Problem with speakup software synthesis if speechd-up or espeakupnot running

[Kerry Hoath]

This is relatively easy to fix if you look at things in the right order.

you are correct, for software speech you _need_ espeakupd and espeak running 
so you need to organize to shut things down in the right order etc.
Firstly note that the speakup_softsynth module has a parameter start=n so 
that you can load softsynth and not start the speech untill espeakupd is 
loaded.

Then when you load espeakupd you can echo the correct value to speakup to 
start it up.

The other thing you can do is switch the speech synthesizer to none with 
talkwith before unloading stuff.

You want to unload the espeak by killing it _after_ you have told speakup 
not to talk anymore.

Then you should be able to unload the modules once no further speech is 
queued.

I have had speakup running on real hardware, but have not tried it in a 
virtual machine, which may change the timing considerations somewhat.
Sorry /sys locations and files are not in my head today, i'll research stuff 
and get back to you if you still have problems after reading the above, 
although I don't run Gentoo, I run ubuntu.
Regards, Kerry.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alastair Irving" <alastair.irving at sjc.ox.ac.uk>
To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 8:21 AM
Subject: Problem with speakup software synthesis if speechd-up or 
espeakupnot running


> Hi All
>
> I'm running speakup on a gentoo system under vmware, kernel version 
> 2.6.27-gentoo-r8, and the gentoo speakup ebuild which is revision 
> 2008.08.02.  I use the software synthesis module.
>
> Everything is generally working fine, however, if I do anything that would 
> cause speakup to speak when either speechd-up or espeakup is not running, 
> (even just pressing a single key), the whole system crashes.  I assume its 
> some kind of kernel pannic, I can no longer read the screen with brltty, 
> or SSH in, or do anything, (so I don't know if any errors are printed to 
> the screen at this point).  This is rather annoying as to start speakup I 
> have to use sSSH to modprobe speakup_soft and load espeakup.  Once I've 
> done this I can use the system normally and it speaks.  Similarly, before 
> shutting down the system I have to SSH in, and unload espeakup and 
> modprobe -r speakup_soft.  Otherwise, if I shutdown, espeakup is unloaded 
> and then presumably speakup tries to say something and everything hangs.
>
> I've looked in the syslog after rebooting, but no errors are shown.
>
>
> Has anyone else experienced this?  It seems rather bizarre and I don't 
> know what to try to resolve it.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Alastair Irving
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