Startup notification doesn't work when Pidgin is started without a window (only in the notification area).

In edgy it starts as fast as with the buddy list opened.

Are your packages up to date?

It still starts as fast as when the buddy list is opened, it's just that the "Starting Gaim Internet Messenger" is displayed for way longer than it should, between 5 and 10 seconds. I believe the case here is that gnome or whatever it is doesn't get notified of gaim finished starting so instead the "busy cursor" and startup notification times out.

I assume I have my packages up to date, mind you I'm a total noob with ubuntu since I just changed distributions a week ago.

To update your packages, you can use the update-manager application (system/administration/update manager).

It would be helpfull to know if the program is reporting any error when launching it. To do this, open a terminal (Applications/Accesories/Terminal) and run gaim from inside the terminal.
If it reports any error (or even warnings) please add a comment to this bug pasting that information.

This bug is still in feisty.

To reproduce:
Right click on gaim in the notification tray and uncheck show buddy list.
Close gaim
Reopen it

This will only work if gaim does not open any windows, e.g. it does not join an irc server/channel.

The reason for this bug is that gtk+ automatically ends the startup notification when a window is created. In this case no window is created so it just sits there and finally times out.

To fix this:
gdk_notify_startup_complete(); must be called manually when gaim has done all the initiation. More information here: http://developer.gnome.org/doc/API/2.0/gdk/gdk-General.html#id2523523

Here is a patch for the issue. I just got rid of all the calls to startup notification (which was bad code because it is only available on X11. So I just made it a simple call to gdk_notify_startup_complete();.

The bug doesn't happen on my desktop

I have got another person to test it and he can reproduce it. It does exist.

Do you have the "Show system tray icon" on always?

(it might not be on by default)

does it happen with a stock user and no account configured?

I can't test it because I am using my fixed version...

You will not reproduce the bug unless you have at least one account (most people do :P). The reason is because a dialog box pops up when you have no accounts...

not confirming, the list is not display but there is no busy cursor neither, we need extra details on how to trigger it

I don't have Ubuntu installed anymore so I can't test it again but I distinctly remember having a busy cursor. Extra details for my setup is: One msn account configured, make sure no window gets displayed when you start gaim (this is crucial) and you will se the bug. Anyway, I looked at sitis patch and it definitely looks like a cleanup.

I can reproduce this bug (feisty) using the instructions given.

how do you start it? that doesn't happen when using the "run application" dialog, using the gnome-panel menu triggers the bug though

I start it using a gnome panel shortcut. Anything that uses the .desktop file and the startup notification will trigger this bug...

The run dialog just runs gaim (and other apps) without the startup notification.

I can confirm that the same problem exists in pidgin in gutsy gibbon.

I can also confirm that the same problem exists in pidgin in gutsy gibbon.

Confirming on Hardy (Pidgin)

rejecting the gaim task, isn't maintained.