Gnome terminal will not start

Question

I just tried to install python 3.6 on my Ubuntu 16.04 system, and now I can't run the terminal from the launcher or from Ctrl + Alt + T. I tried to run gnome-terminal from XTerm and got the following message:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/gnome-terminal", line 9, in <module>
    from gi.repository import GLib, Gio
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gi/__init__.py", line 42, in <module>
    from . import _gi
ImportError: cannot import name '_gi'
Error in sys.excepthook:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport_python_hook.py", line 63, in apport_excepthook
    from apport.fileutils import likely_packaged, get_recent_crashes
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/__init__.py", line 5, in <module>
    from apport.report import Report
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/report.py", line 30, in <module>
    import apport.fileutils
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/fileutils.py", line 23, in <module>
    from apport.packaging_impl import impl as packaging
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apport/packaging_impl.py", line 23, in <module>
    import apt
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apt/__init__.py", line 23, in <module>
    import apt_pkg
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'apt_pkg'
Original exception was:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/gnome-terminal", line 9, in <module>
    from gi.repository import GLib, Gio
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gi/init.py", line 42, in <module>
    from . import _gi
ImportError: cannot import name '_gi'

How can I fix this error?

It should also be noted that:

My gnome-terminal file is now a python script.
The gnome-terminal.real file will open the terminal as expected.
python3.5 gnome-terminal will open the terminal as expected.

score 50 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 05 '17 at 19:54

50

Probably the symlink /usr/bin/python3 points to python3.6, which it should not. Fix it by running these commands:

sudo rm /usr/bin/python3
sudo ln -s python3.5 /usr/bin/python3

answered Feb 05 '17 at 19:54

Gunnar Hjalmarsson

33,540
3
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5

To add to this: this is caused by a bug in the python3-apt package; there's a Launchpad bug open about it here. – ash Feb 06 '17 at 14:31
The symlink should be created on which path ? Isn't pyenv a better alternative until the terminal bug is fixed ? – josircg Mar 17 '18 at 15:44
@josircg: Not sure I understand your path question. Both the symlink and the executable reside in /usr/bin. There may well be better alternatives. If you know of any, please write an own answer. – Gunnar Hjalmarsson Mar 17 '18 at 19:42
About the path: it think it's wise to add a cd /usr/bin before the ln, right? – josircg Mar 17 '18 at 20:04
About the solution: if you try to enable again python 3.6, you wil have to remove/recreate the symlink again. This should be noted too on the solution. – josircg Mar 17 '18 at 20:06
@josircg: cd'ing isn't necessary in this case. The result would be the same. Not sure I see the value with the note you suggest. The question was asked for an Ubuntu version (16.04) which is based on python3.5. The symlink shouldn't point to any other python version as long as you are on 16.04. If/when you upgrade it will be fixed automatically. – Gunnar Hjalmarsson Mar 17 '18 at 21:01
1

@GunnarHjalmarsson where can I run these commands, my terminal is not opening. – Shoyeb Sheikh Apr 09 '19 at 06:47
1

@ShoyebSheikh: Maybe you have XTerm? – Gunnar Hjalmarsson Apr 09 '19 at 15:32
@GunnarHjalmarsson I got it working thanks very much, https://askubuntu.com/questions/1132349/terminal-not-opening-up-after-upgrading-python-to-3-7 – Shoyeb Sheikh Apr 09 '19 at 15:52

score 30 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 31 '18 at 22:24

30

You don't have to point Python3 to python3.5 , just running the commands:

cd /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gi/
sudo cp _gi.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so _gi.cpython-36m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so
sudo cp _gi_cairo.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so _gi_cairo.cpython-36m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so

edited Jul 31 '18 at 22:24

wjandrea

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answered Jan 26 '18 at 08:48

Inno Jia

417
4
2

1

What does this do exactly? Is it safe? – wjandrea Aug 01 '18 at 19:52
5

This should be the answer. It is safe @wjandrea , I use it without any problem with Python 3.7 under Ubuntu 18 – Huan Sep 07 '18 at 06:27
Can you paste these into xterm? – Tahlor Sep 12 '18 at 21:24
Works for me, this should be the answer and I second @Huan – user1282043 Mar 22 '19 at 19:42
2

An explanation of what this does would still be helpful – Daniel Holmes May 24 '19 at 06:21
Didn't fix everything for me. e.g., Terminal was fixed but Printers applet and Software Updater still wouldn't start. Needed to switch back to 3.5 as per this other answer below which did fix all. – davidbak Jul 15 '19 at 16:28
1

As @saeed mentions in the answer below, this involves copying the C shared libraries from python 3.5 to python 3.6, which could definitely lead to issues when using python for other purposes. – webelo Sep 22 '19 at 12:45
1

I found 45 files that have the previous version 37 in the filename find /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages | grep 37 | grep -v pyc | wc. So the files in gi/ are probably not the only ones you need to copy. – Oct 18 '19 at 00:18
Third line not required – Alvaro Dec 27 '19 at 13:23
Badly needs explanation and the comments suggest it is not so straightforward. – Caleb Stanford Jun 23 '20 at 14:19
This worked for me on ubuntu 16.04, special thanks! – Edouard Thiel Mar 18 '21 at 10:58

score 12 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 23 '20 at 15:34

12

Proper change of default python3 is done via:

sudo update-alternatives --config python3

Although copying the _gi_cairo.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so from python3.5 to python3.6 could resolve the issue, but would break your library consistency. And should be avoided.

edited Aug 23 '20 at 15:34

Community

1

answered Mar 22 '19 at 22:25

Saeed

371

score 8 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 28 '19 at 03:21

8

I know this is an old question but for those looking for a way other than changing python3 to python 3.5 globally, you can change the first line of /usr/bin/gnome-terminal from #! /usr/bin/python3 to #! /usr/bin/python3.5.

Note: I don't have python 3.5 on my computer but import gi works in python 3.6, so used 3.6 instead of 3.5.

answered Apr 28 '19 at 03:21

FelisPhasma

181

5

Is gnome-terminal the only thing that breaks or are there other gnome-* things that I should change too? – Oct 18 '19 at 00:14

score 4 · Answer 5 · edited Aug 31 '21 at 14:41

REAL REASON + SOLUTION - Python3.7 Gnome Terminal Gets Messed Up - Ubuntu Linux Mint

THIS QUESTION WAS NEVER ANSWERED in another post here Terminal not opening up after upgrading python to 3.7 so I give the cause, reason and solution.

Install python 3.7, correct move, but missing PyGObject gi causes Gnome Terminal to fail on boot, fix easy

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade && sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt install python3.7 python3.7-dev ffmpeg
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.6 1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/python3 python3 /usr/bin/python3.7 2
sudo update-alternatives --config python3 # selecting 3.7
python3 -V # should be version 3.7.5 or more
DO NOT REBOOT HERE .. YET, gnome terminal will break.

NOOB WORK AROUND: IN LINUX ADVANCED RECOVERY MODE - (SO DO NOT REBOOT YET)

$ DO NOT DO sudo update-alternatives --config python3 # select 3.6 It gets your terminal back but is NOT THE SOLUTION.

( Explanation: - [https://pygobject.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started.html#ubuntu-getting-started][1] )

SOLUTION JUST INSTALL WHAT WAS MISSING.

python3 -V # must be python 3.7
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin ; cd .local/bin

vi hello.py # use nano or any editor - it's a test program. See ref link at the end.

    # Test script
    import gi
    gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")
    from gi.repository import Gtk
window = Gtk.Window(title=&quot;Hello World&quot;)
window.show()
window.connect(&quot;destroy&quot;, Gtk.main_quit)
Gtk.main()

sudo update-alternatives --config python3 # set python 3.7
python3 hello.py # it does NOT work so install stuff ...
sudo apt install python3-gi python3-gi-cairo gir1.2-gtk-3.0
sudo apt install libgirepository1.0-dev gcc libcairo2-dev pkg-config python3.7-dev
python3 hello.py # it may NOT work still, install MORE stuff

If you pip install to solve, note that it installs for the user only.
For other Linux's or non-pip install please use the link at the end.

sudo -k # Notice that pip is NOT SECURITY TRUSTED, turn sudo OFF!
python3 -m pip install -U pycairo # this automatically uses pip3
python3 -m pip install -U PyGObject # THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM!
python3 hello.py # WORKS! N.B. other uses must install the same!
sudo shutdown -r now # OK NOW YOU CAN REBOOT. Gnome Terminal will work.

Notice my pip style python3 actually calls pip3 not pip.
True cause Ubuntu or Linux Mint: /usr/bin/gnome-terminal calls default python3 which is 3.7 and finds your gi PyGObject include missing so the terminal is unusable with each user missing the control panel.

Conclusion, you get to keep your python upgrade.

References: [1]: PyGObject including gi test https://pygobject.readthedocs.io/en/latest/getting_started.html#ubuntu-getting-started

score 2 · Answer 6 · edited Feb 07 '20 at 01:29

2

I fixed the gnome-terminal problem from the solution above.
Enter these commands:

cd /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/gi/
sudo cp _gi.cpython-36m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so _gi.cpython-37m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so
sudo cp _gi_cairo.cpython-35m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so _gi_cairo.cpython-36m-x86_64-linux-gnu.so

edited Feb 07 '20 at 01:29

zx485

2,426

answered Feb 07 '20 at 00:25

Peter Chen

121

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Jan 26 '23 at 00:46

If you are using Ubuntu22.04, very simple solution here. /usr/bin/gnome-terminal is a python script. You can change 1st line #!/usb/bin/python to #!/usr/bin/python3.8

 #!/usr/bin/python3.8
import string
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import random
from argparse import ArgumentParser, SUPPRESS
 from gi.repository import GLib, Gio
 ...

Gnome terminal will not start

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