simulator activating fonts from all over my disk

prof.j.carlson · January 31, 2017, 7:45pm

I feel like I’m missing something simple, but my simulator (2016.2992) is “activating” fonts from all over my hard disk when it loads or reloads an app. I typically get a “too many fonts in this application” error as well, since I have lots of fonts on the drive. These are on apps that don’t use any fonts.

The main issue is that this takes a long time. Maybe 20-30 seconds.

How do I tell the simulator not to try to load these files?

roaminggamer · January 31, 2017, 8:09pm

Windows or OS X?
How many fonts do you have installed (not on the machine, but actually installed)

If you are a Win7/8/10 user, click ‘windows’ button, then type “fonts” and press enter.
When I do this for example, I see that I have 107 fonts installed.
If you have many hundreds of fonts installed, then you may simply want to remove some.

I am unclear on what you mean by “activating”.

If you mean ‘install’, then be assured, Corona does not and cannot install fonts.
Corona, when started, enumerates the fonts that are installed (and perhaps the ones found in the current app’s root folder; not 100% sure about this last part).

I didn’t understand this:

I typically get a “too many fonts in this application” error as well, since I have lots of fonts on the drive. These are on apps that don’t use any fonts.

You get this message when Corona runs?

You can see how many fonts Corona is detecting as follows.

Create a project with just a main.lua containing this:

local systemFonts = native.getFontNames() for i, fontName in ipairs( systemFonts ) do print( i, " Font Name = " … tostring( fontName ) ) end
Run this in the simulator.
Look at the console and tell us what the count was.
When I do this the end of my console looks like this (Corona detected 149 fonts):

12:08:47.554 141 Font Name = QuickType II Condensed 12:08:47.554 142 Font Name = QuickType II Mono 12:08:47.554 143 Font Name = QuickType II Pi 12:08:47.554 144 Font Name = QuickType II 12:08:47.554 145 Font Name = Architects Daughter 12:08:47.554 146 Font Name = Meiryo 12:08:47.554 147 Font Name = @Meiryo 12:08:47.554 148 Font Name = Meiryo UI 12:08:47.554 149 Font Name = @Meiryo UI

prof.j.carlson · January 31, 2017, 9:02pm

Thanks for trying to help!

I’ve had this problem all morning, but after force-quitting the simulator and restarting it, the problem hasn’t recurred. Of course, or I’d post a screen shot. But, it has been happening for days on multiple computers, Mac and Windows. Multiple different people. The Mac I’m on has 346 fonts installed, but that’s never been an issue.

The “activating” or “activated” wording shows up at the simulator console for each font (I guess up until 100). The “too many fonts for this application” was also an error at the console. Apps did eventually load after this delay.

If it starts doing it again, I’ll take a screenshot.

roaminggamer · January 31, 2017, 9:45pm

Hi. Sounds like you’re teaching a class?

If so, be sure to ask more questions here as you have them so we can help you and your students.

In any case, I hope things go smoothly for you now.

Note: 346 fonts does seem like a lot of fonts to me.

As a Windows user I found that many apps that pre-enumeratd (Gimp, Paint Shop Pro, … ) choke a bit when first started.
Enumeration is going to be single-threaded in most cases and for certain with Corona.
If the enumeration involves actually reading the fonts, and heaven-forbid processing them, then we could be talking about well over 600MB (and perhaps much higher for complex fonts) of data.
Any actual reads of the files will be bandwidth limited by the drive (even an SSD will take a bit).

Anyways, I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this.

Note 2 : Re-restarting… If you are re-launching Corona (not quitting, just re-loading new and other projects) then you may find that after many 10s to 100s of relaunches, it is a good idea to quit entirely and restart Corona. I occasionally see issues which are probably a side-effect of crash-leaks. i.e. Accumulation of cruft from crashes due to my own coding errors. This is just a guess BTW.

Cheers,

Ed

rob · February 1, 2017, 5:48pm

Corona should only activate fonts located in your project folder (plus two fonts used by the Welcome screen). Make sure you don’t have a shortcut/symbolic link (symlink) to your system’s fonts folder. That would cause us to scan them.

Rob

prof.j.carlson · February 2, 2017, 3:03pm

Okay, so when I started the simulator this morning it did it again. The console contents are pasted below. I’ve removed several lines because the fonts were loaded from folders containing student names. But, you can see that these are all over the HD. The main.lua file I ran was on the desktop. I checked my font folders and don’t see an alias or symlink.

There are 3 aliases on my desktop to folders inside my dropbox. However, there’s no link to the Downloads folder nor to the Dropbox folder itself (or the Teaching folder), where most of these fonts are stored.

Quitting and restarting the simulator fixed the issue again (at least for now). I’d still love to know why this is happening, so I can let the students know and find a real fix. If I figure out how to reproduce it reliably, I’ll post a follow up.

Corona Simulator Console:

Feb 02 08:25:59.945 Activated fonts in ‘Downloads/Corona-Calculator-master/Roboto-Light.ttf’ (Roboto-Light)

Feb 02 08:26:00.009 Activated fonts in ‘Downloads/Corona-Calculator-master/Roboto-Regular.ttf’ (Roboto-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:00.009 Activated fonts in ‘Downloads/Corona-Calculator-master/Roboto-Thin.ttf’ (Roboto-Thin)

Activated fonts in ‘Downloads/PiratesBay.ttf’ (PiratesBay)

Feb 02 08:26:05.245 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/CourseViewer/Workspace/CourseViewer5/bin/fonts/Gravity-Bold.ttf’ (Gravity-Bold)

Feb 02 08:26:05.248 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/CourseViewer/Workspace/CourseViewer5/bin/fonts/LiberationMono-Regular.ttf’ (LiberationMono-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:05.251 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/CourseViewer/Workspace/CourseViewer5/src/fonts/Gravity-Bold.ttf’ (Gravity-Bold)

Feb 02 08:26:05.253 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/CourseViewer/Workspace/CourseViewer5/src/fonts/LiberationMono-Regular.ttf’ (LiberationMono-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:10.965 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Java Course/Lab Days/lab day #2/team 1.1 six pack/gemfonts_treasure-map-deadhand/Treamd.ttf’ (TreasureMapDeadhand)

Feb 02 08:26:11.020 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Java Course/Team Final Projects/submissions 2016/team 1.2 AverageJoesProject/bin/Copperplate Gothic Bold Regular.ttf’ (CopperplateGothic-Bold)

Feb 02 08:26:11.027 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Java Course/Team Final Projects/submissions 2016/team 1.2 AverageJoesProject/src/Copperplate Gothic Bold Regular.ttf’ (CopperplateGothic-Bold)

Feb 02 08:26:11.193 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Java Course/Team Final Projects/workspace fall 2011/team ftw/Pipe_Dream_by_TRIFORCE89.ttf’ (PipeDream)

Feb 02 08:26:12.600 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Mobile Dev/lab days/lab day #4 submissions/team 2.2/Team2_LabDay/Harry P.ttf’ (HarryP)

Feb 02 08:26:14.938 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Mobile Dev/submissions/mob dev final projects 2016/team 2.2 eye of sauron shifu telepathy training/TeamFinalProjectCreative_050316/Harry P.ttf’ (HarryP)

Feb 02 08:26:15.004 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Mobile Dev/submissions/mobdev final projects 2014/team 2.3 dumbledores army/orange%20juice%202.0.ttf’ (orangejuice)

Feb 02 08:26:15.076 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Mobile Dev/submissions/mobdev final projects 2015/team 2.1 golden snitches - star battles/Star Battles/PROMETHEUS.ttf’ (PROMETHEUS)

Feb 02 08:26:15.081 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Projects/Teaching/Mobile Dev/submissions/mobdev final projects 2015/team 2.1 golden snitches - star battles/Star Battles/space age.ttf’ (SpaceAge)

Feb 02 08:26:19.285 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/BlackSam’sGold.ttf’ (Black-Sam’s-Gold)

Feb 02 08:26:19.291 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Caribbean.ttf’ (Caribbean-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:19.291 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/centaur-1361528741.ttf’ (Centaur)

Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Charcoal.ttf’ (Charcoal)

Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Chicago.ttf’ (Chicago-Plain)

Feb 02 08:26:19.293 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Dakota Regular.ttf’ (Dakota)

Feb 02 08:26:19.294 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Flyman.ttf’ (Flyman)

Feb 02 08:26:19.300 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/harry potter/Lumos.ttf’ (New)

Feb 02 08:26:19.300 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/harry potter/MagicSchoolOne.ttf’ (MagicSchoolOne)

Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/harry potter/MagicSchoolTwo.ttf’ (MagicSchoolTwo)

Feb 02 08:26:19.301 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/itcblkad.ttf’ (BlackadderITC-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:19.303 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/liberation_mono/LiberationMono-Bold.ttf’ (LiberationMono-Bold)

Feb 02 08:26:19.305 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/liberation_mono/LiberationMono-BoldItalic.ttf’ (LiberationMono-BoldItalic)

Feb 02 08:26:19.307 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/liberation_mono/LiberationMono-Italic.ttf’ (LiberationMono-Italic)

Feb 02 08:26:19.309 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/liberation_mono/LiberationMono-Regular.ttf’ (LiberationMono-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:19.310 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/LogoCraft.ttf’ (LogoCraft)

Feb 02 08:26:19.315 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Lumos.ttf’ (New)

Feb 02 08:26:19.316 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/MagicSchoolOne.ttf’ (MagicSchoolOne)

Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/MagicSchoolTwo.ttf’ (MagicSchoolTwo)

Feb 02 08:26:19.318 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Mapbats.ttf’ (Bellamy’s-Mapbats)

Feb 02 08:26:19.318 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/MineCrafter_2.0_Regular.ttf’ (MineCrafter-2.0)

Feb 02 08:26:19.319 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/PaddingtonSC_Plain_Small_Caps.ttf’ (PaddingtonSCPlainSmallCaps)

Feb 02 08:26:19.320 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/parchment.ttf’ (Parchment-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:19.322 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/PiratesBay.ttf’ (PiratesBay)

Feb 02 08:26:19.323 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/PixelCarnageMono.ttf’ (PixelCarnageMonoTT)

Feb 02 08:26:19.325 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/Treamd.ttf’ (TreasureMapDeadhand)

Feb 02 08:26:19.326 Activated fonts in ‘Dropbox/Shared Libraries and App Support Files/Fonts/ufonts.com_eccentric_1_.ttf’ (Eccentric)

Feb 02 08:26:19.834 Activated fonts in ‘Library/Android/sdk/platforms/android-21/data/fonts/AndroidClock.ttf’ (AndroidClock-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:19.840 Activated fonts in ‘Library/Android/sdk/platforms/android-21/data/fonts/AndroidClock_Highlight.ttf’ (AndroidClock-Large-Regular)

Feb 02 08:26:19.840 Activated fonts in ‘Library/Android/sdk/platforms/android-21/data/fonts/AndroidClock_Solid.ttf’ (AndroidClock-Large-Regular)

Too many fonts in this application (Simulator limit is 100)

Version: 3.0.0

Build: 2016.2992

Feb 02 08:26:19.892 Loading project from: ~

Feb 02 08:26:19.892 Project sandbox folder: ~/Library/Application Support/Corona Simulator/john_carlson-D283248A9E890721FEB9DB1AB3AC7A87

Feb 02 08:26:20.448 Platform: iPhone / x86_64 / 10.12.2 / NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M OpenGL Engine / 2.1 NVIDIA-10.14.20 355.10.05.15f03 / 2016.2992 / en-US | US | en_US | en

rob · February 2, 2017, 3:32pm

You’re not running out of the root folder are you?

Have you run Disk Utility recently to fix issues on the hard drive?

Rob

prof.j.carlson · February 2, 2017, 8:19pm

No, not running from root (generally start on the Desktop for quick things). I’ll run disk util when I get home.

This happened to a student in class just now – he was trying to run a main.lua in his user folder on a Mac. I had him force quit the simulator and restart, which didn’t do anything. I had him move the project into his documents folder, from which it loaded fine.

roaminggamer · February 3, 2017, 1:11am

I’m finding this exceptionally interesting and am looking forward to hearing what the cause is.

Question: Is this for a particular version of OS X or does it happen on multiple versions?

prof.j.carlson · February 3, 2017, 1:33am

I’m not sure about the student’s OS version. I’ll ask him to check. But, I’ve seen the issue on at least 1 student’s Windows machines as well, which makes it more of a puzzle. If it was Mac only, I’d suspect something like a corrupt preference file. Or a file permission issue, but those aren’t supposed to happen anymore.

I ran disk util on my laptop just now and it didn’t find any errors.

In any case, this clearly isn’t affecting a lot of people. For me, only 2-3 students out of 40. And either restarting the simulator and moving the project into a more sensible folder seem to be working. Thanks for the help and suggestions. When I learn more I’ll update here.

rob · February 3, 2017, 3:28pm

Can I get some more information that the engineers are going to want to know.

What version of Corona SDK are you running?
At least for you, what version of macOS are you running?
Can you try messing with some of our sample apps, like HelloWorld and make sure it’s not project related?
Can you produce a simple test case including config.lua and build.settings that triggers this?

Thanks

Rob

prof.j.carlson · February 4, 2017, 4:09am

I’ve played with it a bit on 2 computers, both running macOS 10.12.3 and Corona SDK 2016.2992.

I can get the simulator to try to load all the fonts when the main.lua file is stored in my user root folder (~). Tried a couple of simple tests. Did it with and without config.lua and build.settings.

However, when I move the project elsewhere – to the desktop or documents folder – it stops doing it and behaves normally. No simulator restart required. So it seems to be dependant on the location of the file, not the contents of the script.

This is weird since I don’t usually put stuff in user root and the project that I first noticed this behavior with was on the desktop – I thought. However, looking back at the console output (pasted earlier above), it looks like the file that was actually launching was in user root (~). Apparently, I was undercaffeinated and not running the file I thought it was.

So, bottom line is that I can only get the simulator to behave badly if I am loading a project from ~. It doesn’t seem to matter what the contents of the script are or what editor I use. Also, the presence or absence of a config.lua and build.settings don’t seem to matter.

I think this is consistent with what I saw on my student’s laptop yesterday as well. I’ll just caution them against putting files in user root.

rob · February 4, 2017, 4:29am

Good, we have a work around and this is great information. I can explain this behavior.

When you put your project in a folder, we scan that folder and children folder’s looking for .lua files, fonts and more. Your system fonts are at ~/Library/Fonts. So placing a main.lua in ~/ would cause us to scan the the entire ~/ tree which includes ~/Dropbox too.

I doubt we can fix this.

Rob

roaminggamer · January 31, 2017, 8:09pm

Windows or OS X?
How many fonts do you have installed (not on the machine, but actually installed)

If you are a Win7/8/10 user, click ‘windows’ button, then type “fonts” and press enter.
When I do this for example, I see that I have 107 fonts installed.
If you have many hundreds of fonts installed, then you may simply want to remove some.

I am unclear on what you mean by “activating”.

If you mean ‘install’, then be assured, Corona does not and cannot install fonts.
Corona, when started, enumerates the fonts that are installed (and perhaps the ones found in the current app’s root folder; not 100% sure about this last part).

I didn’t understand this: