https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=453119
Bug ID: 453119
Summary: backlighthelper hangs making system unusable
Product: Powerdevil
Version: unspecified
Platform: Kubuntu Packages
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: normal
Priority: NOR
Component: general
Assignee: plasma-b...@kde.org
Reporter: kdeb...@toeai.com
Target Milestone: ---
SUMMARY
For as long as I can remember, the OSD popup that comes when I press a key to
raise or lower laptop LCD screen backlight brightness has been wonky. For one,
the brightness starts changing as soon as I press the key, but the OSD takes so
long coming up that when it does, then it changes my brightness back to where
it was before I started changing it and I have to do it all over again.
Another very common occurrence is that the backlighthelper
(/usr/lib/kauth/libexec/backlighthelper) process hangs, so the OSD does not go
away and the program continues eating CPU. The only remedy I've found that
often works to stop backlighthelper is to press another OSD-related key, such
as turning the touchpad off and back on. It's so unusable that I've finally
wised up and renamed backlighthelper so the system can't find it. No OSD now,
but it's an improvement otherwise. Also, the lagginess of the program often
interprets a single quick keystroke as if I had held the key down, so one quick
press makes the screen go all the way bright or all the way dim.
STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Press the <Monitor Brightness Down> or <Monitor Brightness Up> keys.
OBSERVED RESULT
Brightness changes immediately. Eventually OSD comes up and changes brightness
back to where it was until I press the key again with the OSD on screen.
Often, backlighthelper hangs and must be killed or interrupted by pressing
another key that raises another OSD notification. A single quick press may
result in the screen being completely dimmed or brightened instead of changing
brightness by just one level.
EXPECTED RESULT
The program obviously isn't needed to change the brightness, so when it fights
me by changing the brightness back, that's lemon juice in the paper cut. Why
can't it just report the change I've already made, when it finally gets around
to it, and then just get off the screen and let me work? It doesn't need to be
actually changing ANYTHING, let alone misinterpreting my keyboard input or
hanging indefinitely.
SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Kubuntu 20.04 64-bit
KDE Plasma Version: 5.18.8
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.68.0
Qt Version: 5.12.8
Powerdevil: 5.18.6
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Available on request. If there's something I can run that will give you
helpful info, let me know.
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