Linux: JabRef fails to start

[ilippert]

JabRef version

Latest development branch build (please note build date below)

Operating system

Other (please describe below)

Details on version and operating system

Fedora Linux 42

Checked with the latest development build (copy version output from About dialog)

• I made a backup of my libraries before testing the latest development version.
• I have tested the latest development version and the problem persists

Steps to reproduce the behaviour

1. download rpm of current development built.
2. try to start from shell.

effect: software does not start.

---

please do shared guiding questions for investigating ;)

Appendix

...

Log File

WARNING: Using incubator modules: jdk.incubator.vector
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "java.util.Set.equals(Object)" because "currentGeneralPrefs" is null
	at org.jabref/org.jabref.migrations.PreferencesMigrations.addICORERankingFieldToGeneralTab(PreferencesMigrations.java:590)
	at org.jabref/org.jabref.migrations.PreferencesMigrations.runMigrations(PreferencesMigrations.java:72)
	at org.jabref/org.jabref.Launcher.main(Launcher.java:90)

[koppor]

I assume you don't have a tab "General" in JabRef? Do you?

[ilippert]

I assume you don't have a tab "General" in JabRef? Do you?

I am afraid, no UI appears at all, crash... only the lines shared above are printed on the shell.

[github-actions]

We think that this issue was fixed. Please head to https://builds.jabref.org/main to download a development build and try it out.

For any feedback, add a comment to the pull request at #13901.

[koppor]

I assume you don't have a tab "General" in JabRef? Do you?

I am afraid, no UI appears at all, crash... only the lines shared above are printed on the shell.

I meant the last working version 😅

(Internal link for another thing we are working on and might be related to this: #13894)

[ilippert]

I am sorry to report, but still failing to start

have run now:

Version: 6.0-alpha2.735--2025-09-13--786d975

still getting

WARNING: Using incubator modules: jdk.incubator.vector
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "java.util.Set.equals(Object)" because "currentGeneralPrefs" is null
	at org.jabref/org.jabref.migrations.PreferencesMigrations.addICORERankingFieldToGeneralTab(PreferencesMigrations.java:590)
	at org.jabref/org.jabref.migrations.PreferencesMigrations.runMigrations(PreferencesMigrations.java:72)
	at org.jabref/org.jabref.Launcher.main(Launcher.java:90)

please @koppor, reopen :-(