solved [SOLVED] Duplicate Alfred instances running concurrently

[Rafal]

Steps:

• Focus input field in some app (Chrome input field for example)
• Toggle Alfred with hotkey
• Hit escape

 

Chrome doesn't receive focus back after canceling Alfred.

It also affects pasting saved clipboard snippets - Alfred just fills clipboard with snippet contect but is not able to automatically paste into app's field.

 

Problem fixes itself after restarting Alfred but this problem keeps coming back every day pretty much.

I haven't been able to pinpoint what and when it triggers exactly.

 

It might be something specific to my setup (although not only mine) so please don't disregard if you can't reproduce. Maybe lets try to work out some way to analyze or reproduce it.

Edited March 6, 2019 by Vero
Thread title edited, and moved to Closed

[Vero]

@Rafal Could you please ensure that you're using the latest Alfred release (3.8) as this includes a fix to workaround a bug in Chrome?

 

Once you've updated, if the issue persists, please try in apps other than Chrome and let me know how you get on

 

Cheers,
Vero

[Rafal]

I'm using 3.8 build 959 and it's still happening. In all apps, not only Chrome.

[Rafal]

When the bug is triggerd, you can already see symptoms of it when opening Alfred's popup, it will always flicker on opening, and sometimes end up in non-visible state even.

In attached screenshot, I try to open Alfred a couple of times, first few times it just flickers and doesn't show up. Next time it shows up but the focus bug would still trigger on trying to paste content of saved clipboard.

(Gif is not best way of showing the problem but I had to fit within file upload size limit)

Edited March 5, 2019 by Rafal

[Vero]

@Rafal Are you using any third-party apps that could be interfering with Alfred's Clipboard, such as another clipboard manager, snippets app? Are you using Karabiner or a third-party keyboard that could be sending mixed messages?  

 

Also, could you please launch Activity Monitor and ensure that you don't have more than one instance of Alfred running?

 

Cheers,
Vero

[Rafal]

I did indeed have two instances of alfred running and closing one made the problem go away. Hmm, how does that happen by itself and why is Alfred allowing two instances to run at the same time?

 

(BTW. It's not specific to clipboard. Same focus issue is observable with just opening standard alfred input box.)

[Vero]

@Rafal Take a look at your workflows; Are you using an Emoji workflow by any chance? If so, take a look at this thread:

 

https://www.alfredforum.com/topic/11957-alfred-pastes-the-same-snippet-multiple-times/?do=findComment&comment=63763

 

A few workflows were affected by a particular user-created framework; while Alfred intrinsically won't allow two instances to be launched from the Applications folder, these workflows forced a new instance to be created, resulting in quirky issues like the one you're seeing.

 

Make sure you update the workflow(s) affected by it, of which there shouldn't be many.

 

Cheers,
Vero

[Rafal]

I have those workflows:

 

Quote

 

AWS Console Services

Currency Exchange

devdocs

mdi

npms

Packal Updater

System Monitor

 

 

Triggering all of those doesn't seem to trigger the problem immediately at least, but I suspect `npms` is the culprit. Will keep an eye on it and check the code out later. Thank you for the help.

Edited March 6, 2019 by Rafal

[deanishe]

npms definitely has the bug.

 

You can’t trigger the bug at will. It’s a problem with the update mechanism used by many Node workflows that is only triggered when a workflow is updated (i.e. a new version is installed).