
Len-nbIt is a depends in settings I think03:48
Len-nbmurrin is the package03:48
micahgah, so, murrine-themes needs a font?03:49
micahgis this a studio specific thing?03:49
Len-nbNope it is not setting. You would have to ask Scott03:50
micahgok, I'll include it like that for now, but you might want to consider moving it to -look if appropriate03:51
Len-nb gtk2-engines-murrine, murrine-themes is dep in the -look branch03:51
Len-nbYa both deps should be in the same place.03:52
micahghrm, that seems like a redundent dep to begin with unless -look uses something specific from gtk2-engines-murrine03:53
Len-nbThere is a lot of that so people can install studio on top of vanilla of kubuntu or whatever.03:55
Len-nbI don't know if it is the best either03:55
Len-nbI don't want to make huge changes though03:55
micahgsure, but murrine-themes depends on gtk2-engines-murrine, so, unless you're relying on something specific in there, it's an implementation detail of murrine-themes03:55
Len-nbI didn't know that... bet Scott didn't either :)03:56
micahg-meta uploaded as well04:00
Len-nbThanks, Is look going?04:00
micahgyeah, I think so04:00
micahgyour image size might balloon a little :)04:01
micahgbut you're on a DVD already, so you've got room04:01
Len-nbYa, we know.04:01
micahgsorry, I haven't had time to follow most of the threads on the ML04:02
Len-nbThats why I'm working on post install package deal04:02
Len-nbIf we try to include everything it will be a 5 DVD set04:03
Len-nbNo worrys about the ML. I can be verbose.04:05
ailolen-dt: Seems like most tweaks can be done during runtime09:45
ailoBut, I'd like to find out if some perhaps should not be done during runtime, for whatever reason09:45
ailoBut as a starting point, I'll try make each tweak configurable during runtime, using a gui09:46
len-dtailo, ok13:03
len-dtThat would be good for testing anyway.13:03
len-dtailo, adding stuff to /etc/skel seems to be a problem. My tweak to get xchat to open #ubuntustudio is taken out. Not sure how else to do this.13:08
len-dtI guess we could add our own *.desktop file and put it on the command line.13:13
ailolen-dt: I think better fix whatever is not working with /etc/skel13:15
len-dtSkel works, it was a policy thing, hard to maintain?13:15
len-dtRead the irc log from last night... err this morning.13:16
ailolen-dt: Where do applications usually keep their default configs?13:17
ailoThere is also /etc/default13:17
ailoEr, but that won't help, I think13:17
ailolen-dt: How does Ubuntu add the default config for Firefox? The bookmarks, etc?13:18
ailoShould be done the same way?13:18
len-dtI have been looking... can't find it. But there is a package they add I think.13:19
len-dtI should look at that.13:19
len-dtxul-ext-ubufox13:21
len-dtIt does a loy more than set bookmarks though13:23
len-dtxchat puts an xpm in icons and a png in pixmaps... seems backwards :)13:25
ailoI really don't like bash scripting syntax :(13:39
len-dtIt's something to get used to...13:49
ailolen-dt: I've made a script that implements the hardware timers tweak. As I'm looking at it, the only thing that seems to be interesting to tweak is really just the value. Would you agree?13:54
ailoSeems like that is a tweak that should be enabled by default, during install13:54
ailoAnd the value should be set to 3072, but make it possible for the user to change it between the ranges of 1024 and 819213:55
len-dtpermissions too. But the permissions should be set all the time.13:57
len-dtI don't know if I would go so high as 8k though. That is higher than the midi standard it self.13:58
len-dt3072 is an odd number, but it is about the midi port speed.13:59
len-dtI also suspect that the higher the number the more trouble it would be for a slower machine to keep up with.14:00
len-dtailo, in the end, the hard part looks to be finding a way of testing.14:01
len-dtback in a minute14:08
len-dtHmm, ailo, addingthe url on the commandline for xchat doesn't seem to work...14:13
ailolen-dt: I was just talking about gui implementation. It seems the general opinion is to have a range between 1024 and 819214:15
ailoAnd 3072 more or less as default14:16
len-dtYa, I saw that. I want to test the nigh numbers with audio running14:16
ailoBut, that we should find out by testing, as you said14:16
len-dtI am thinking that on some machines the midi will be fine but audio may suffer.14:17
* len-dt is thinking there may be more xruns14:17
ailolen-dt: I'm actually starting by making bash scripts of everything. Even for kernel building14:17
ailoBest way to do testing14:18
len-dtSpeaking of kernel building, the one thing we don't have in there (aside from pre-empt) is tickless timers14:18
ailoThat is why we should try different configs14:18
ailoI'd rather have uploaded kernels to PPA, but I can't bother putting time on finding out how14:19
ailoThe scripts have functions that the gui would14:22
ailoSo, if something is to be a variable, the scripts accepts argument(s)14:22
ailoWithouth arguments, the script just uses default values14:22
len-dtmakes sense14:23
ailoThese scripts are only for making the tweaks. Then, we need scripts for the actual testing too. One that collects all relevant info of the system, and creates a log of the test results14:24
len-dtYou've done the easy part.14:25
ailoQuestion is, what do we do to test the system, exactly?14:25
len-dtYa :)  14:26
len-dtMy thought is get the system to behave a bad as possible first.14:26
len-dtThen look for a way of measuring that badness14:27
len-dtThen we can see improvements that are finer than we can hear14:27
ailocounting xruns is a given parameter. 14:30
len-dtYes14:30
ailoThe midi timing issue is a bit harder to automate14:30
ailoFor that you need some way of measuring the timing diff14:31
len-dtYa, It would be nice to be able to playback and record with the same app.14:32
len-dtqtracktor doesn't seem to do that well.14:32
len-dtI ended up using two instances, one to play and the other to record.14:33
len-dtI need to try the whole mess over again with my netbook though as that is where I heard problems.14:35
len-dtMy desktop has been very solid, even with the USB midi port.14:36
ailolen-dt: This look promising https://github.com/koppi/alsa-midi-latency-test/14:37
ailoBut that's only for inside the OS, I would think14:38
ailoNothing related to HW14:39
ailolen-dt: Actually, seems it will test whatever it is connected to14:41
len-dtIt looks to be testing latency. Midi latency, so long as it is consistent, is not a problem14:42
len-dtIt can be corrected.14:43
len-dtgeneral timing errors can't14:43
ailolen-dt: You get the diff in the form of best and wors14:44
ailoSo, it does test jitter as well14:44
ailoWhat you do is you loop connect the HW. midi out to midi in14:44
ailoI'm going to try my roland, using usb14:44
len-dtYa, that was what I did.14:44
len-dtSome applications do not use the sessions idea of default browser.14:49
len-dtnon-mixer is one of these. I have default browser set to chromium, but non-mixer opens its help in firefox. wonder what it does if FF isn;t installed?14:51
ailolen-dt: Maybe it's hardcoded?14:53
* micahg isn't sure what non-mixer is, but you want to check that stuff is using xdg-open generally14:53
len-dtnon-mixer is part of the non-daw set of applications. Much like jack-mixer but with more stuff built in.14:57
len-dtI don't think it is in ubuntu repos ;-)  maintainer is falkTX15:02
* len-dt is working on special instances of software center that only show SW related to the menu they reside in.15:05
ailolen-dt: Had to connect two different midi HW to get the loop going :). So, for you and me, we should be able to automate midi testing15:06
len-dtI have to use a MIDI through to connect output to input.15:07
ailolen-dt: I don't have a midi cable right now. At least both are usb, so it's easy to test on multiple machines15:08
ailoCouldn't get the roland to loop only using the usb connection15:09
ailoI also have a midisport 1x1 device15:09
len-dtMy roland does looping to external devices but not to the USB port.15:09
=== kubotu_ is now known as kubotu
ailolen-dt: I'm putting stuff here, while I'm sketching https://gitorious.org/ubuntustudio-testing/pages/Home15:14
ailoI'm just trying to get a full picture of what we are doing15:15
ailoWhat we should test15:15
ailolen-dt: Anything missing there?15:16
len-dtailo, I would drop PCI latency. Using the sugested script made my machine unstable and more xruns as a result. Any newer system will have PCIe slots anyway.15:17
ailoOne thing that I think we should not do, is disabling things that don't do any harm anyway15:17
len-dtblutooth?15:17
ailolen-dt: The idea is we do tests, gather results, and then figure out what to do15:18
len-dtswappiness? 15:18
ailoIt's there15:18
ailoUnder Filesystem15:19
len-dtok I see it now. My browser is set to a small font for that.15:19
len-dtBoth of my machines gave problems with jackd when ulatency was used15:20
len-dtJackd crashing15:21
len-dtI think that is because jack does some of the same things using different system tools or the stock ulatencyd setup conflicts.15:21
ailolen-dt: Perhaps rmlimits is preferred in that situation15:22
ailoSeems to be all about cgroups15:22
ailorlimits, instead of PAM15:23
len-dtmight be.15:23
ailoUsing rlimits instead of PAM would be kind of a big change.15:24
ailoBut interesting to see how that works15:24
len-dtThe idea behind using ulatencyd in the first place was to set what apps should be forced to stay in ram and not get swapped out. This is turned off by default15:24
len-dtailo, to test swappiness... run a sequence and pump it into enough sound modules to use more than 40% memory... now try to use qjackctl.15:27
len-dtI think I actually was using closer to 60% memory15:28
ailolen-dt: You mean fill up 60% of RAM with something, and then try using qjackctl?15:28
ailoOr does it have to be jack applications?15:28
ailoWhy qjacktl, in particular?15:29
len-dtProbably has to be jack or at least those with memlock15:29
ailoOk15:29
len-dtThat was where I noticed the problem15:29
len-dtIt was like qjackctl had froze15:30
ailolen-dt: You start qjackctl first. Then a bunch of apps. Then go back to qjackctl, right?15:30
len-dtYa.15:30
len-dtIt seemed to ok to get the connections made but then after running things for a while and going back to change routing, qjackctl was pretty much not usable for a bit.15:31
ailolen-dt: And this happened when swappiness was high?15:31
len-dtswappiness was at stock setting 6015:32
len-dtThis means when ram get 4o% the OS starts swaping things out15:32
len-dtNot hard swaps but if they have sat around for a bit.15:32
len-dtswappiness at 10 I can go for days with no swap at all, and if I use a lot of cache it may put some stuff there, but after that use it is stable again.15:34
ailolen-dt: And did you ever see a situation where it would be good to have more swap on Ubuntu Studio?15:34
len-dtI found no real difference from swappiness at 10 or at 0.15:34
ailoI mean, more swappiness15:34
len-dteven with swappiness at 0 the OS will swap stuff out if it has to15:35
ailoHas someone said anything about that, what graphics are concerned, etc15:35
len-dt10 gives it a bit of time to start swapping things out before it has to just to run.15:35
len-dtI have had comments that swappiness at a low value is good for graphics as well.15:36
len-dtAlso cpu frequency on full not ondemand.15:37
len-dtat least one other person has had problems with xruns at speed change with ondemand.15:37
ailoHigh swappiness is perhaps only suitable for servers?15:39
ailoI've never measured how the cpu freq changes15:40
ailoAnd how fast15:40
len-dthigh swappiness is good for high disk use applications15:44
len-dtredhat now defaults to 4015:44
len-dteven in their servers I think15:45
len-dtThere is a cpu throttling for jack, but from reading about it... all it does is set speed full while jack is running.15:47
ailolen-dt: Where is the cpu throttling for jack, link?15:49
len-dthttp://rg42.org/oss/jackfreqd/start15:50
len-dtI found the discussion at the bottom interesting.15:53
len-dtIt seems the same thing can be achieved by using ondemand and switching to performance when jack starts15:54
len-dtNote this person also seems to have had xruns when the speed switches15:55
len-dtThat would make three, that I have heard of... the person he was talking to makes 415:56
len-dtThere has been a suggestion, that running at a lower speed but solid with no changes would be fine too.15:57
len-dtI think mine has 1/2, 4/6, 5/6 and full. Running at 5/6 may give less fan noise and heat but still run fine.15:58
* len-dt thinks he could do a lot at half speed15:59
ailoWell, that's enough for one day. We have two things we know we can test automated: 1. xruns 2. midi latency(jitter). 16:17
ailoNeed to see about memlock and freezing apps tomorrow then16:17
len-dtgood.16:18
len-dtI am going to work on install icons today.16:18
ailolen-dt: I was just doing some testing with the alsa-midi-latency-test18:14
ailoI adjusted max_user_freq between ranges 64 and 307218:15
ailoNo change18:15
ailoDon't know if this test app uses audio group18:16
ailoDon't know how that works, concerning the HW timers18:16
ailoWhatever I did, enabling, or disabling, had no effect18:17
ailoLatency was mostly 4ms, with only a few stray misses, between 7-9ms18:17
ailoBut, then I tried with rtirq script18:18
ailoAnd then, nothing abobe 5 ms18:18
ailoStill, not really big jitter in either case, which is not my experience from before. So, I'll do some manual testing too, using ears and wave files18:20
ailoI guess perhaps jitter doesn't come through on this test after all. Remains to be seen18:21
len-dtailo, That was what I found frustrating. I had heard timing all over the place, but when I tried to measure it... the problem vanished :P19:48
ailolen-dt: Did you reboot in between changes?19:49
ailoWe really need to make sure to put down all possible data for automated tests to catch diffs19:49
ailoI mean, collect all possible data19:50
len-dtworse, two different machines :-)  I have to do some retesting19:51
ailolen-dt: Actually, after redoing the test with the rtirq script running, I suddenly get the same result as without, pretty much19:53
ailoAnyway, I should just create a test, and collect data to the mail list19:54
ailoIt'll speak for itself after all19:54
len-dtfun fun.19:57
len-dtailo, I tried something different, but it still looks good... Hmm, I should check I may have the timers group audio on that machine.21:43
len-dtRan an external synth in with just a drum beat. Recorded a track. Then ran that out the port and in and recorded on the same instance of qtractor.21:45
len-dtThey line up really well. I will try it with out the timers accessible by group audio.21:46

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