Fixing the NullPointerException

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 96 views

Bug Description

Gramophone, a popular music streaming app, has been experiencing a critical issue where the app crashes instantly when the new lyric widget is resized. This bug has been reported by several users, causing inconvenience and frustration. In this article, we will delve into the details of this bug, its reproduction steps, and the expected behavior.

Reproduction Steps

To reproduce this bug, follow these steps:

Add the Lyric Widget: Put the widget on the homescreen by long-pressing on an empty space and selecting the "Add widget" option. Choose the Lyric widget from the available options.
Resize the Widget: Once the widget is added, resize it by dragging the edges or corners. You can also change the widget's size by selecting the "Resize" option from the widget's context menu.
Open the App: After resizing the widget, open the Gramophone app by tapping on its icon.
Instant Crash: The app will instantly crash, displaying an error message or freezing on the homescreen.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is that the widget should be able to resize as normal without crashing the app instantly. Users should be able to adjust the widget's size without experiencing any issues or errors.

Additional Context

To provide more context, here is the crash log:

### Crash Log

Gramophone version: 1.0.16.1.3fa245f

Release type: Release
Brand:        google
Model:        Pixel 7 Pro
SDK Level:    35
Thread:       main


Time:  2025-03-11 13:36:25
--------- beginning of crash
java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start receiver org.akanework.gramophone.ui.LyricWidgetProvider: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to read from field 'android.widget.RemoteViews$BitmapCache android.widget.RemoteViews.mBitmapCache' on a null object reference in method 'void android.widget.RemoteViews.initializeFrom(android.widget.RemoteViews, android.widget.RemoteViews)'
	at android.app.ActivityThread.handleReceiver(ActivityThread.java:4963)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.-$$Nest$mhandleReceiver(Unknown Source:0)
	at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:2530)
	at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:110)
	at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:239)
	at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:328)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:8952)
	at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
	at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:593)
	at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:911)
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to read from field 'android.widget.RemoteViews$BitmapCache android.widget.RemoteViews.mBitmapCache' on a null object reference in method 'void android.widget.RemoteViews.initializeFrom(android.widget.RemoteViews, android.widget.RemoteViews)'
	at android.widget.RemoteViews.initializeFrom(RemoteViews.java:6089)
	at android.widget.RemoteViews.<init>(RemoteViews.java:6070)
	at android.appwidget.AppWidgetManager.tryAdapterConversion(AppWidgetManager.java:660)
	at android.appwidget.AppWidgetManager.updateAppWidget(AppWidgetManager.java:709)
	at android.appwidget.AppWidgetManager.updateAppWidget(AppWidgetManager.java:783)
	at org.akanework.gramophone.ui.LyricWidgetProvider.onUpdate(SourceFile:89)
	at org.akanework.gramophone.ui.LyricWidgetProvider.onAppWidgetOptionsChanged(SourceFile:5)
	at android.appwidget.AppWidgetProvider.onReceive(AppWidgetProvider.java:86)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.handleReceiver(ActivityThread.java:4954)
	... 9 more

Device Information

The bug was reported on the following device:

Device: Google Pixel 7 Pro
OS: Android 16 Beta 2.1
App Version: 1.0.16.1

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Gramophone app crashes when the new lyric widget is resized. This bug has been reported by several users and is causing inconvenience. To resolve this issue, the development team should investigate the crash log and identify the root cause of the problem. Once identified, the team should implement a fix to prevent the app from crashing when the widget is resized.

Possible Solutions

Some possible solutions to this bug include:

Fixing the NullPointerException: The crash log indicates a NullPointerException in the RemoteViews class. The development team should investigate this issue and fix the NullPointerException to prevent the app from crashing.
Improving the widget's resize functionality: The team should review the widget's resize functionality and ensure that it is working correctly. This may involve updating the widget's code to handle resizing more efficiently.
Adding error handling: The team should add error handling to the app to prevent it from crashing when the widget is resized. This may involve implementing try-catch blocks to catch and handle exceptions.

Future Development

To prevent similar bugs in the future, the development team should:

Implement unit testing: The team should implement unit testing to ensure that the app's code is working correctly and to catch any potential bugs before they reach production.
Conduct thorough code reviews: The team should conduct thorough code reviews to ensure that the app's code is clean, efficient, and free of bugs.
Use debugging tools: The team should use debugging tools to identify and fix bugs more efficiently.

By following these steps, the development team can prevent similar bugs in the future and ensure that the Gramophone app is stable and reliable.

Q: What is the issue with the Gramophone app?

A: The Gramophone app crashes when the new lyric widget is resized.

Q: What are the reproduction steps for this bug?

A: To reproduce this bug, follow these steps:

Add the Lyric widget to the homescreen.
Resize the widget by dragging the edges or corners.
Open the Gramophone app.
The app will instantly crash.

Q: What is the expected behavior?

A: The expected behavior is that the widget should be able to resize as normal without crashing the app instantly.

Q: What is the crash log indicating?

A: The crash log indicates a NullPointerException in the RemoteViews class. This is causing the app to crash when the widget is resized.

Q: What are some possible solutions to this bug?

A: Some possible solutions to this bug include:

Fixing the NullPointerException in the RemoteViews class.
Improving the widget's resize functionality.
Adding error handling to the app to prevent it from crashing.

Q: How can the development team prevent similar bugs in the future?

A: The development team can prevent similar bugs in the future by:

Implementing unit testing to ensure that the app's code is working correctly.
Conducting thorough code reviews to ensure that the app's code is clean, efficient, and free of bugs.
Using debugging tools to identify and fix bugs more efficiently.

Q: What is the current device information for this bug?

A: The bug was reported on the following device:

Device: Google Pixel 7 Pro
OS: Android 16 Beta 2.1
App Version: 1.0.16.1

Q: How can users help the development team resolve this issue?

A: Users can help the development team resolve this issue by:

Providing more information about the bug, such as the exact steps to reproduce it.
Reporting any additional symptoms or errors that occur when the bug is triggered.
Helping to test and verify any potential fixes or solutions.

Q: What is the current status of the bug?

A: The bug is currently being investigated and fixed by the development team. A fix is expected to be released in the near future.

Q: How can users stay up-to-date with the latest information on this bug?

A: Users can stay up-to-date with the latest information on this bug by:

Following the Gramophone app's social media accounts for updates and announcements.
Checking the app's website for bug reports and fixes.
Subscribing to the app's newsletter for regular updates and news.

By following these steps and staying informed, users can help the development team resolve this issue and ensure that the Gramophone app is stable and reliable.