Dev1 Galaxy Forum / GIMP won't start, error message

Re: GIMP won't start, error message

dummy@example.com (jue-gen) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:50:07 +0000

Thank you very much for this information. This is all very interesting to me.
I can't really judge that, but I've read that Wayland is more secure because it implements modern security concepts like application isolation (sandboxing). Unlike X11, where by default every application can access input (keylogger risk) and screen content of other programs, Wayland isolates windows from each other. Furthermore, less code runs with root privileges, which reduces the attack surface.

Re: GIMP won't start, error message

dummy@example.com (Duke Nukem) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:52:41 +0000

Not the only graphics intensive software that does not work on Wayland. Kdenlive (video editor) doesn't either, last time I tried.

Re: GIMP won't start, error message

dummy@example.com (Altoid) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:49:29 +0000

Hello:

jue-gen wrote:

... problem only occurs with Wayland, not with X11.

Surprised? Not.

probonopd @gist.github wrote:

TL;DR:
Wayland is not "the future", it is merely an incompatible alternative to the established standard with a different set of priorities and goals.

Best,

GIMP won't start, error message

dummy@example.com (jue-gen) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:48:17 +0000

When I try to start GIMP (Excalibur), I get this error message:

Error: eval: unbound variable: (/usr/share/gimp/3.0/scripts/text-circle.scm : 17)  symbol-bound?

Has anyone solved the problem?

Addendum: I just noticed. The problem only occurs with Wayland, not with X11.

Addendum 1: I just saw that too, the command GDK_BACKEND=x11 gimp starts GIMP. However, this is unfortunately not a satisfactory solution.

123@123:~$ GDK_BACKEND=x11 gimp
set device 'xwayland-relative-pointer:10' to mode: disabled
set device 'Virtual core XTEST pointer' to mode: disabled
set device 'xwayland-pointer:10' to mode: disabled
set device 'xwayland-pointer-gestures:10' to mode: disabled
scriptfu-Message: 10:38:06.264: Fehler beim Laden von /usr/share/gimp/3.0/scripts/text-circle.scm:

Error: eval: unbound variable: (/usr/share/gimp/3.0/scripts/text-circle.scm : 17)  symbol-bound?

Oh yes, I'm using Gimp 3.0.4