Menubar falls to default layout when launch from a link about browser

[cassidyjames]

I can’t reproduce this here; can you specify what app you’re clicking a link in to trigger this behavior? In addition to just using Web day-to-day as my default browser, I've tested Slack (as a Flatpak), the System Settings → System plug links, and a Flatpaked GNOME app. All open Web for me correctly.

[AI-ien]

I used apps like typora, visual studio code and bitwarden. First two apps opens links with Ctrl+click combination. Links from apps like terminal or links in about dialogs work fin, but those don't require to press control key to open links. So that might be direction were to look I guess, but I can not explain bitwarden behavior.

Also, I tried it on new account and the same thing happens.

[mcatanzaro]

I notice the tab bar is gone too, so seems like all elementary customizations are lost. Guess: Electron filters environment variables and drops XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP?

[AI-ien]

I notice the tab bar is gone too, so seems like all elementary customizations are lost. Guess: Electron filters environment variables and drops XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP?

I didn't notice that it is related to electron apps. I tried Whatsapp and google messages electron web wrapper and from there links also behave the same. All makes sense now.

[mcatanzaro]

I used apps like typora, visual studio code and bitwarden.

So all of these apps are using Electron? I was just guessing: I have no clue how they're written, except Visual Studio Code.

Do normal apps work? Easy test would be the elementary mail app.

[AI-ien]

Normal apps work just fine. Tried to open links from terminal, lutris menu links and basically any app that have about dialog with link to web page, all open Epiphany with elementary theme.

[mcatanzaro]

I think my guess is probably right, then. If Electron is stripping the environment for some reason, then Epiphany has no way to know it's running under Pantheon and losing all the elementary customizations is expected. Do the close buttons in the browser tabs switch to the right as well?

[AI-ien]

No. You can see in pic above that buttons don't move.

[mcatanzaro]

I can't because the tab bar is hidden in the first pic, because you only have one tab open, because showing the tab bar when there is only one tab is an elementary customization. ;)

[AI-ien]

It's not just about visible first tab. Buttons and layout also is different.

For one thing you were right, it is related to XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP env variable. Setting an override solves this bug:

$ sudo flatpak override --env=XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=Pantheon org.gnome.Epiphany

Could possibly set it as global, but I'm not sure that would be the right approach.

[mcatanzaro]

The right approach is to fix Electron.

[mcatanzaro]

Disappearing environment variables is going to affect all sorts of stuff, way beyond just Epiphany. ;)

[cassidyjames]

Again, I tested with Slack (a Flatpaked Electron app) and I cannot reproduce this issue. I also use Flatpaked Bitwarden daily and cannot reproduce it there. I can give a try with some of the other apps but it seems like something else is going on here.

[AI-ien]

Last thing I could imagine is switching default browsers in settings > default apps. Maybe it's triggered from there.
I have Microsoft Edge (deb) and Firefox (flatpak) installed additionally.

[danirabbit]

Gonna close as "Out of scope" this since it sounds like it's an Electron issue