Ubuntu
pidgin package

Pidgin is not visible when you first log in to Unity

Asked by Neal Gamradt

I just upgraded my laptop to Ubuntu 12.04 Beta1 (I have run all the updates). I was surprised to see an old and annoying bug return. In 11.10 (and now in 12.04), when you first log into Ubuntu, the very first time you load the Pidgin client, it loads without crashing, however, no matter how many times you click on it, or try to alt-tab to it, it will never become visible.

The only way to get it to load is to shut down Pidgin and restart it, then you have to alt-tab to it. Once you do that, it will be visible and continue to work fine for the rest of the session. This is a very annoying bug. Before I report it again, I was wondering if others are having this issue and if it is a bug that is already being worked on. Thanks.

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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Try unpinning the app from the launcher and close the app so it is not there then run:

mv ~/.purple ~/.purple_old

Then rerun the app and repin. You will get vanilla configs but setup an account as normal then reboot to test

Revision history for this message
Neal Gamradt (ngamradt-d) said : 		#2

I followed your instructions exactly as you laid them out and the problem
persists. It is identical to the bug that 11.10 had. Someone had stated
it wasn't exactly a bug with Pidgin, but something with networking or
something when Pidgin first loaded. The bug has always been annoying, I
was surprised it is still there in 12.04.

On Sat, Mar 17, 2012 at 10:05 AM, actionparsnip <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #190942 on pidgin in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pidgin/+question/190942
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> Try unpinning the app from the launcher and close the app so it is not
> there then run:
>
> mv ~/.purple ~/.purple_old
>
> Then rerun the app and repin. You will get vanilla configs but setup an
> account as normal then reboot to test
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pidgin/+question/190942/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pidgin/+question/190942
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

You can rollb the change if you wish. All I can suggest is report a bug...

Revision history for this message
Neal Gamradt (ngamradt-d) said : 		#4

I turned on debugging. As usual I had to run Pidgin twice, the following is what came through in the terminal. As usual, things work after the restart:

First run:

ngamradt@ngamradt-HP-EliteBook:~$ pidgin --debug

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",
(10:44:04) prefs: Reading /home/ngamradt/.purple/prefs.xml
(10:44:04) prefs: Finished reading /home/ngamradt/.purple/prefs.xml
(10:44:04) prefs: purple_prefs_get_path: Unknown pref /pidgin/browsers/command
(10:44:04) dbus: okkk
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/timestamp.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/xmppconsole.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/xmppdisco.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/gestures.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/pidginrc.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/spellchk.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/gtkbuddynote.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/timestamp_format.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/sendbutton.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/musicmessaging.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/vvconfig.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/iconaway.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/history.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/ticker.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/themeedit.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/notify.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/markerline.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/cap.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/extplacement.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/convcolors.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libaim.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/tcl.so
(10:44:04) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/tcl.so is not loadable: libtcl8.5.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/idle.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libgg.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libyahoojp.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/buddynote.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/joinpart.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/perl.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/psychic.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libsametime.so
(10:44:04) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/libsametime.so has a prefs_info, but is a prpl. This is no longer supported.
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/newline.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libmyspace.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/pidgin-libnotify.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libsimple.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libbonjour.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libzephyr.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libirc.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/offlinemsg.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/autoaccept.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libxmpp.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libjabber.so
(10:44:04) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/libjabber.so is not usable because the 'purple_init_plugin' symbol could not be found. Does the plugin call the PURPLE_INIT_PLUGIN() macro?
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/log_reader.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/dbus-example.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/ssl-nss.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libmsn.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libmxit.so
(10:44:04) prpl-loubserp-mxit: Loading MXit libPurple plugin...
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libicq.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/liboscar.so
(10:44:04) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/liboscar.so is not usable because the 'purple_init_plugin' symbol could not be found. Does the plugin call the PURPLE_INIT_PLUGIN() macro?
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/ssl.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libymsg.so
(10:44:04) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/libymsg.so is not usable because the 'purple_init_plugin' symbol could not be found. Does the plugin call the PURPLE_INIT_PLUGIN() macro?
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/statenotify.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libnovell.so
(10:44:04) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libyahoo.so
(10:44:04) util: Reading file xmpp-caps.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:44:04) util: File /home/ngamradt/.purple/xmpp-caps.xml does not exist (this is not necessarily an error)
(10:44:04) jabber: creating hash tables for data objects
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/status/scores/offline changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/status/scores/available changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/status/scores/invisible changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/status/scores/away changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/status/scores/extended_away changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/status/scores/idle changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/status/scores/offline_msg changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) util: Reading file accounts.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:44:04) util: Reading file status.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateVerifier x509, singleuse requested but not found.
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateVerifier singleuse registered
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificatePool x509, ca requested but not found.
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 requested but not found.
(10:44:04) certificate/x509/ca: Lazy init failed because an X.509 Scheme is not yet registered. Maybe it will be better later.
(10:44:04) certificate/x509/ca: Init failed, probably because a dependency is not yet registered. It has been deferred to later.
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificatePool ca registered
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificatePool x509, tls_peers requested but not found.
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificatePool tls_peers registered
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateVerifier x509, tls_cached requested but not found.
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateVerifier tls_cached registered
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/logging/format changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/logging/format changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/proxy/type changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/proxy/host changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/proxy/port changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/proxy/username changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: /purple/proxy/password changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 requested but not found.
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 registered
(10:44:04) util: Reading file smileys.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:44:04) util: File /home/ngamradt/.purple/smileys.xml does not exist (this is not necessarily an error)
(10:44:04) stun: using server
(10:44:04) sound: Initializing sound output drivers.
(10:44:04) prefs: /pidgin/conversations/placement changed, scheduling save.
(10:44:04) prefs: purple_prefs_get_bool: Unknown pref /pidgin/docklet/x11/embedded
(10:44:04) gtkmedia: Registering media element types
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateVerifier tls_cached unregistered
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateVerifier singleuse unregistered
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificatePool tls_peers unregistered
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificatePool ca unregistered
(10:44:04) main: Unloading normal plugins
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin NSS
(10:44:04) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 unregistered
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin SSL
(10:44:04) util: Writing file accounts.xml to directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:44:04) util: Writing file /home/ngamradt/.purple/accounts.xml
(10:44:04) account: Destroying account 0xb7cf3a18
(10:44:04) GLib: g_hash_table_remove_internal: assertion `hash_table != NULL' failed
(10:44:04) main: Unloading all plugins
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin AIM
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin Gadu-Gadu
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin Yahoo JAPAN
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin Perl Plugin Loader
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin Sametime
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin MySpaceIM
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin SIMPLE
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin Bonjour
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin Zephyr
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin IRC
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin XMPP
(10:44:04) jabber: destroying hash tables for data objects
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin MSN
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin MXit
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin ICQ
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin GroupWise
(10:44:04) plugins: Unloading plugin Yahoo
(10:44:04) Gtk: IA__gtk_main_quit: assertion `main_loops != NULL' failed
(10:44:04) util: Writing file prefs.xml to directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:44:04) util: Writing file /home/ngamradt/.purple/prefs.xml
Exiting because another libpurple client is already running.

Second Run:

ngamradt@ngamradt-HP-EliteBook:~$ pidgin --debug

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",
(10:45:49) prefs: Reading /home/ngamradt/.purple/prefs.xml
(10:45:49) prefs: Finished reading /home/ngamradt/.purple/prefs.xml
(10:45:49) prefs: purple_prefs_get_path: Unknown pref /pidgin/browsers/command
(10:45:49) dbus: okkk
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/timestamp.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/xmppconsole.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/xmppdisco.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/gestures.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/pidginrc.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/spellchk.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/gtkbuddynote.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/timestamp_format.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/sendbutton.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/musicmessaging.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/vvconfig.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/iconaway.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/history.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/ticker.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/themeedit.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/notify.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/markerline.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/cap.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/extplacement.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/pidgin/convcolors.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libaim.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/tcl.so
(10:45:49) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/tcl.so is not loadable: libtcl8.5.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/idle.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libgg.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libyahoojp.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/buddynote.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/joinpart.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/perl.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/psychic.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libsametime.so
(10:45:49) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/libsametime.so has a prefs_info, but is a prpl. This is no longer supported.
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/newline.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libmyspace.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/pidgin-libnotify.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libsimple.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libbonjour.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libzephyr.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libirc.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/offlinemsg.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/autoaccept.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libxmpp.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libjabber.so
(10:45:49) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/libjabber.so is not usable because the 'purple_init_plugin' symbol could not be found. Does the plugin call the PURPLE_INIT_PLUGIN() macro?
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/log_reader.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/dbus-example.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/ssl-nss.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libmsn.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libmxit.so
(10:45:49) prpl-loubserp-mxit: Loading MXit libPurple plugin...
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libicq.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/liboscar.so
(10:45:49) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/liboscar.so is not usable because the 'purple_init_plugin' symbol could not be found. Does the plugin call the PURPLE_INIT_PLUGIN() macro?
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/ssl.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libymsg.so
(10:45:49) plugins: /usr/lib/purple-2/libymsg.so is not usable because the 'purple_init_plugin' symbol could not be found. Does the plugin call the PURPLE_INIT_PLUGIN() macro?
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/statenotify.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libnovell.so
(10:45:49) plugins: probing /usr/lib/purple-2/libyahoo.so
(10:45:49) util: Reading file xmpp-caps.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:45:49) util: File /home/ngamradt/.purple/xmpp-caps.xml does not exist (this is not necessarily an error)
(10:45:49) jabber: creating hash tables for data objects
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/status/scores/offline changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/status/scores/available changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/status/scores/invisible changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/status/scores/away changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/status/scores/extended_away changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/status/scores/idle changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/status/scores/offline_msg changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) util: Reading file accounts.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:45:49) util: Reading file status.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateVerifier x509, singleuse requested but not found.
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateVerifier singleuse registered
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificatePool x509, ca requested but not found.
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 requested but not found.
(10:45:49) certificate/x509/ca: Lazy init failed because an X.509 Scheme is not yet registered. Maybe it will be better later.
(10:45:49) certificate/x509/ca: Init failed, probably because a dependency is not yet registered. It has been deferred to later.
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificatePool ca registered
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificatePool x509, tls_peers requested but not found.
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificatePool tls_peers registered
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateVerifier x509, tls_cached requested but not found.
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateVerifier tls_cached registered
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/logging/format changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/logging/format changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/proxy/type changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/proxy/host changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/proxy/port changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/proxy/username changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: /purple/proxy/password changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 requested but not found.
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 registered
(10:45:49) util: Reading file smileys.xml from directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:45:49) util: File /home/ngamradt/.purple/smileys.xml does not exist (this is not necessarily an error)
(10:45:49) stun: using server
(10:45:49) sound: Initializing sound output drivers.
(10:45:49) prefs: /pidgin/conversations/placement changed, scheduling save.
(10:45:49) prefs: purple_prefs_get_bool: Unknown pref /pidgin/docklet/x11/embedded
(10:45:49) gtkmedia: Registering media element types
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateVerifier tls_cached unregistered
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateVerifier singleuse unregistered
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificatePool tls_peers unregistered
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificatePool ca unregistered
(10:45:49) main: Unloading normal plugins
(10:45:49) plugins: Unloading plugin NSS
(10:45:49) certificate: CertificateScheme x509 unregistered
(10:45:49) plugins: Unloading plugin SSL
(10:45:49) util: Writing file accounts.xml to directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:45:49) util: Writing file /home/ngamradt/.purple/accounts.xml
(10:45:50) account: Destroying account 0xb8d47978
(10:45:50) GLib: g_hash_table_remove_internal: assertion `hash_table != NULL' failed
(10:45:50) main: Unloading all plugins
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin AIM
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin Gadu-Gadu
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin Yahoo JAPAN
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin Perl Plugin Loader
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin Sametime
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin MySpaceIM
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin SIMPLE
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin Bonjour
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin Zephyr
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin IRC
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin XMPP
(10:45:50) jabber: destroying hash tables for data objects
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin MSN
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin MXit
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin ICQ
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin GroupWise
(10:45:50) plugins: Unloading plugin Yahoo
(10:45:50) Gtk: IA__gtk_main_quit: assertion `main_loops != NULL' failed
(10:45:50) util: Writing file prefs.xml to directory /home/ngamradt/.purple
(10:45:50) util: Writing file /home/ngamradt/.purple/prefs.xml
Exiting because another libpurple client is already running.

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#5

> no matter how many times you click on it, or try to alt-tab to it, it will never become visible.

Never experienced any issue in the past and currently running pidgin on pc and laptop.
12.04 was fresh alpha install, no upgrade, but ~.purple wasn't changed.
pidgin:
  Installed: 1:2.10.2-1ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1:2.10.2-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1:2.10.2-1ubuntu1 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

First run here via message indicator (envelope symbol), then it'll display it's status indicator and all functions available.
My --debug output is much longer containing lots more intial setups of session management, network connections and accounts, but not
> Exiting because another libpurple client is already running.

Seems pidgin or rather telepathy, never had a clean shutdown, grep pid and kill all instances incl. telepathy* process which might be the culprit.

There has been some renaming recently (see changelog), maybe purge, autoremove and reinstall pidgin, also telepathy*, for example:
ii telepathy-gabble 0.15.4-1ubuntu1 Jabber/XMPP connection manager
ii telepathy-haze 0.5.0-1 Telepathy connection manager that uses libpurple
ii telepathy-idle 0.1.11-2 IRC connection manager for Telepathy
ii telepathy-indicator 0.2.0-0ubuntu1 Desktop service to integrate Telepathy with the messaging menu.
ii telepathy-logger 0.2.12-1 Telepathy logger service - Daemon
ii telepathy-mission-control-5 1:5.11.0-1ubuntu2 management daemon for Telepathy real-time communication framework
ii telepathy-salut 0.7.0-1ubuntu2 Link-local XMPP connection manager for the Telepathy framework

Beside there exist already dupe bugs, some confirmed some not. Best practice is to filter bug reports before reporting a new one.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs

Revision history for this message
Neal Gamradt (ngamradt-d) said : 		#6

I mentioned this in the bug report as well. As a work-around, if I set Pidgin to load when I log in and set "Show System Tray Icon" to "Always", then this appears to work around the issue. I am unsure why this seems to work, but it would be nice to not have to do all of this in order to just get the Buddy List to work.

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