Linux advise for crossplatform development ... lazarus / 1-Linux ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hansaplast · 2011-01-02 19:41 I'm not a Linux user, but wish to deploy my apps for the Linux platform. I currently run Lazarus on MacOS X (Snow Leaopard) and Windows (win7 64 bit and winXP 32 bit). Right now I'm looking for advise/insight in what Linux distro I should setup for creating a Linux version of my applications (I'll be running it as a virtual machine) - or if this is even needed. I have no idea what distro to target, and I do not know what the most common distribution method is (rpm, etc). Help is appreciated ---------------------------------------------------------------------- marcov · 2011-01-02 19:49 Prepare for the worst that you will have to create a package for every supported distribution in every supported version. Here and there will be some holes in that matrix, but not that many. Without any additional knowledge, I would support Ubuntu and Fedora only, in recent incarnations. If you are commercial, you might replace Fedora by Centos/RHEL. If your product is distributed mostly in a local market, you could add distributions that are used a lot in your part of the world. But the hard truth is that there is no universal Linux installer, and this is not improving. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hansaplast · 2011-01-02 20:35 Thanks Marcov for the very quick reply I guess that's why I wasn't able to get head or tail out of that one either I'm not commercial, and have no specific country in mind. Seems Ubuntu is enjoying the most popularity amongst desktop users, so I'll try to see if I can find a stripped down version for the purpose of compiling and testing. Do you happen to know if Ubuntu has a preferred distribution format? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Blaazen · 2011-01-02 21:01 Note that linux has more desktop environments (main are GNOME and KDE4). Their widgetsets are Gtk2 and Qt. Statistics say that more people use KDE4 (based on Qt4). Debain based distributions use *.deb packages (Debian, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Mint). RedHat, Fedora and others use *.rpm packages. Ubuntu uses GNOME (based on Gtk2). So choose Ubuntu or Kubuntu (based on KDE4/Qt4) if you are linux beginner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mdalacu · 2011-01-02 21:03 Deb package. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- marcov · 2011-01-02 21:26 Quote from: Blaazen link=topic=11637.msg58459#msg58459 Debain based distributions use *.deb packages (Debian, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Mint). RedHat, Fedora and others use *.rpm packages. A package format is not the same as the application in it. IOW not all .deb using distro's (and versions) can use one and the same .deb. True, (K)Ubuntu version X can probably use the .deb from the corresponding .deb version, but those are the little exceptions in the version matrix that I mentioned, not a solution to the problem. But that is the problem. Commercial users typically use the long stable versions (Centos, Ubuntu LTS), and the rest uses the newest distro. there is no common ground there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hansaplast · 2011-01-02 23:07 Thanks for the good info and insight ... If I understand all of this correctly; Most common packages are .deb and .rpm and independently of that, the different desktop environments make it even more confusing I'll start with Ubuntu since my applications are typically for home use; most of these users probably use a straight forward desktop setting (like Ubuntu), and those that did choose differently might be expert enough to handle either package format? Or should I add a tarball for those more advanced users? As for the desktop environment, which one would be considered the most used/compatible? Are certain desktop environments backwards compatible? (ie. GTK2 can run GTK?) Is 32-bit vs 64-bit an issue under Linux? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mdalacu · 2011-01-03 08:20 You should provide both packages , x86 and x64.You can not install x64 deb on x86 linux without tweaks or hacks. You can work with 2 virtual machines x86 and x64. I recommand VirtualBox 4 . Ubuntu is running perfectly on this VM. From host OS you share the same folder for the 2 VM (Share Folders feature). The only restriction is not using Lazarus from all OS-es at the same time. The beauty of Lazarus is that the source is the same, you only compile it on different architectures. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- marcov · 2011-01-03 08:31 Quote from: Hansaplast on January 03, 2011, 12:07:29 amThanks for the good info and insight ... If I understand all of this correctly; Most common packages are .deb and .rpm and independently of that, the different desktop environments make it even more confusing Yes, but a .deb is still distro and -version dependnat. QuoteI'll start with Ubuntu since my applications are typically for home use; most of these users probably use a straight forward desktop setting (like Ubuntu), and those that did choose differently might be expert enough to handle either package format? Or should I add a tarball for those more advanced users? The desktop bit is fairly evenly divided, because while Ubuntu is till now Gnome, there is a spin KUbuntu doing KDE. My guess it is 60/40 or so. The next Ubuntu generation (or the one after?) will see changes here, at least Canonical has announced so. QuoteAs for the desktop environment, which one would be considered the most used/compatible? Doesn't matter that much. Moreover, straight lazarus programsare typically not dependant on the desktop perse. (but on the deeper engine, the widgetset) and KDE's widget QT will function in Gnome systems and vice versa. I would take pick one, e.g. Lazarus/QT and simply see how far you get. QuoteAre certain desktop environments backwards compatible? (ie. GTK2 can run GTK?) No. But KDE desktop systems with GTK2 installed CAN run gtk2 apps. QuoteIs 32-bit vs 64-bit an issue under Linux? Yes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hansaplast · 2011-01-04 04:40 Thanks for the insight Marcov, although I'm now probably even more confused than before  I'll take your advise on giving it a try and see what happens. I installed Ubuntu on a virtual machine with Lazarus and FPC. I'll recompile my project there and take it from there ... (I did see a WIKI page on how to how to deploy your Lazarus application)