Ghostty doesn't open on Debian 13.1 (Trixie) from Snap

[vegerot]

Issue Description

I can't start Ghostty. If I try opening it from the GNOME launcher, no window opens and I can't see anything. If I try launching it from the CLI, I get some output and the program hangs, but I still don't see any window. See repro steps for more details

Expected Behavior

If I try to open Ghostty, it should open

Actual Behavior

I try to open Ghostty, and it doesn't c:

Reproduction Steps

1. Try to open Ghostty from GNOME launcher. Won't work
2. Try to open Ghossty by running ghostty command on CLI. Doesn't work.

Ghostty Logs

$ snap run --debug-log ghostty --help
2025/10/25 16:30:20.532758 cmd_run.go:606: DEBUG: enabled debug logging of early snap startup
2025/10/25 16:30:20.532980 cmd_run.go:1392: DEBUG: executing snap-confine from /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine
2025/10/25 16:30:20.534166 cmd_run.go:512: DEBUG: SELinux not enabled
2025/10/25 16:30:20.535624 tracking.go:48: DEBUG: creating transient scope snap.ghostty.ghostty
2025/10/25 16:30:20.536301 tracking.go:217: DEBUG: using session bus
2025/10/25 16:30:20.537355 tracking.go:350: DEBUG: create transient scope job: /org/freedesktop/systemd1/job/2870
2025/10/25 16:30:20.571596 tracking.go:450: DEBUG: job result is "done"
2025/10/25 16:30:20.571616 tracking.go:457: DEBUG: transient scope snap.ghostty.ghostty-3c32713d-ef7e-433c-b498-9c9cad504e1f.scope created
2025/10/25 16:30:20.571816 tracking.go:153: DEBUG: waited 35.464964ms for tracking
2025/10/25 16:30:20.571838 logger.go:289: DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap to snap-confine", "time":"1761435020.571831"}
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine enter", "time":"1761435020.573591"}
DEBUG: caps at startup: cap_wake_alarm=i cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_setgid,cap_setuid,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace,cap_sys_admin+p
DEBUG: ruid: 1000, euid: 1000, suid: 1000
DEBUG: rgid: 1000, egid: 1000, sgid: 1000
DEBUG: apparmor label on snap-confine is: /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine
DEBUG: apparmor mode is: enforce
DEBUG: initial caps: cap_wake_alarm=i cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_setgid,cap_setuid,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace,cap_sys_admin+p
DEBUG: after setting privileged caps: cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_sys_admin=eip cap_wake_alarm+i cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace+ep
DEBUG: snap-confine found at /proc/1/root/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine
DEBUG: host snap-confine is owned by root
DEBUG: SNAP_MOUNT_DIR (probed): /snap
DEBUG: security tag: snap.ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG: executable:   /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-exec
DEBUG: confinement:  classic
DEBUG: base snap:    core24
DEBUG: umask reset, old umask was   02
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine mount namespace start", "time":"1761435020.573968"}
DEBUG: preparing classic execution environment
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine mount namespace finish", "time":"1761435020.573982"}
DEBUG: dropping caps
DEBUG: before dropping effective caps: cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_sys_admin=eip cap_wake_alarm+i cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace+ep
DEBUG: after dropping effective caps: cap_dac_override,cap_sys_admin=p
DEBUG: creating user data directory: /home/max/snap/ghostty/436
DEBUG: requesting changing of apparmor profile on next exec to snap.ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG: SELinux not enabled
DEBUG: setting capabilities bounding set
DEBUG: drop caps as non-root? yes
DEBUG: before seccomp: cap_sys_admin=ep cap_dac_override+p
DEBUG: loading bpf program for security tag snap.ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG: dropping all capabilities for user
DEBUG: before exec to application: =
DEBUG: execv(/snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-exec, /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-exec...)
DEBUG:  argv[1] = ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG:  argv[2] = --help
DEBUG: umask restored to   02
DEBUG: working directory restored to /home/max
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine to snap-exec", "time":"1761435020.574151"}
2025/10/25 16:30:20.576049 logger.go:289: DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-exec to app", "time":"1761435020.576047"}
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gvfs/libgvfscommon.so: undefined symbol: g_variant_builder_init_static
Failed to load module: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so
Usage: ghostty [+action] [options]

Run the Ghostty terminal emulator or a specific helper action.

If no `+action` is specified, run the Ghostty terminal emulator.
All configuration keys are available as command line options.
To specify a configuration key, use the `--<key>=<value>` syntax
where key and value are the same format you'd put into a configuration
file. For example, `--font-size=12` or `--font-family="Fira Code"`.

To see a list of all available configuration options, please see
the `src/config/Config.zig` file. A future update will allow seeing
the list of configuration options from the command line.

A special command line argument `-e <command>` can be used to run
the specific command inside the terminal emulator. For example,
`ghostty -e top` will run the `top` command inside the terminal.

On macOS, launching the terminal emulator from the CLI is not
supported and only actions are supported. Use `open -na Ghostty.app`
instead, or `open -na ghostty.app --args --foo=bar --baz=quz` to pass
arguments.

Available actions:

  +version
  +help
  +list-fonts
  +list-keybinds
  +list-themes
  +list-colors
  +list-actions
  +ssh-cache
  +edit-config
  +show-config
  +validate-config
  +show-face
  +crash-report
  +boo
  +new-window

Specify `+<action> --help` to see the help for a specific action,
where `<action>` is one of actions listed above.

❯ snap run --debug-log ghostty
2025/10/25 16:30:24.537257 cmd_run.go:606: DEBUG: enabled debug logging of early snap startup
2025/10/25 16:30:24.537459 cmd_run.go:1392: DEBUG: executing snap-confine from /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine
2025/10/25 16:30:24.538733 cmd_run.go:512: DEBUG: SELinux not enabled
2025/10/25 16:30:24.540201 tracking.go:48: DEBUG: creating transient scope snap.ghostty.ghostty
2025/10/25 16:30:24.540840 tracking.go:217: DEBUG: using session bus
2025/10/25 16:30:24.542023 tracking.go:350: DEBUG: create transient scope job: /org/freedesktop/systemd1/job/2874
2025/10/25 16:30:24.579419 tracking.go:450: DEBUG: job result is "done"
2025/10/25 16:30:24.579429 tracking.go:457: DEBUG: transient scope snap.ghostty.ghostty-4fa5f99b-1159-4c3f-9783-58193a899e08.scope created
2025/10/25 16:30:24.579604 tracking.go:153: DEBUG: waited 38.708157ms for tracking
2025/10/25 16:30:24.579621 logger.go:289: DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap to snap-confine", "time":"1761435024.579618"}
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine enter", "time":"1761435024.581483"}
DEBUG: caps at startup: cap_wake_alarm=i cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_setgid,cap_setuid,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace,cap_sys_admin+p
DEBUG: ruid: 1000, euid: 1000, suid: 1000
DEBUG: rgid: 1000, egid: 1000, sgid: 1000
DEBUG: apparmor label on snap-confine is: /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine
DEBUG: apparmor mode is: enforce
DEBUG: initial caps: cap_wake_alarm=i cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_setgid,cap_setuid,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace,cap_sys_admin+p
DEBUG: after setting privileged caps: cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_sys_admin=eip cap_wake_alarm+i cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace+ep
DEBUG: snap-confine found at /proc/1/root/usr/lib/snapd/snap-confine
DEBUG: host snap-confine is owned by root
DEBUG: SNAP_MOUNT_DIR (probed): /snap
DEBUG: security tag: snap.ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG: executable:   /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-exec
DEBUG: confinement:  classic
DEBUG: base snap:    core24
DEBUG: umask reset, old umask was   02
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine mount namespace start", "time":"1761435024.581851"}
DEBUG: preparing classic execution environment
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine mount namespace finish", "time":"1761435024.581866"}
DEBUG: dropping caps
DEBUG: before dropping effective caps: cap_chown,cap_dac_override,cap_sys_admin=eip cap_wake_alarm+i cap_dac_read_search,cap_fowner,cap_sys_chroot,cap_sys_ptrace+ep
DEBUG: after dropping effective caps: cap_dac_override,cap_sys_admin=p
DEBUG: creating user data directory: /home/max/snap/ghostty/436
DEBUG: requesting changing of apparmor profile on next exec to snap.ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG: SELinux not enabled
DEBUG: setting capabilities bounding set
DEBUG: drop caps as non-root? yes
DEBUG: before seccomp: cap_sys_admin=ep cap_dac_override+p
DEBUG: loading bpf program for security tag snap.ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG: dropping all capabilities for user
DEBUG: before exec to application: =
DEBUG: execv(/snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-exec, /snap/snapd/25577/usr/lib/snapd/snap-exec...)
DEBUG:  argv[1] = ghostty.ghostty
DEBUG: umask restored to   02
DEBUG: working directory restored to /home/max
DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-confine to snap-exec", "time":"1761435024.582036"}
2025/10/25 16:30:24.584265 logger.go:289: DEBUG: -- snap startup {"stage":"snap-exec to app", "time":"1761435024.584261"}
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gvfs/libgvfscommon.so: undefined symbol: g_variant_builder_init_static
Failed to load module: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so
info: ghostty version=1.2.3
info: ghostty build optimize=ReleaseFast
info: runtime=apprt.Runtime.gtk
info: font_backend=font.main.Backend.fontconfig_freetype
info: dependency harfbuzz=11.0.0
info: dependency fontconfig=21402
info: renderer=renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.OpenGL)
info: libxev default backend=io_uring
info(os_locale): setlocale from env result=C.UTF-8
info(gtk): GTK version build=4.14.5 runtime=4.14.5
info(gtk): libadwaita version build=1.5.0 runtime=1.5.0
info: reading configuration file path=/home/max/.config/ghostty/config
info(config): default shell source=env value=/usr/bin/zsh
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): setting GDK_DEBUG=gl-disable-gles,gl-no-fractional,vulkan-disable
warning(gtk_ghostty_application): setting GDK_DISABLE=color-mgmt
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gvfs/libgvfscommon.so: undefined symbol: g_variant_builder_init_static
Failed to load module: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so
info(gtk_ghostty_application): cgroup isolation disabled via config=config.Config.LinuxCgroup.single-instance
libEGL warning: egl: failed to create dri2 screen
MESA: error: ZINK: vkCreateInstance failed (VK_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER)
^C

Ghostty Version

/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gvfs/libgvfscommon.so: undefined symbol: g_variant_builder_init_static
Failed to load module: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so
Ghostty 1.2.3

Version
  - version: 1.2.3
  - channel: stable
Build Config
  - Zig version   : 0.14.0
  - build mode    : builtin.OptimizeMode.ReleaseFast
  - app runtime   : apprt.Runtime.gtk
  - font engine   : font.main.Backend.fontconfig_freetype
  - renderer      : renderer.generic.Renderer(renderer.OpenGL)
  - libxev        : io_uring
  - kernel version: 6.12.48+deb13-amd64
  - desktop env   : gnome
  - GTK version   :
    build         : 4.14.5
    runtime       : 4.14.5
  - libadwaita    : enabled
    build         : 1.5.0
    runtime       : 1.5.0
  - libX11        : enabled
  - libwayland    : enabled

### OS Version Information

Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)"

### (Linux only) Display Server

Wayland

### (Linux only) Desktop Environment/Window Manager

GNOME 48.4

### Minimal Ghostty Configuration

```ini
N/A. Reproducible with no config

Additional Relevant Configuration

No response

I acknowledge that:

• I have reviewed the FAQ and confirm that my issue is NOT among them.
• I have searched the Ghostty repository (both open and closed Discussions and Issues) and confirm this is not a duplicate of an existing issue or discussion.
• I have checked the "Preview" tab on all text fields to ensure that everything looks right, and have wrapped all configuration and code in code blocks with a group of three backticks (```) on separate lines.

[vegerot]

off-topic:

You said I should "have checked the "Preview" tab on all text fields to ensure that everything looks right", but there's only one Preview tab in the template, and it's for the final "Additional Relevant Configuration" field.

[vegerot]

While I know asking AI is normally cringe, chatting with https://github.com/copilot/share/4a06410a-4044-8411-b110-b400e05e6002 did help me learn some things. Namely

1. running LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 ghostty DOES work.
2. Building from source DOES work. :)

That convo also gives some more details about drivers and library issues.

[rhodes-b]

libEGL warning: egl: failed to create dri2 screen
MESA: error: ZINK: vkCreateInstance failed (VK_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER)

This looks like a driver error ghostty cant do much about that as it just asks GTK for a opengl surface but doesnt do any of the work to get it thats all from GTK along with that error message. That is why software rendering worked for you. Ghostty 1.2 requires opengl 4.3 I believe.
There isnt much help we can provide for driver errors itll have to be something you try to figure out like downgrading versions or upgrading versions.

https://ghostty.org/docs/help/gtk-opengl-context
This page basically describes that I just said + some known causes in the past that have effected alot of people (like a specific bad mesa version)

[vegerot]

Thanks. It works when I build it from source. I hope other nVidia Debian users don't have the same issue when installing from Snap.