Currently checked out branch is not bold in gitk when using ssh X-forwarding

Currently checked out branch is not bold in gitk when using ssh X-forwarding

[Jeremy Ramer]

I'm running into a rather arcane issue and I am hoping someone here
might be familiar with it. Here's the scenario:
I have a build server that has git 1.7.0.4. If I use a local X-window
system and start gitk the currently checked out branch is displayed in
bold font as normal. If I remotely log in using an older Fedora 11 box
(ssh -X buildserver) when I start gitk the currently checked out
branch is displayed in bold font as normal. However, when I log in
from my newer Ubuntu 11.11 laptop (ssh -X buildserver) and start gitk
the currently checked out branch is not displayed in bold font. In
fact, all the fonts are a little ugly, though it is the lack of bold
that is the hardest to work with.
My theory is it has something to do with Tcl/Tk/Wish.  On the build
server and the old Fedora box /usr/bin/wish -> /usr/bin/wish8.4 , but
on my Ubuntu laptop /usr/bin/wish -> /usr/bin/wish8.5.  I've tried
installing tk8.4 and changing the symlink on the laptop but it doesn't
help.  Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!
Jeremy

Re: Currently checked out branch is not bold in gitk when using ssh X-forwarding

[Neal Kreitzinger]

On 3/22/2012 4:10 PM, Jeremy Ramer wrote:
> However, when I log in from my newer Ubuntu 11.11 laptop (ssh -X
> buildserver) and start gitk the currently checked out branch is not
> displayed in bold font. In fact, all the fonts are a little ugly,
> though it is the lack of bold that is the hardest to work with.
>
FWIW, my theory is that is has something to do with your fonts. Just a
simple end user observation.  I'm not a gitk programmer.

Maybe you don't have your fonts set for what-you-want in gitk.  Maybe 
you don't have the fonts installed/setup on your ubuntu box for 
what-you-want in gitk.

I assume gitk uses the fonts that you tell it to, or that are available.

Hope this helps.

v/r,
neal

Re: Currently checked out branch is not bold in gitk when using ssh X-forwarding

[Neal Kreitzinger]

On 3/22/2012 6:08 PM, Neal Kreitzinger wrote:
> On 3/22/2012 4:10 PM, Jeremy Ramer wrote:
>> However, when I log in from my newer Ubuntu 11.11 laptop (ssh -X
>> buildserver) and start gitk the currently checked out branch is
>> not displayed in bold font. In fact, all the fonts are a little
>> ugly, though it is the lack of bold that is the hardest to work
>> with.
>>
> FWIW, my theory is that is has something to do with your fonts. Just
> a simple end user observation. I'm not a gitk programmer.
>
> Maybe you don't have your fonts set for what-you-want in gitk. Maybe
> you don't have the fonts installed/setup on your ubuntu box for
> what-you-want in gitk.
>
> I assume gitk uses the fonts that you tell it to, or that are
> available.
>
Hint: the bold version of a font is its own font.  You could have the 
non-bold font installed, but not the bold font.  Here's a link on how to
install fonts: http://karmak.org/archive/2004/06/ttfonts.html?lang=en

*If* that is the reason for your lack of bold-ness in gitk.

Also, I see from my install log that it does do something with fonts:

  DEST /usr/share/git-gui/lib
     INSTALL 644 tclIndex
     INSTALL 644 about.tcl
     INSTALL 644 blame.tcl
     INSTALL 644 branch_checkout.tcl
     INSTALL 644 branch_create.tcl
     INSTALL 644 branch_delete.tcl
     INSTALL 644 branch_rename.tcl
     INSTALL 644 branch.tcl
     INSTALL 644 browser.tcl
     INSTALL 644 checkout_op.tcl
     INSTALL 644 choose_font.tcl

I'm not sure how closely gitk and git-gui are tied together.

Hope this helps some more.

v/r,
neal

Re: Currently checked out branch is not bold in gitk when using ssh X-forwarding

[Jeremy Ramer]

On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 6:02 PM, Neal Kreitzinger
<nkreitzinger@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 3/22/2012 6:08 PM, Neal Kreitzinger wrote:
>>
>> On 3/22/2012 4:10 PM, Jeremy Ramer wrote:
>>>
>>> However, when I log in from my newer Ubuntu 11.11 laptop (ssh -X
>>> buildserver) and start gitk the currently checked out branch is
>>> not displayed in bold font. In fact, all the fonts are a little
>>> ugly, though it is the lack of bold that is the hardest to work
>>> with.
>>>
>> FWIW, my theory is that is has something to do with your fonts. Just
>> a simple end user observation. I'm not a gitk programmer.
>>
>> Maybe you don't have your fonts set for what-you-want in gitk. Maybe
>> you don't have the fonts installed/setup on your ubuntu box for
>> what-you-want in gitk.
>>
>> I assume gitk uses the fonts that you tell it to, or that are
>> available.
>>
> Hint: the bold version of a font is its own font.  You could have the
> non-bold font installed, but not the bold font.  Here's a link on how to
> install fonts: http://karmak.org/archive/2004/06/ttfonts.html?lang=en
>
> *If* that is the reason for your lack of bold-ness in gitk.
>
> Also, I see from my install log that it does do something with fonts:
>
>  DEST /usr/share/git-gui/lib
>    INSTALL 644 tclIndex
>    INSTALL 644 about.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 blame.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 branch_checkout.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 branch_create.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 branch_delete.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 branch_rename.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 branch.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 browser.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 checkout_op.tcl
>    INSTALL 644 choose_font.tcl
>
> I'm not sure how closely gitk and git-gui are tied together.
>
> Hope this helps some more.
>
> v/r,
> neal

It does seem to be a font issue. The strange thing is that the fonts
work correctly when I do it locally on my laptop and when I do it
locally on the build server. But when I use the ssh x-forwarding the
fonts seem broken. I've tried installing several font packages with no
luck.

I have found a workaround that resolves my issue for now. I changed
the font used in gitk to "fixed" (Helvetica is the default selection,
but doesn't appear in the list when I try to change the font). With
fixed the bold checked out branch shows up properly.

Thanks!
Jeremy