Gdebi keeps crashing when "Install" is clicked

Question

I'm having an issue with gdebi, where it launches and loads the package I'm trying to install just fine, but whenever I click on "Install" it crashes and quits.  I don't mind having to use dpkg -i while I'm sorting this out, the gui method is just easier when I don't really want to bother with the terminal approach.

I've already tried apt remove, apt autoremove and apt purge but each time I reinstall it, the same crash keeps occurring.

I'd be fine if you want to just suggest using another extremely lightweight gui pm installer, but I really don't want to launch the heavyweights like gnome-software, or appgrid.

If you'd like more info, please tell me what to copy/paste so you can see the error logs.

Anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks a lot.

Daga Spadini · Answer

I had the same problem: make sure that the .deb package is not "read only" in its properties.
Worked for me.

GAJ · Answer

@Causeless Effect: Setting Terminal=true in the gdebi.desktop file was the solution for me too.

A minor quirk about this approach is you'll see a terminal window quickly flash and close but this should allow the application to prompt you for your password when you click "Install" which will grant the necessary permissions to actually begin installation.

On my system the 'minor quirk' is a bit different.
When selecting a file in my file manager, right-click and select the option 'open with gdebi package installer', first a terminal window is opened, and in front of that the GUI of gdebi. Using the GUI works perfectly fine, and closing the GUI also closes the terminal window behind it.

CauselessEffect · Answer

The suggestion here to modify the .desktop file has the right concept, but if you can't get gksudo on your modern Linux installation then try the following:

Edit your gdebi.desktop file:

sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/gdebi.desktop

(Obviously, if you don't have "gedit", replace that with "nano" or whatever your preferred editor is.)

Now change the line:

Terminal=false

to:

Terminal=true

A minor quirk about this approach is you'll see a terminal window quickly flash and close but this should allow the application to prompt you for your password when you click "Install" which will grant the necessary permissions to actually begin installation.

Guest · Answer

Run:

gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/gdebi.desktop

or

gksudo mousepad /usr/share/applications/gdebi.desktop

make it read:-

[Desktop Entry]
Name=GDebi Package Installer
GenericName=Package Installer
Comment=Install and view software packages
Exec=gksudo gdebi-gtk %f
Icon=gnome-mime-application-x-deb
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=System;
MimeType=application/vnd.debian.binary-package;
NotShowIn=KDE;
X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=gdebi
StartupNotify=true
Keywords=package;apt;dpkg;install

SAVE the file.

That fixes it.

Andrew Morgan · Answer

This started happening to me in November also.

But GDebi is not actually crashing. If you run it in a terminal:

gdebi /path/to/.deb

It terminates with "must be root to install software packages"

Try:

sudo gdebi /path/to/.deb

I am accustomed to right-click .deb "Install with GDebi", but this currently does not work.

Gdebi keeps crashing when "Install" is clicked

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