Troubleshooting Ubuntu 25.10 OSD, GLFW, And Wireplumber Crashes

October 12, 2025 by StackCamp Team 64 views

Experiencing crashes after a fresh install can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're eager to get your system up and running smoothly. If you've recently installed Ubuntu 25.10 and are encountering issues with OSD (On-Screen Display), GLFW (Graphics Library Framework), and Wireplumber, particularly a crash in assertion_message_expr(), you're in the right place. Let's dive into the potential causes and solutions for this problem.

Understanding the Issue

Before we jump into troubleshooting, it's essential to understand what these components are and how they interact. This will give you a solid foundation for diagnosing and resolving the issue.

Ubuntu 25.10: This is the operating system you're using, the foundation upon which all your software runs. New versions sometimes have compatibility issues or bugs that need to be ironed out.
OSD (On-Screen Display): OSD typically refers to a graphical overlay that displays information on your screen, like volume levels, brightness, or other system stats. It relies on graphics libraries to function correctly.
GLFW (Graphics Library Framework): GLFW is a library used for creating and managing windows, contexts, and input. It's commonly used in graphics applications and games. If GLFW crashes, it suggests a problem with how your application is interacting with the graphics system.
Wireplumber: Wireplumber is a session and policy manager for PipeWire, a multimedia framework that handles audio and video streams. It's a crucial component for managing multimedia devices and routing audio/video in modern Linux systems. A crash in Wireplumber can lead to system instability and multimedia-related issues.

When these components clash, especially after a fresh install, it can lead to system freezes and crashes, like the one you're experiencing with the assertion_message_expr() error. This error often indicates a failed assertion within the Wireplumber code, meaning something isn't behaving as expected.

Initial Steps and Checks

Okay, so you're facing crashes, and it's no fun! Let's start with some basic checks and initial steps that can often help pinpoint the problem. Think of this as our detective work – we're gathering clues to solve the mystery.

1. Checking System Logs

Your system logs are like a diary of everything that's happening under the hood. They can provide valuable insights into what's going wrong. Here’s how to access them:

Using the command line: Open your terminal (you can usually find it by searching "terminal" in the application menu) and use the following command:
```
journalctl -b -1 -e
```
This command shows you the logs from the previous boot (-b -1) and jumps to the end (-e) for the most recent entries. Look for any error messages or warnings related to Wireplumber, GLFW, or your OSD application. Pay close attention to anything that appears around the time of the crash.
Graphical log viewer: Ubuntu has a graphical tool called "Logs" (you can search for it in the application menu). This tool provides a more user-friendly way to browse system logs. Filter the logs by the time of the crash or look for specific keywords like "wireplumber" or "glfw".

2. Verifying Driver Compatibility

Graphics drivers are essential for your system to communicate with your graphics card. Incompatible or outdated drivers can often cause crashes, especially when dealing with graphics-intensive applications or libraries like GLFW.

Checking your current driver: Open the terminal and use the following command:
```
ubuntu-drivers devices
```
This command lists your installed drivers and any recommended drivers.
Updating drivers: You can update your drivers using the "Software & Updates" application. Go to the "Additional Drivers" tab and select the recommended driver for your graphics card. Alternatively, you can use the command line:
```
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
```
This command automatically installs the recommended drivers.

3. Checking for Application Dependencies

Sometimes, an application might crash if it's missing certain dependencies – the libraries and software it needs to run correctly.

Identifying dependencies: If you're running a specific OSD application, check its documentation or website for a list of dependencies.
Installing dependencies: Use the apt package manager to install any missing dependencies. For example, if your application needs libglfw3, you can install it with:
```
sudo apt install libglfw3
```

4. Checking Wireplumber Status and Configuration

Since the crash report mentions Wireplumber, let’s make sure it's running correctly and configured properly.

Checking Wireplumber status: Use the terminal command:
```
systemctl status wireplumber
```
This will tell you if Wireplumber is active (running) or if there are any errors.
Restarting Wireplumber: If Wireplumber is running but acting up, try restarting it:
```
sudo systemctl restart wireplumber
```
Configuration files: Wireplumber's configuration files are located in /etc/wireplumber/ and ~/.config/wireplumber/. You might want to check these files for any misconfigurations, but be careful when editing them, as incorrect settings can cause further issues.

By going through these initial steps, you'll be gathering crucial information about the problem. It’s like collecting pieces of a puzzle – each check helps you get closer to the solution.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps

If the basic checks haven't resolved the issue, don't worry! We're moving into the more advanced troubleshooting techniques. These steps require a bit more technical know-how, but they can often uncover the root cause of the problem.

1. Analyzing the Core Dump

When a program crashes, it often creates a core dump – a snapshot of the program's memory at the time of the crash. This dump can be analyzed to pinpoint the exact location in the code where the crash occurred.

Ensuring core dumps are enabled: By default, core dumps might be disabled. You can enable them with the following command:
```
ulimit -c unlimited
```
This command sets the core dump size limit to unlimited for the current session. To make this permanent, you'll need to modify your system's configuration files (refer to Ubuntu documentation for details).
Locating the core dump: Core dumps are typically stored in /var/lib/systemd/coredump/. You might need root privileges to access this directory.
Analyzing the core dump with GDB: GDB (GNU Debugger) is a powerful tool for analyzing core dumps. You can use it to load the core dump and the program's executable to inspect the state of the program at the time of the crash. Here’s a basic example:
```
gdb /path/to/your/program /var/lib/systemd/coredump/core.yourprogram.PID.timestamp
```
Replace /path/to/your/program with the path to the executable that crashed, and /var/lib/systemd/coredump/core.yourprogram.PID.timestamp with the path to the core dump file.

Once in GDB, you can use commands like bt (backtrace) to see the call stack at the time of the crash, which can help identify the function where the crash occurred.

2. Testing with Different GLFW Versions

Since GLFW is a key component in this issue, it's worth testing with different versions to see if a specific version is causing the problem.

Identifying your current GLFW version: You can check the installed GLFW version using the pkg-config command:
```
pkg-config --modversion glfw3
```
Installing a different version: This is a bit more involved and might require compiling GLFW from source. Download the source code for the desired GLFW version from the GLFW website (https://www.glfw.org/). Follow the instructions in the GLFW documentation to compile and install it.
Testing your application: After installing a different GLFW version, try running your OSD application again to see if the crash persists.

3. Isolating the Issue with a Minimal Test Case

If you're running a complex OSD application, it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of the crash. Creating a minimal test case can help isolate the issue.

Creating a simple GLFW application: Write a very basic GLFW application that initializes GLFW, creates a window, and enters a main loop. This will help you determine if the crash is related to GLFW itself or to your application's code.
Adding OSD functionality incrementally: If the basic GLFW application runs fine, start adding OSD functionality incrementally, testing after each addition. This will help you identify the specific part of your code that's causing the crash.

4. Investigating PipeWire and Wireplumber Configuration

Since Wireplumber is crashing, it's essential to investigate its configuration and interaction with PipeWire, the multimedia framework it manages.

Checking PipeWire status: Use the terminal command:
```
systemctl status pipewire
```
Ensure that PipeWire is running correctly.
Inspecting Wireplumber logs: Wireplumber has its own log files, which can provide more detailed information about its operation. These logs are typically located in ~/.local/state/wireplumber/.
Experimenting with Wireplumber configuration: Wireplumber's behavior can be customized through configuration files. You can try disabling certain features or modules to see if that resolves the crash. However, be cautious when modifying these files, as incorrect settings can cause further issues.

By diving into these advanced troubleshooting steps, you're taking a deeper look into the system's inner workings. It's like becoming a software detective, meticulously examining the evidence to crack the case.

Seeking Community Support

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we can't solve a problem on our own. That's where the power of community comes in! There are many online forums and communities where you can seek help from other users and developers.

1. Ubuntu Forums

The Ubuntu Forums (https://ubuntuforums.org/) are a great place to ask questions and get help from experienced Ubuntu users. When posting, be sure to provide as much detail as possible about your issue, including:

Your Ubuntu version
The exact error message you're seeing
What you've already tried
Any relevant system information (e.g., graphics card, drivers)

2. Ask Ubuntu

Ask Ubuntu (https://askubuntu.com/) is a question-and-answer site specifically for Ubuntu users. It's a good place to search for answers to common problems and to ask your own questions if you can't find a solution.

3. GLFW Forums/Community

If you suspect the issue is related to GLFW, the GLFW website (https://www.glfw.org/) may have a forum or community where you can ask for help.

4. Wireplumber Community

For issues specifically related to Wireplumber, look for community forums or mailing lists associated with the PipeWire project, as Wireplumber is a part of that ecosystem.

5. Reporting Bugs

If you believe you've found a bug in Ubuntu, GLFW, or Wireplumber, it's important to report it so that developers can fix it. You can report bugs using Ubuntu's bug reporting tool (ubuntu-bug) or through the bug trackers for GLFW and Wireplumber.

Remember, when seeking help from the community, be patient and polite. People are volunteering their time to help you, so be respectful of their efforts.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting crashes, especially after a fresh install, can be a daunting task. But by systematically working through the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of finding the root cause and resolving the issue. Remember to start with the basics, gather information from system logs and error messages, and don't hesitate to seek help from the community. With persistence and a bit of detective work, you'll have your Ubuntu 25.10 system running smoothly in no time! Good luck, and happy troubleshooting, guys!