JSON data at $HOME/.config/apdatifier/news.json is corrupted or broken and cannot be processed

[Damglador]

I have all available news enabled. If I update the widget, so it gathers updates and news, then dismiss all news and restart plasmashell or the system, it'll send Exit with error code 1 (or something like that) and JSON data at $HOME/.config/apdatifier/news.json is corrupted or broken and cannot be processed. The news.json file in .config/apdatifier is just empty. The widget is unusable until I remove the news.json and restart plasmashell

My config:

config.conf

[exequtic]

The news.json file in .config/apdatifier is just empty

If the file is truly empty (0B), this error cannot occur.
So there must have been something in it (even with a single whitespace character).

Did it happen once, or does it happen constantly?

[Damglador]

It happens every time I dismiss the news and restart plasmashell. The file has just 2 lines

[exequtic]

Need to figure out when the JSON file breaks.

Reproduce the same actions and keep an eye on the open file news.json. After checking for updates, valid data should appear there, when deleting a news item, the key removed should change to true, and after restarting plasmashell, the file should not change in any way.

[Damglador]

@exequtic the file breaks when news finish refreshing.

1. I update the news
2. Dismiss article 1
3. Dismiss article 2
4. Dismiss article 3
5. Dismiss article 4
6. The news are clear, file is fine, everything has true for "removed"
7. I click "Check updates"
8. "Checking latest news finishes" and the file wipes (except for empty 2 lines)

[exequtic]

Reinstall with latest commit: Settings -> General -> Misc tab -> Install development version

[Damglador]

Still wipes the file.

Installed dev version from the settings, restarted Plasma, dismissed all news, refreshed news, file wiped, the exit with code 1 after another Plasma restart still happens

[exequtic]

Could be due to an old news date format in your file. Added a check for it.

[Damglador]

Seems to be okay now 👍