Checking for errors by reading logs or shell output
Let's use Pamac as an example. To find the executable of your application, open Pamac and search for your application by name. The executable file path is typically displayed in parentheses next to the application name (e.g., /usr/bin/appname). This path can be useful in troubleshooting or configuring your application.
To check for errors in your application, open a terminal and type the executable command for your application. Running the application in the terminal can often provide valuable error output that can help troubleshoot any issues. Keep in mind that not all applications output to the terminal by default, so you may need to pass a debug command or configure your application to do so.
Common errors that can cause an application to crash or fail include "core dump," "crash," or "assertion" errors. If you encounter any of these, take note of the error message and search for solutions online or consult with the community forum for assistance.
If you encounter errors with the keywords "core dump," "crash," or "assertion," it's likely that there's a bug or issue with the software that's causing the error. To resolve the issue, you'll need to report the error to the appropriate issue tracker for that software.
Reporting the issue to the issue tracker helps developers to identify and fix the problem. Before opening an issue, be sure to provide as much information as possible about the error, including the error message and any steps you took before the error occurred. This will help developers to reproduce the issue and provide a more effective solution.
Using journalctl
Journalctl is a logging utility that's part of the systemd system and can be used to view system logs, including any errors that occur on your operating system. The most important log to search within journalctl is the error log, as it can provide valuable information to help diagnose and troubleshoot issues.
To use journalctl, open a terminal and type "journalctl -p 3 -xb" to view the error log. This will display any errors that have occurred since the last boot. For more examples of how to use journalctl, consult the man pages or browse the bropages.
Using journalctl to diagnose errors can be a helpful tool in resolving issues with your operating system or applications.
Using keywords to target a specific name search.
journalctl -p err | grep keyword
Checking Logs
To view logs for applications that create logs in the directory (/var/log), navigate to this directory using the terminal or file manager. Note that not all applications create logs in this directory, but those that do can be accessed by opening any file ending in (.log) and viewing its contents in plain text.
To navigate to the /var/log directory using the terminal, use the command "cd /var/log" to change the directory. Once you're in the directory, you can use the command "ls" to list the files in the directory. From here, you can open any file ending in (.log) using a text editor such as gedit or nano on the terminal to view its contents.
Checking log files in the /var/log directory can be a useful tool for troubleshooting issues with your operating system or applications.
Checking logs on Xorg
Xorg is the default display server for most Manjaro editions, with the exception of Gnome. To view Xorg logs, navigate to the directory (/home/.local/share/xorg/) and open the Xorg.0.log file. This log file records any errors that occur with graphical applications running on the Xorg server.
For Gnome users, the display server is Wayland and logs can be found in the same directory with a different name.
If you need to view system logs from multiple sources, the Manjaro Log Helper tool can be a useful tool. This tool collects system logs into one handy log and offers several options for viewing and analyzing the logs, which can save time when troubleshooting issues.
pamac install manjaro-log-helper
