visually debug GTK3 applications (GtkInspector / gtkparasite)

Question

Trying to debug a GTK theme, I modified. Having corrected most of the issues with the theme, I Still cannot figure out, what color setting is responsible for background color in some input-fields or text-views.

SETUP

I can start GtkInspector as well as gtkparasite with Gtk3 applications (starting those debuggers as described on the given pages).

I'm sure, the debugger attached to the right application, because I can

• change the program's theme
• show graphic updates
• show pixel cache ...

PROBLEM

In the left selection pane (widget-treeview expected) is only one element: "GtkSettings"

Tried with:

• meld
• synaptic
• wireshark
• zenity --calendar

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR:

Be able to

• select widgets either from the missing widget-treeview, or when locating them with the 'target button'
• examine and change their parameters

SYSTEM INFORMATION

OS & all programs / packages: Debian 8 x86_64 (up-to-date: 09.01.2015)

QUESTION

1. How can I debug my GTK-theme?

2. Does anyone else experience problems with the GtkInspector (is this a bug)?

Answer 1

I had the same problem with GtkInspector on Debian Jessie and I solved it by calling terminal and typing next :

gsettings set org.gtk.Settings.Debug enable-inspector-keybinding true

this enables GtkInspector shorcut buttons just run your application and press

Control-Shift-I or Control-Shift-D 

I hope it helps

Answer 2

https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GTK%2B/Inspector misses to tell people to install "libgtk-3-dev"!!!

1. Install the package [https://packages.debian.org/search?arch=amd64&keywords=libgtk-3-dev libgtk-3-dev]

2. Start from terminal with:

   GTK_DEBUG=interactive gedit/gnome-terminal/nautilus/etc