1096122 - [e10s] Screen flashes white when navigating with f.lux running

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 1100252

(Core :: Graphics, defect)

Description

[Tim Taubert [:ttaubert] (inactive)]

I use f.lux to change the screen color after the sun goes down. Using e10s I see the whole screen shortly flashing back to its regular color for a short moment when navigating. Happens constantly with:

1) Open http://www.golem.de/
2) Click a link to one of the articles

The problem is that it doesn't seem to happen every time. I was able to reproduce it a minute ago but now it doesn't happen anymore :/

And now it flashes again. Switching tabs and trying a few times might help to reproduce this.

Comment 1

[Chris Peterson [:cpeterson]]

I've seen a similar screen flashing problem with Google Maps and other WebGL content. I use f.lux on OS X. I think I've seen this problem without e10s, though.

Comment 2

[Tim Taubert [:ttaubert] (inactive)]

Yeah I've definitely seen that problem before too, without e10s. But it was never so nicely reproducible and happened so often (upon navigating on the given site).

Comment 3

[Mike Conley (:mconley) (:⚙️)]

I run with flux, and I've never seen this...

What versions of OS X are you two running? I'm still on Mountain Lion.

Comment 4

[Tim Taubert [:ttaubert] (inactive)]

I'm on Mavericks. Can't reproduce the problem currently though...

Comment 5

[Simon Howes]

This was fixed in f.lux

From their release notes: https://justgetflux.com/news/pages/mac/
> v34: Adds the ability to make a system profile to fix “flashing” on dual-GPU Macs when they switch. This feature is diabled on single-GPU machines. Adds improved location accuracy, especially for extreme latitudes.

This fixed a bug that was system wide, however I can reproduce it only in Firefox even in their latest version. It is a Yosemite related regression.

We may also need to investigate why Firefox switches briefly between integrated and dedicated graphics. I use gfxCardStatus and it tells me when they switch. They usually switch for some sites until loading of a web page has completed. I do wonder if there is a large amount of power use having to move memory from system RAM to video card RAM and back to system RAM again which happens every time they change. That's for another bug.

Comment 6

[Tim Taubert [:ttaubert] (inactive)]

I use the latest version of f.lux and am still on Mavericks. I saw those flashes yesterday again, so nothing was fixed there or regressed in Yosemite only.

The switch between integrated and dedicated graphics is interesting though. That might indeed be the cause.