Pypanel takes up 100% cpu

Question

Every once in a while, and not yet with any similarity in the circumstances which it occurs, pypanel will appear to refresh itself endlessly and while taking up copious amounts of CPU time.  Like, all of it.
Anyone else seeing this?  There aren't any errors printed.  I kill it, restart it, and it goes along merrily for a while until it screws up again.
pypanelrc if it helps:
# PyPanel v2.4 Configuration
# This configuration file is a Python script that will be executed when
# PyPanel is started. In order for PyPanel to start properly, make sure that
# this file contains proper Python formatting and no syntax errors.
VERSION = 2.4 # Config file version
# Colors: Format is hex triplet - 0xrrggbb
BG_COLOR = "0xd6d6d6" # Panel background and tinting color
TASK_COLOR = "0x000000" # Normal task name color
FOCUSED_COLOR = "0x1826de" # Focused task name color
SHADED_COLOR = "0x808080" # Shaded task name color
MINIMIZED_COLOR = "0x808080" # Minimized task name color
DESKTOP_COLOR = "0x000000" # Desktop name color
CLOCK_COLOR = "0xbfbfbf" # Clock text color
LINE_COLOR = "0x606060" # Vertical line color
# Text Shadow Colors
TASK_SHADOW_COLOR = "0xffffff"
FOCUSED_SHADOW_COLOR = "0xffffff"
SHADED_SHADOW_COLOR = "0xffffff"
MINIMIZED_SHADOW_COLOR = "0xffffff"
DESKTOP_SHADOW_COLOR = "0xffffff"
CLOCK_SHADOW_COLOR = "0xffffff"
# Panel Spacing and Location Options: Measured in pixels
P_LOCATION = 0 # Panel placement: 0 = top, 1 = bottom
P_WIDTH = 0 # Panel width: 0 = Use full screen width
P_START = 950 # Starting X coordinate of the panel
P_SPACER = 12 # Spacing between panel objects
P_HEIGHT = 24 # Panel height
# Icon Size Options: Measured in pixels
I_HEIGHT = 16 # Panel application icon height
I_WIDTH = 16 # Panel application icon Width
APPL_I_HEIGHT = 24 # Application launcher icon height
APPL_I_WIDTH = 24 # Application launcher icon width
TRAY_I_HEIGHT = 24 # System tray icon height (usually 16 or 24)
TRAY_I_WIDTH = 24 # System tray icon width (usually 16 or 24)
# If TRAY_I_WIDTH is set to 0, then the
# width specified by the tray app will be used
# Panel Clock Format: 'man strftime' for detailed formatting options and help
#CLOCK_FORMAT = "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M" # Ex: 2004-09-25 17:45
CLOCK_FORMAT = "%B %d %l:%M %p"
# Clock Delay: Seconds between each clock update during periods of inactivity
CLOCK_DELAY = 20
# Hidden Application List: Apps listed here will not be display on the panel
# The application name is its WM_CLASS name, use 'xprop' to find WM_CLASS
# Ex: ["xmms", "xine", "gDesklets"]
HIDE_LIST = []
# Hidden Panel Size: Size of the panel when it's hidden/minimized
HIDDEN_SIZE = 2
# Panel Text Font: This option takes either a traditional or Xft font string
# Ex: "-schumacher-clean-medium-r-normal-*-12-*-*-*-*-*-*-*"
# "aquafont-8"
FONT = "Deja Vu Sans-9:Bold"
# Show All Applications: Show apps from all desktops or just the current
# 0: Disabled - Only applications on the current desktop will be displayed
# 1: Enabled - Selected apps are moved to the current desktop
# 2: Enabled - Current desktop is changed to the selected apps desktop
SHOWALL = 0 # 0, 1 or 2 - see descriptions above
# Show Minimized/Iconified Applications: Show only minimized apps or all apps
# 0: Disabled - Show all applications on the panel
# 1: Enabled - Show only minimized apps on the panel
SHOWMINIMIZED = 0
# Application Icon List: List of custom icons for specific applications
# The application name is its WM_CLASS name, use 'xprop' to find WM_CLASS
# The "default" entry is used for applications with no icon. If left "",
# PyPanel will use the default icon distributed with the source.
# Add entries using the following format -
# "<application name>" : "<full path to icon>",
ICON_LIST = {
"default" : "",
"example" : "/usr/share/imlib2/data/images/audio.png",
# Application Launch List: Ordered list of icons and applications for the
# application launcher.
# Add entries using the following format -
# ("<executable>", "<full path to icon>")
LAUNCH_LIST = [
("gimp-2.2", "/usr/share/imlib2/data/images/paper.png"),
# Background Alpha/Shade Level: 0 (Fully Translucent) -> 255 (Fully Opaque)
# BG_COLOR is used for tinting
SHADE = 0
# Misc. Options: 1 = Enabled/Yes, 0 = Disabled/No
ABOVE = 1 # Panel is always above other apps
APPICONS = 1 # Show application icons
AUTOHIDE = 0 # Autohide uses the CLOCK_DELAY timer above
SHADOWS = 0 # Show text shadows
SHOWLINES = 0 # Show object seperation lines
SHOWBORDER = 0 # Show a border around the panel
# Desktop Names: Configure the names of your desktops
# If the option is [], PyPanel will attempt to use the desktop name specified
# by the XServer, if that fails it will use the desktop number as its name
# Ex. ["One", "Two", "Three", "Four", "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight"]
DESKTOP_NAMES = []
# Panel Layout: -----------------------------------
# [ 1 ][ 2 ][ 3 ][ 4 ][ 5 ]
# The panel layout is split into 5 sections numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 as shown
# in the diagram above. Each of the following objects can be enabled by
# assigning it a section number or disabled by assigning it 0:
DESKTOP = 0 # Desktop name section
TASKS = 0 # Task names section
TRAY = 5 # System tray section
CLOCK = 4 # Clock section
LAUNCHER = 0 # Application launcher section
# Button Event Function Definitions
# Left click - button 1
# Middle click - button 2
# Right click - button 3
# Wheel up - button 4
# Wheel down - button 5
# changeDesktop(x)
# - Change Desktop: Increase or decrease the current desktop by 'x' amount
# toggleShade(task)
# - Shade or Unshade an application
# toggleHidden()
# - Minimize the panel to the top or bottom depending on its start location
# toggleMinimize(task, traise=1)
# - Minimize or Unminimize an application and optionally raise it
# taskRaise(task, focus=1)
# - Raise an application to the top of the window list and optionally focus it
# taskLower(task, focus=0)
# - Lower an app to the bottom of the window list and optionally focus it
# taskFocus(task)
# - Give focus to the selected application, if it has focus then minimize it
# showDesktop()
# - Toggle between hiding and unhiding ALL applications
def desktopButtonEvent(pp, button):
""" Button event handler for the panel's desktop object """
if button == 1:
pp.changeDesktop(-1)
elif button == 2:
pp.changeDesktop(2)
elif button == 3:
pp.changeDesktop(1)
elif button == 4:
pp.changeDesktop(1)
elif button == 5:
pp.changeDesktop(-1)
def clockButtonEvent(pp, button):
""" Button event handler for the panel's clock object """
if button == 1:
os.system("xclock &")
elif button == 2:
pass
elif button == 3:
pp.toggleHidden()
elif button == 4:
pp.showDesktop()
elif button == 5:
pp.showDesktop()
def panelButtonEvent(pp, button):
""" Button event handler for the panel with no active tasks """
if button == 1:
pass
elif button == 2:
pass
elif button == 3:
pass
elif button == 4:
pass
elif button == 5:
pass
def taskButtonEvent(pp, button, task):
""" Button event handler for the panel's tasks """
if button == 1:
pp.taskFocus(task)
elif button == 2:
# Destroy the application
task.obj.destroy()
elif button == 3:
# Ex. - XMMS doesn't shade, so we want to minimize it instead and
# still use button 3 to shade other applications
# task.tclass is the tasks class name (WM_CLASS)
if "xmms" in task.tclass:
pp.toggleMinimize(task)
else:
pp.toggleShade(task)
elif button == 4:
pp.taskRaise(task, focus=1)
elif button == 5:
pp.taskLower(task, focus=0)
I already tried recompiling it.

Answer 1

There are some variables needed that you havent really explained..
1. What kind of environment are you running pypanel in.. is it Xfce.. Openbox.. etc..
2. How are you initiating pypanel to start.. are you starting it from .xinitrc or from something like autostart in Xfce?  If so can you post your .xinitrc or perhaps let us know what the command you are using in Xfce autostart might be etc???
3.  Are you using compositing?
Ive experienced what you speak of when i was in Xfce.. i cant say i recall having it happen in openbox since ive switched but i did find a fix in Xfce when i was using it..  though ive never used compositing.