Mac app bounces in system dock, closes, and then re-opens

[Paul Fishback]

I have a simple app built from a python script, heatplotter.py, which utilizes

PyQt and pyqtgraph. 

I'm able to run pyinstaller on my .spec file and create a functioning app. It runs fine from the terminal.

However, when I click on the .app icon, the icon bounces in the system tray, then closes, and, after about 15 seconds, re-opens. I've never had this happen before. Of course, this annoying, and I'd like to prevent it from happening. 

Any guesses as to the reason? Here's my .spec file:

# -*- mode: python ; coding: utf-8 -*-

import os.path
block_cipher = None

data=collect_data_files('PyQt5')

a = Analysis(
    ['heatplotter.py'],
    pathex=[],
    binaries=[],
    datas=data,
    hiddenimports=['pyqtgraph'],
    hookspath=[],
    hooksconfig={},
    runtime_hooks=[],
    excludes=['PySide6'],
    win_no_prefer_redirects=False,
    win_private_assemblies=False,
    cipher=block_cipher,
    noarchive=False,
)
pyz = PYZ(a.pure, a.zipped_data, cipher=block_cipher)

exe = EXE(
    pyz,
    a.scripts,
    a.binaries,
    a.zipfiles,
    a.datas,
    [],
    name='MyApplication',
    debug=False,
    bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
    strip=False,
    upx=True,
    upx_exclude=[],
    runtime_tmpdir=None,
    console=False,
    disable_windowed_traceback=False,
    argv_emulation=False,
    target_arch=None,
    codesign_identity=None,
    entitlements_file=None,
)
app = BUNDLE(
    exe,
    name='MyApplication.app',
    icon=None,
    bundle_identifier=None,
)

[Chris Barker]

I have no idea, but some debugging hints:

1) how are you running it from the terminal? If you aren't alreadyk, try:

open TheApp.app

Then you *may* get the failure, and if so, hopefully some output on the console.

2) Open the Console App:

/System/Applications/Utilities/Console.app

Then try to start your app -- hopefully you'll see some eros reported that might give you a hint.

Good Luck -- got to love how Apple hides stuff from the user :-(

-CHB

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PyInstaller" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pyinstaller...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pyinstaller/68616ce5-30c3-47fb-a4b1-76675d3374ffn%40googlegroups.com.

--

Christopher Barker, Ph.D.
Oceanographer

Emergency Response Division
NOAA/NOS/OR&R            (206) 526-6959   voice
7600 Sand Point Way NE   (206) 526-6329   fax
Seattle, WA  98115       (206) 526-6317   main reception

Chris....@noaa.gov

[bwoodsend]

However, when I click on the .app icon, the icon bounces in the system tray, then closes, and, after about 15 seconds, re-opens.

It’s a side effect of --onefile mode combined with --windowed mode (or the .spec file equivalents). Because a onefile executable is an executable within an executable you get a bouncing icon for the outer executable which disappears when macOS realizes that it’s not really a GUI then the inner executable launches which creates a new bouncy icon. The fix is just not to use onefile mode which is fairly useless combined with windowed. It should boost your startup time too.

​