Suggestion - Adding FET 6.x Linux AppImage for download

[uni_instructor]

Dear Liviu,

I wanted to start my new timetable planning campaign for the coming year.
So I downloaded the recent Windows and Linux Versions of FET.

Apart from that the recent 6.x Win X64 version no longer runs on Win7, I had to find out that the current X64 Linux version of FET 6.x no longer runs on my Linux system (Linux Mint 20.2 - recent version - based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS), because of at least one missing dependency 

==>  ./fet: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by ./fet)

As I know glibc in Ubuntu  20.04 comes with version 2.31 and is not up to date.

Replacing GLIBC is not a good idea. The libraries shipped by glibc have a lot of reverse dependencies, and an upgrade would probably trigger a need to rebuild quite a few other packages.
Most hints recommend to use AppImage-versions of the application (if available) since it brings on board all needed dependencies without a hassle of reinstalling all needed dependencies.

See also:
https://itsfoss.com/use-appimage-linux/
https://appimage.org/
https://docs.appimage.org/packaging-guide/index.html


Short update of links / there is also a tool that lets you generate AppImage files.
https://appimage.github.io/appimagetool/
https://github.com/AppImage/AppImageKit
https://github.com/AppImage/AppImageKit/releases


Would it be possible for you to offer an additional Linux-AppImage for download?

Best regards

UI

[Liviu Lalescu]

Dear UI,

I am sorry that FET-6.2.2 64-bit precompiled (based on Qt 6.2.1) does not work on Windows 7. Please use Volker's 32-bit (based on Qt 5.15.2).

I am also sorry that FET-6.2.2 precompiled for GNU/Linux 64-bit using Qt-5.15.2 does not work on your Linux Mint system. Not long ago I tried to approach the successor of linuxdeployqt (it is called linuxdeploy and has some module for Qt), for compiling FET for GNU/Linux using Qt-6, but I could not manage to do this.

I will follow the links that you provided, maybe I can succeed. Thank you for the links!

I am a bit afraid to install much external packages, because of security and compatibility.

I will let you know as soon as I find something.

If you want, we could initiate a remote desktop control from me to your computer and I will show you how to natively compile the latest FET using the latest Qt.

[uni_instructor]

Dear Liviu,

I tried the recommended 32-Bit version from Volker's homepage. It worked. 

I think it is worth giving AppImage  a try since that approach might solve compatibility issues between different X86-linux flavors.
I saw many useful applications in AppImage format - especially most recent versions of useful tools that can't be found in many distros' repositories.
They can be used like a Portable-App on Windows.

I am a bit afraid to install much external packages, because of security and compatibility.

I would recommend to setup a Debian Linux-VM as playground, that would solve your security and compatibility concern.

Btw. I updated the link list above.

Best regards

UI

[Liviu Lalescu]

Dear UI,

I think this ends a full day for me. I managed in the end to obtain a perfect AppImage for FET, it runs on my computer, but not on another older system. It again complains about old glibc. So I might need indeed to install an older system on my computer, maybe in a virtual box.

I might try some more in the near future. I'll let you know.

Please let me know what glibc do you have and what older system you would recommend me. I would prefer openSUSE, but I can manage other systems.

PS: You can see my currently obtained AppImage here: https://lalescu.ro/liviu/Backup-fet/

[uni_instructor]

Dear Liviu,

here are some recent distros you can try:

https://linuxmint.com/

Linux Mint 20.2 - Ubuntu  20.04 LTS comes with GLIBC version 2.31   - I prefer LTS versions
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=288
https://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/linuxmint.com/stable/20.2/sha256sum.txt
--> http://mint.mirrors.telekom.ro/iso/linuxmint.com/stable/20.2/linuxmint-20.2-cinnamon-64bit.iso

Linux Mint 19.3 - it's an older distro - and no longer supported

https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=274
http://mint.mirrors.telekom.ro/iso/linuxmint.com/stable/19.3/linuxmint-19.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso
https://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/linuxmint.com/stable/19.3/sha256sum.txt


Linux Mint Debian Edition 4.0 - current version is based on Debian 11 "Bullseye"
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=279
https://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/linuxmint.com/debian/sha256sum.txt
--> http://mint.mirrors.telekom.ro/iso/linuxmint.com/debian/lmde-4-cinnamon-64bit.iso


Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS - basically the same Kernel - Mint 20.2 is an offspring of  Ubuntu 20.04.
https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop
https://releases.ubuntu.com/20.04.3/ubuntu-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso
Checksum:  echo "5fdebc435ded46ae99136ca875afc6f05bde217be7dd018e1841924f71db46b5 *ubuntu-20.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso" | shasum -a 256 --check

The ISOs can be mounted easily from the Virtualbox GUI for installation. (Don't know if you are using Virtualbox or other virtualization apps.)

I will try the appimage.

Best regards

UI

[Liviu Lalescu]

Dear UI,

I will go with openSUSE Leap, which is easier for me. Version 15.2 has glibc version 2.26 and version 15.3 has glibc version 2.31. I will choose one of these. I think glibc 2.26/Leap 15.2 is safer to assure it will run on older computers?

Yes, I will use VirtualBox (never worked with it). So, I don't need to make a bootable USB stick? Just boot the ISO and install it?

[uni_instructor]

Dear Liviu,

Yes, I will use VirtualBox (never worked with it). So, I don't need to make a bootable USB stick? Just boot the ISO and install it?

You won't need a bootable stick. Everything can be done via the VB-GUI.
You have to setup the VM before (# CPUs / RAM-size / HD-size / network etc. ...)

There are some guides:
https://pureinfotech.com/mount-iso-virtual-machine-virtualbox/
https://itsfoss.com/install-linux-in-virtualbox/
https://linuxhint.com/install_debian10_virtualbox/


Best regards

UI

[uni_instructor]

Dear Liviu,

I think this ends a full day for me. I managed in the end to obtain a perfect AppImage for FET, it runs on my computer, but not on another older system. It again complains about old glibc. So I might need indeed to install an older system on my computer, maybe in a virtual box.

I might try some more in the near future. I'll let you know.

I tested your recent FET AppImage. As you already reported I got similar results:

Code Select Expand

/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.32' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libxkbcommon.so.0)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libgssapi_krb5.so.2)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libdbus-1.so.3)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libdbus-1.so.3)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libkrb5.so.3)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libkrb5.so.3)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libk5crypto.so.3)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libkrb5support.so.0)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libkrb5support.so.0)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.32' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libsystemd.so.0)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libsystemd.so.0)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libsystemd.so.0)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libcrypto.so.1.1)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libcrypto.so.1.1)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libselinux.so.1)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libselinux.so.1)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.32' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/liblzma.so.5)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/liblzma.so.5)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libzstd.so.1)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libcap.so.2)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libgcrypt.so.20)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.34' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libgcrypt.so.20)
/tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/AppRun.wrapped: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.33' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_fet-6.eD1Od7/usr/bin/../lib/libpcre2-8.so.0)


As you can see, the App-Runtime reports different versions of GLIBC as missing (2.32, 2.33, 2.34)

Regards

UI

[Liviu Lalescu]

Hello, UI,

I tried VirtualBox, installation of openSUSE Tumbleweed 15.2 froze after a few minutes, installing a package. I had to reboot.

I might install a small real SSD or try again with VirtualBox, a bit later.

I will think of a SSD of maybe ~35 euros, I think I will buy one tomorrow and do the job with it.

[Liviu Lalescu]

Hello, UI,

I just bought that SSD.

I installed openSUSE Leap 15.2, but it has glibc 2.26 and Qt needs glibc 2.28. I will now install openSUSE Leap 15.3, which has glibc 2.31, and I hope everything will be OK. I will let you know.

I suppose glibc 2.31 is OK?

[uni_instructor]

Dear Liviu,

I tried VirtualBox, installation of openSUSE Tumbleweed 15.2 froze after a few minutes, installing a package. I had to reboot.

I might install a small real SSD or try again with VirtualBox, a bit later.

I will think of a SSD of maybe ~35 euros, I think I will buy one tomorrow and do the job with it.

I am sorry that your installation attempt failed. I am not sure if the purchase of an additional SSD would be really necessary. You can also try another distro.

Btw. what version of VirtualBox are you using? Recent version ist VirtualBox 6.1.28
Some distros provide rather old versions of VirtualBox  in their repositories.

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads    gives some information concerning the direct installation from Oracle's repositories.

What is your HOST-OS ?  (Debian?)
inxi -Fz     may reveal some infos on your host-system.

Was the VM-setup correct? (#CPUs < #CPUs of host system, #RAM < #RAM of of host system ...)
VirtualBox can crash if more resources are consumed by the VM than are available on your host system.

I suppose glibc 2.31 is OK?

glibc 2.31 would be Ok, I think.

Regards

UI

[Liviu Lalescu]

Too late  I already bought it (it might also be useful for other purposes, don't worry). I found VirtualBox difficult to use and cumbersome. I have version 6.1.28.

I have openSUSE Tumbleweed and tried to install openSUSE Leap 15.2. I allocated 4 GB RAM and 20 GB hard disk.

But I managed to install openSUSE Leap 15.3 for real on the new SSD. I compiled FET and I will now try to create something usable with glibc >= 2.31.

I will let you know.

[uni_instructor]

I was wondering why Tumbleweed crashed.

I tested openSUSE-Tumbleweed-XFCE-Live-x86_64-Snapshot20211101-Media.iso on  VirtualBox 6.1.28 and it worked. 
Btw. the ISO offers a boot-option as live-system. At least that should work.

[Liviu Lalescu]

No, I have working Tumbleweed and tried to install the old Leap 15.2.

I did it and it seems to work. Please get it from https://lalescu.ro/liviu/fet/download/gnu-linux-appimages/ and let me know soon if it works. I will add a link to it on the Download page.

Problems:

1) Needs glibc >= 2.28 or maybe >=2.31.
2) Search automatically for updates on startup does not work, not because of me. linuxdeploy guys have a bug report and I hope they'll fix it.
3) Cannot open examples in this AppImage.

Please let me know soon, I am very interested.

[Liviu Lalescu]

I also recompiled the GNU/Linux executable tar.bz2 archive, you should be able to use it. See the Download page.