Not wishing to Cut Nose/Spite face.

[MorbidFractal]

Hmmm... prior to the intervention of the Mint Update Manager which wanted to install, IIRC, an fpc 2.6.2-8 SDK package my install via .deb from Sourceforge of 1.0.12 was giving the same access errors and -lGL errors that all the other efforts had been throwing up. I let the Mint Update Manager do its thing and the Mint Update Manager fell over... as per end of previous post.

Now by now I have got used to trying to take off and Nuke Things From Orbit whenever I try a clean install the first part of which involves a,

Code: [Select]

sudo apt-get purge fpc lazarus
which this time resulted in a,

Code: [Select]

You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies.
So I obey orders and it appears to fix itself and I run Lazarus 1.0.12 again and this time it comes up correctly. The file access problems have disappeared and it no longer complains about -lGL and I get to install LazOpenGLContext to the tool bar, picture attached.

For some reason intervention by the Mint Update Manager in order to drag something in from the Mint/Ubuntu repositories although initially it failed ended up fixing things for 1.0.12 I would guess that 1.0.12 is not much different from 1.0.1 Ooops, my mistake, Mint is presently supporting 1.0.12 so it makes sense that it recognised the install and decided to drag something else in...

Is there any clue as to what might be the problem based on the above?

I might guess that the Mint maintainers have ensured that what they are offering is going to work for their particular flavour of Linux but that would cause problems for a 'raw and untweaked' install. I'm just flying no-handed and blindfolded in the dark.

.... Martin has already mentioned the possibility.

[munair]

Linux, and by that I mean most established distros, is a great operating system with a level of freedom that Windows and Mac users could only dream of. HOWEVER, this freedom also has a downside: if you do not know exactly what you're doing after giving permission for system changes by confirming with your root/system password, you may end up with a permanent broken system. That is Linux!

Trying to change permission settings outside your own home folder may also break your system completely. If you install Lazarus as sudoer and files are placed in usr/share/.. then the system knows exactly what permissions to grant you when you start Lazarus as a user. So you really should not tinker with the system without knowing exactly what you're doing.

From what you say I would go to synaptic package manager and in the menu choose -> Edit -> Fix broken packages, and see what happens. Always try to avoid broken packages as they may easily prevent you from changing software installations.

Also, once your packages are fixed, try to run these:

$ apt-get autoremove
$ apt-get autoclean
$ apt-get update

And before installing another version of Lazarus, make sure any previous version is uninstalled, including the fpc and fpc-src packages..

[MorbidFractal]

Noted. Been there, done that, got various burnt T-Shirts.

As per advice,

:no broken packages/dependencies.
:references to Thunderbird removed.. I use Evolution so swapped things over.
:nothing updated.

In terms of install I have been using the deb versions from SourceForge via the GDebi Installer and I have also tried to use the command line to clean out previous cruft. It, or rather the combination, appears to have worked. Occasionally GDebi did suggest something else was still in place and removed it for me when asked... In some respects the system does hold my hand.

I very much get some of the points made in respect of Lazarus vs Linux. In the case of using .deb from SourceForge it would appear that Mint and presumably other Distortions/Distros have their own quirks such that they create issues outside of the control of those who maintain Lazarus and presumably FreePascal and no doubt other software.

It looks like there are still some 'bugs' in Lazarus, of course there will be, but I must accept that in respect of these recent problems that cropped up trying to install versions outside of the 'safe zone' I was probably pointing the finger or rather moaning in the wrong direction.

I'll go and moan at Mint... Errrrrrm.

[MorbidFractal]

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=193997

[Martin_fr]

trying to install LazOpenGLContext to the menu bar from Project|Project Inspector in that it was having access problems creating a backup directory under usr/share/lazarus/~~~,

Ok , I dont know LazOpenGLContext, but its a 3rd party tool. Does it have an installer that puts it into /usr/share ?
If not, you can install it into your home directory. (and remove the other installation.)

To tell Lazarus where it is, just go to menu Package > Open Package. Open it once, and the IDE will remember.

Creating a backup folder means the IDE thinks you edited something (source ,or maybe options). You can not edit any files in /usr/share unless you are root. Because editing them affects all users.

--------------
About the scrollboxes, I did create a bug. Yes that is broken. And for a long time. I did not find another report of it. So unless I overlooked it, you are the first to experience this bug.

Now you may have valid reasons to nest scrollboxes (and I know the stuff you posted is an example, not your real app), but overall it seems few people do nest them.

Sorry no update how long it may take to get this fixed.

-------------
Amount the mint packages (just generic info)

Some distros insist on cutting fpc into tons of small packages. So that then conflicts with the one big package from the sourceforge download page.

Since I mainly install from sources, I cant give much advice on this. But usually, you install the distros package only once (to get dependencies, such as ....-dev packages of some libraries. Once you have them, stick to the packages supplied at sourceforge.

[Windsurfer]

I run 1.4RC2 ON LINUX Mint 17.2. I'll post how to do it when I get back off holiday, and upgrade. Meantime, delete Lazarus folders in  /etc and /usr/share and .lazarus in home folder. Also change permissions so that you can compile examples and add packages. This is slow, due to large number of files. Good luck.

[Signal]

I use Lazarus on Linux. I find that the best solution is to install and compile from source. Installing Laz in your home directory avoids all the issues that can arise when rebuilding the IDE (and possibly part of your project) if something requires root privileges because it is in a privileged directory. It also avoids the problems of distro unique installations, incomplete packages, etc, etc. Distro based installations are not worth the hassle.

On the other hand, I haven't had any real problems using distro based FPC installations. If you do install FPC from sourceforge instead of from your distro, you have to somehow disable your package manager from touching anything FPC, or you are screwed sooner or later.

And yes, before installing Laz be sure to clean out every trace of past installations. You need to be ruthless in that regard.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/lazarus/files/Lazarus%20Zip%20_%20GZip/

Ignore that "Looking for the latest version?" crap sourgeforge insists on showing. It's pure misdirection. The owners of that site are idiots.
 

[sysrpl]

The Lazarus setup at http://www.getlazarus.org/setup installs everything off your $HOME folder and there are no problems. It also modifies Lazarus such that all settings are stored in the same folder as where you install, thus allowing for unlimited versions of Lazarus on the system as long as you provide a different folder for each.

Sudo is never needed. Honestly I don't know why this isn't the default.

[Windsurfer]

I forgot to mention, also remove all FPC installations. I found two.

[MorbidFractal]

Hi Martin.

I am not fully qualified if that makes sense.

Ok , I dont know LazOpenGLContext, but its a 3rd party tool. Does it have an installer that puts it into /usr/share ? If not, you can install it into your home directory. (and remove the other installation.)

It may well be third party but, as far as I am aware, it appears in 'the list', picture attached. Yes it does install, as per previous, when other things appear to be happy with themselves... Not sure if this helps. It also appears to work but is prone to throwing its own errors. Something like,

http://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,27553.msg170383.html#msg170383

I'm not sure which part of my program I should 'blame' for that one. Probably me.

Now you may have valid reasons to nest scrollboxes (and I know the stuff you posted is an example, not your real app), but overall it seems few people do nest them.

This one will be unfair because I have not being paying proper attention to your replies. I have not been nesting ScrollBoxes. I spent a bit of time with Panels thinking that they might be Scrollable then elsewhere someone mentioned I might use the AutoScroll in the main Form but that was not what I was looking for.

End result is I put a ScrollBox on a Panel and then Parented a Frame to the ScrollBox during run time and at that point I got to Scroll through the bits and pieces of the Frame. Whilst Panels make mention of ScrollBars I do not think they really know about them... at least I have not managed to provoke their appearance.

Of course if someone wishes to put ScrollBoxes within ScrollBoxes then.. why not?

Some distros insist on cutting fpc into tons of small packages. So that then conflicts with the one big package from the sourceforge download page.

I can, possibly mistakenly, concur with that one. If I install Lazarus via the Software Manager under Mint it is borked from the outset because the 'headlline' install does not drag FreePascal in. Duh-Oh. Having figured that one out you have to smack about the place and arbitrarily grab the other hundred of bits and pieces.

I suppose that's a barrier to entry I might almost be able to work out but, in my mind, it should not be there.

Since I mainly install from sources, I cant give much advice on this. But usually, you install the distros package only once (to get dependencies, such as ....-dev packages of some libraries. Once you have them, stick to the packages supplied at sourceforge.

In part, if it makes sense, that goes back to my perceived 'Once You Know' scenario... It just works but you forget why.

Hi Windsurfer/Signal

OK I am not quality but I am game. Please be gentle...

I am typing too slowly.

Hi Sysrpl

Being a trusting type I'll give that one a go.

Hi again Windsurfer

Noted and previously executed. Perhaps I should do so before entering the realms of someone else's script. I really have no idea.

[Martin_fr]

Well about LazOpenGLContext, I will not be able to help with taht.

Also some of the errors you have are in gtk, they may be caused by LazOpenGLContext, by you, or be in Lazarus. But even in the last case, I am not familiar with that part of Lazarus.

------------
About the scrollboxes. Ok, but your example is still a valid bug. If you find other issues where align does not work then please report them.

Afaik autoscroll of a form should work, so same here, if it doe not then report it.

If it only fails with the LazOpenGLContext components, then they might be missing GetPreferredWidth. Search other code, add it to them, with some sort of default.

[MorbidFractal]

No... having visited,

http://www.getlazarus.org/setup/?download#linux

and looked at the script, given my limited understanding of such devices, I will be buying another bottle of cider and running with Sysrpl's suggestion and being Evil I will not uninstall the original stuff before going for it.

I shall now visit the shop and talk later.

Thanks and thanks to Martin. I was typing whilst you posted

[zeljko]

there's also http://www.getlazarus.org/setup/making where you can do exactly what sysrpl says without that script (of course, just change C:\ with $HOME on linux and that's it.

[jack616]

There is no doubt in my mind that very few people here do any degree of serious work with lazarus outside
of working on lazarus itself.

On one hand we get the benefit of new functionality - but on the other some basic things either
don't work or are a problem in some other way (see my thread on the project popup)  When pointing out
problems as a "user" -  you almost get flamed. That doesn't help anyone.

I have in the past donated cash - and will again regardless at some point - because the developers deserve it.
It would be nice however if "the customer[user] was always rigtht"
and things that are claimed to work did so to a recognisable degree. Simply saying we "donate our time for free and
if you don't like it use something else" is not a good attitude at all.

Another example - I find it very strange that cross compiling to linux GTK2 doesnt have basic
functionality - TLable doesnt seem to compile here at all - whilst GTK3 and other widget sets
are being worked on regardless of what seems a very obvious omission to me. How long ago was GTK2
claimed to be used this way? I chose it because I assumed it would be the most reliable widget set
being the oldest.

I would suggest a basic cross-compile component set for each widget library be tested and perhaps
even given a special tab on lazarus when cross compiling so we can know what is and is not expected to work.

But to have a Tlabel not compile seems more than just oversight. The fact that not one single comment was raised
when I mentioned it suggests nobody else is using GTK2. OK fine - drop gtk2 entirely and get something
working across platforms - I'm happy to shift to GTK3 but I see problems reported there ... and also QT...

I guess I'm trying to say:
A vast array of "almost" working stuff is nowhere near  as useful as a limited number of functional items if you are trying to get real work done.

Maybe development is spreading a bit thin - and people should maybe come on board to work on the lazarus project as the lazarus project needs - rather than the bit that interests them at the time?
A slight shift in recruiting acceptance may work wonders.

just an idea.

[MorbidFractal]

Ooops... @sysrpl Perhaps I am not being fair here but I let loose 'The Mothers of Invention', Zappa Reference, script and went for a couple of cigarettes whilst it completed. Seriously no sarcasm involved because, I guess, it did what it was meant to do, I might be fully loaded to take on all processor variants having watched the compiler lines go by,  and then... picture attached.

Meh..

I think perhaps not your fault. Maybe someone else broke the end game.