Unable to run Atuin Desktop in WSL2

Desktop
1

Hello!

I am unable to successfully run Atuin Desktop in WSL2 (Windows 11). The error I am seeing is as follows:

$ atuin-desktop
[2025-05-26T08:50:14Z DEBUG atuin_desktop::runtime::exec_log] opening exec_log sqlite database at "/home/fcpv/.config/sh.atuin.app/exec_log.db"
starting executor command loop
libEGL warning: DRI3 error: Could not get DRI3 device
libEGL warning: Activate DRI3 at Xorg or build mesa with DRI2
libEGL warning: DRI3 error: Could not get DRI3 device
libEGL warning: Activate DRI3 at Xorg or build mesa with DRI2
libEGL warning: failed to open /dev/dri/renderD128: Permission denied

libEGL warning: failed to open /dev/dri/renderD128: Permission denied

target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 1
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 2
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 3
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 4
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 5
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 6
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 7
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 8
libEGL warning: failed to open /dev/dri/renderD128: Permission denied

libEGL warning: failed to open /dev/dri/renderD128: Permission denied

target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 9
target window state:  size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 0, height: 0 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
adjustment attempt: 10

(process:5328): dconf-CRITICAL **: 10:50:14.836: unable to create directory '/run/user/1000/dconf': Permission denied.  dconf will not work properly.

Have any tests been done in WSL? Is there a workaround I can use to try Atuin there, or I need to go to fully native Ubuntu?

Thanks!

2

Hey! I’m afraid we can’t really support WSL at this time - just native mac and linux. Definitely open to supporting windows in the future, but I don’t think we are there just yet

We use Tauri under the hood - something like this could work for you

https://penner.me/getting-tauri-working-in-wsl

4 Likes
3

Thanks! I’ll try to use that and report back if I succeed :smiley:

4

Hi, all :grinning_face:

I was able to install the deb package listed in the invitation email from Atuin-Desktop on Windows 11 and WSL 2 Ubuntu without any problems.
Here are the lists.
(I used gdebi to install *.deb)

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101233×1099 131 KB

  • Windows 11
  • Atuin 0.0.74 (for Linux amd64 deb package)
  • WSL 2 (latest)
  • Ubuntu 22.04
  • gdebi (for install deb package)

sudo gdebi Atsuin-Desktop.deb

I will try various things such as the Hub and Runbooks!

Thanks, See you.

5

ok, that is super cool, nice one! Glad it worked

1 Like
6

I tried installing with gdebi and no luck. But I see that I am in Ubuntu 24.04.2, so that may also be the issue.

1 Like
7

Oh, thanks for this tips.

I will also try updating to Ububtu 24.04.2.

8

Hello, glad to see it working on someone WSL :slight_smile: (at least there is a goal)

but i fail to make it work with same error message as initial message of @nandoconde

target window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 1200, height: 1000 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 0, y: 0 }
current window state: size: PhysicalSize { width: 26, height: 23 }, pos: PhysicalPosition { x: 26, y: 23 }
adjustment attempt: 10

tried install via apt and gdebi

@nandoconde have you succeed meanwhile ?

@ellie followed your recommendation without success too https://penner.me/getting-tauri-working-in-wsl

thanks !

9

Hey

Yeah, I could not make it work and I tried all the known workarounds, plus some back-and-forth with ChatGPT to try and make it work, and it was impossible.

I wish someone with more insight can chime in…

10

I do not think that the distribution plays any significant role.

Likely, this is a matter of Desktop Environment / Window Manager or the lack thereof, and they possibly lack some other packages, like openssl.

WSL images start out as very lightweight containers, but they can be upgraded to run a full Desktop environment.

I have several WSL images on several machines and all of them with a DE like XFCE, Gnome, or KDE are able to launch Atuin Desktop successfully.

I use several variations of distributions (sometimes with different versions) and Desktop Environments for development and testing purposes.

Among them are:

  • Debian 13 (XFCE)
  • Ubuntu current LTS (KDE)
  • Ubuntu previous LTS (Gnome)
  • Arch (Gnome)
  • Kali Linux (Debian based, used for security related stuff) with XFCE and kex (enables Remote Desktop and VNC remote access)

All of them are able to run Atuin Desktop without any problems.

2 Likes
11

@fcamo @nandoconde The blog article on Tauri is a bit dated, especially the part of XFCE being incompatible. In newer versions of Ubuntu and Debian, the mentioned steps and precautions are not needed.

In your place, i would start with installing one or more of:

  • a browser like Brave or Firefox (just not the snap version)
  • an editor like vscode or zed
  • any GUI application of at least medium complexity

Also, the easiest way to get a full blown DE is to use Kali Linux with kex.

1 Like
12

I am (mostly) able to run Zed on WSL (with the usual unset WAYLAND_DISPLAY), with only some minor caveats.

I am reluctant to install a full Desktop Environment in my WSL because I don’t need it for anything else and I don’t want to pollute it unnecessarily. Are there any particular packages I’d need to install just to have Atuin Desktop?

13

You could use an additional distro like Kali Linux, just for Atuin Desktop.

wsl --install kali-linux
# after installation
wsl -d kali-linux --cd '~'
# updates
sudo apt update && apt list --upgradable
sudo apt full-upgrade && sudo sync
# full terminal only environment
sudo apt install kali-linux-core
# install a full desktopp environment with pre-configured RDP and VNC access
sudo apt install kali-win-kex
# https://www.kali.org/docs/wsl/win-kex/
# start Win-KeX in Enhanced Session Mode with sound support (uses xrdp)
wsl -d kali-linux kex --esm -s
14

Are there any particular packages I’d need to install just to have Atuin Desktop?

I guess it is not only a matter of packages, but also of configuration. On all my WSL images with DE i did not need to do anything special to get Atuin Desktop running. From the first release since i got my invitation (0.0.81) up to now, each version worked. Not a single crash.

That’s why i recommend to have at least one distribution with a full Desktop environment.

Kali Linux is just the most convenient one, as RDP and VNC are already configured via kex.

I typically prefer RDP over Microsoft’s WSLg, but atuin-desktop starts with WSLg, too.

Aside: The workaround for Zed is only needed for WSLg.

15

Just tried to install Atuin Desktop on a new Arch WSL image without DE.

Cf. Arch and its Derivatives PKGBUILD

There are still some glitches, but Atuin Desktop does show up with WSLg.

image
image1131×741 55.6 KB

For some reason, the Welcome Runbook does not show up.

16

I have decided to try this, since this week I have a bit of spare time at work to test things. If you say it works, I’ll go with the lightest DE that supports both Atuin and Zed.

Do you have an easy way to install RDP and VLC on the default Ubuntu 24.04? I see on the internet that it is a bit of a hassle to configure…

17

xrdp is easy to configure. I only needed to change the port in /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini.

Also, with the new developments for Arch, NixOS, and Flatpak, even Microsoft’s WSLg can display Atuin Desktop just fine.

And again, Kali LInux (based on Debian) with the default XFCE is by far the easiest way to get RDP and VNC working, using their kex tool.

BTW, you will get a better performance using the Windows version of Zed (nightly or preview at the moment) and connect to WSL using Command Palette → projects: open wsl.

18

Thanks!

The only problem about Kali is that I need to use Ubuntu for the rest of my work, and I’d like to have Atuin Desktop in the same environment that I am actively working so I can get the best out of it for my automations and tasks :smiley:

I am now installing MATE in my Ubuntu and will post the results here.

1 Like
19

Reporting back: it was difficult to install MATE without any errors in my WSL instance, but I made it and tried atuin-desktop. It did not run, and it spat the same errors as before.

I am now going to try with Kali :sweat_smile:

20

Okay, I tried with Kali and I cannot even setup RDP.