Corrupted configuration files

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 17 views

gedit, nemo and bluefish will crash when opening a .json file

Symptoms

When trying to open a .json file using gedit, nemo, or bluefish, the editors crash, and a similar error message appears in the log. The message indicates that the editors are unable to handle the .json file, which is a common format used for storing data in a structured format. This issue is not limited to these editors, as vi can open the same file without any problems.

Additional Information

The issue is observed on Ubuntu 20.04.
Updates have been applied to the system.
The problem is not specific to a particular version of the editors.
vi can open the .json file without any issues.

Error Message

The error message that appears in the log when trying to open a .json file using gedit, nemo, or bluefish is similar to the following:

Error: Unable to handle the file type

Error: File type not supported

Error: Unable to parse the file

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

Missing dependencies: The editors may be missing dependencies required to handle .json files.
Corrupted configuration files: The configuration files of the editors may be corrupted, leading to this issue.
Incompatible plugins: The editors may have incompatible plugins installed, which can cause this issue.
System updates: System updates may have caused this issue, especially if the updates affected the editors or their dependencies.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Dependencies

Check if the editors have the required dependencies to handle .json files. You can use the following command to check the dependencies:

sudo apt-get install libjson-perl

Step 2: Check Configuration Files

Check if the configuration files of the editors are corrupted. You can try resetting the configuration files to their default values:

sudo rm -rf ~/.config/gedit
sudo rm -rf ~/.config/nemo
sudo rm -rf ~/.config/bluefish

Step 3: Check Plugins

Check if the editors have incompatible plugins installed. You can try disabling or uninstalling the plugins:

sudo apt-get remove gedit-plugin-*
sudo apt-get remove nemo-plugin-*
sudo apt-get remove bluefish-plugin-*

Step 4: Check System Updates

Check if system updates have caused this issue. You can try rolling back to a previous version of the editors or their dependencies:

sudo apt-get install gedit=3.34.0-1ubuntu1
sudo apt-get install nemo=4.2.0-1ubuntu1
sudo apt-get install bluefish=2.2.5-1ubuntu1

gedit, nemo, and bluefish are popular text editors used by many developers and users. However, some users have reported that these editors crash when trying to open a .json file. This issue has been observed on Ubuntu 20.04, and it's essential to understand the root cause and find a solution to this problem. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you can resolve this issue and continue using your preferred text editors.

Q: Why do gedit, nemo, and bluefish crash when opening a .json file?
A: The editors may be missing dependencies required to handle .json files, or the configuration files may be corrupted.
Q: How can I troubleshoot this issue?
A: Follow the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article.
Q: Can I roll back to a previous version of the editors or their dependencies?
A: Yes, you can try rolling back to a previous version of the editors or their dependencies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) =====================================

Q: Why do gedit, nemo, and bluefish crash when opening a .json file?

A: The editors may be missing dependencies required to handle .json files, or the configuration files may be corrupted. Additionally, incompatible plugins or system updates may also cause this issue.

Q: What are the possible causes of this issue?

A: There are several possible causes for this issue, including:

Missing dependencies: The editors may be missing dependencies required to handle .json files.
Corrupted configuration files: The configuration files of the editors may be corrupted, leading to this issue.
Incompatible plugins: The editors may have incompatible plugins installed, which can cause this issue.
System updates: System updates may have caused this issue, especially if the updates affected the editors or their dependencies.

Q: How can I troubleshoot this issue?

A: To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

Check dependencies: Check if the editors have the required dependencies to handle .json files.
Check configuration files: Check if the configuration files of the editors are corrupted.
Check plugins: Check if the editors have incompatible plugins installed.
Check system updates: Check if system updates have caused this issue.

Q: Can I roll back to a previous version of the editors or their dependencies?

A: Yes, you can try rolling back to a previous version of the editors or their dependencies. However, this may not always resolve the issue, and it's essential to ensure that the previous version is compatible with your system.

Q: How can I prevent this issue from occurring in the future?

A: To prevent this issue from occurring in the future, follow these best practices:

Keep your system up-to-date: Regularly update your system to ensure that you have the latest dependencies and plugins.
Use compatible plugins: Only use plugins that are compatible with your editors and system.
Backup your configuration files: Regularly backup your configuration files to prevent data loss in case of corruption.
Use a version control system: Use a version control system to track changes to your configuration files and dependencies.

Q: Can I use a different text editor to open .json files?

A: Yes, you can use a different text editor to open .json files. Some popular alternatives include vi, nano, and emacs. These editors are often more lightweight and may not have the same dependencies or plugins as gedit, nemo, and bluefish.

Q: How can I report this issue to the developers?

A: To report this issue to the developers, follow these steps:

Check the bug tracker: Check the bug tracker for the editors to see if the issue has already been reported.
Create a new bug report: If the issue has not been reported, create a new bug report with detailed information about the issue.
Provide a reproducible example: Provide a reproducible example of the issue to help the developers diagnose and fix the problem.

Q: Can I get help from the community?

A: Yes, you can get help from the community by:

Posting on the forums: Post on the forums for the editors to ask for help and advice.
Joining online communities: Join online communities, such as Reddit or Stack Overflow, to ask for help and advice.
Attending meetups: Attend meetups and conferences to meet other users and developers who may be able to help you.