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Author Topic: Should I install Lazarus 3.99  (Read 1006 times)

carl_caulkett

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Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« on: September 20, 2024, 11:56:44 pm »
* Mac Mini M1
* macOS 14.6.1
* Lazarus 3.4
* FPC 3.2.2

What would be the advantages/risks of installing Lazarus 3.99?

Is it possible to install 3.99 alongside 3.4?
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wp

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2024, 12:24:48 am »
What would be the advantages/risks of installing Lazarus 3.99?
New features (but I would not use them in production code because then it would not be possible to return to v3.4 any more), fixed bugs (and new ones introduced sometimes). Very rarely the IDE does not compile, then you must wait for a few days until the bug is fixed (or revert to an earlier commit). The main reason to work with v3.99  is to prepare your project for an upcoming new release, and most of all, to be able to contribute to the development by submitting patches or merge requests (open source at its best).

Another option would be to use the fixes branch which contains only bug fixes, no new features, so that conflicts of your projects with v3.4 will be less likely.

Is it possible to install 3.99 alongside 3.4?
Yes, I have more than a dozen versions on my disk... Just follow MarkMLI's steps in https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,68586.msg530497.html#msg530497, in the git command replace "lazarus_34" by "main", and as installation dir select something like "lazarus_main" (better than 399 because it will still be valid when v4.0 will be released at some time). And add a file "lazarus.cfg" to the installation directory containing the line "--primary-config-path=<directory used for user settings>" (unquoted, and <directory used for user settings> replaced by the name of the directory in which you want to store the user settings of this version.)

TRon

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2024, 07:55:01 am »
Usually I would say if you need to ask then no you do not need it.

But seeing the platform you are developing on/for .... yes. There are many (recent) updates regarding Lazarus and macos.

wp made some very good points there so please keep them in mind if you do choose to give trunk a spin.

Is it possible to install 3.99 alongside 3.4?
and others as well, f.i. see picture

See also Multiple Lazarus
« Last Edit: September 21, 2024, 08:09:39 am by TRon »
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carl_caulkett

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2024, 02:51:46 pm »
Yes, I have more than a dozen versions on my disk... Just follow MarkMLI's steps in https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,68586.msg530497.html#msg530497, in the git command replace "lazarus_34" by "main", and as installation dir select something like "lazarus_main" (better than 399 because it will still be valid when v4.0 will be released at some time). And add a file "lazarus.cfg" to the installation directory containing the line "--primary-config-path=<directory used for user settings>" (unquoted, and <directory used for user settings> replaced by the name of the directory in which you want to store the user settings of this version.)

Are you talking about the `makeall.sh` script that @MarkMLI posted?
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TRon

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2024, 04:40:58 pm »
@carl_caulkett:
As I understood wp's explanation he is specifically referring to the post he linked to (that one singular post). Which is a quote from Pierce btw.

Having said that you might try MarkMLI's script as well but would advise to use the steps as described in that post first (these are the fundamental instructions to build lazarus, and as such (should) work every time (as long as trunk is cooperative)).
« Last Edit: September 21, 2024, 04:42:34 pm by TRon »
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carl_caulkett

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2024, 04:49:50 pm »
Well, I used `fpcupdeluxe-x86_64-darwin-cocoa` to download the trunk versions of FPC and Lazarus, and was excited to see 3.99 on the splash screen. Once I restored my dark theme with the `-WM10.14` option, I then loaded my project and ran it. It was so slow that it was totally unusable. I swtched back to 3.4 and my snappy project was restored 😃

Is this a known problem with 3.99?

Also, I thought I saw in a post about the forthcoming 4.00 release, that AnchorDocking was to be a choice at startup, and that this option was already present in 3.99. I couldn't see it anywhere...
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TRon

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2024, 05:24:44 pm »
It is perfectly fine to use something like fpcupdeluxe as well.

Personally I prefer to keep everything in my own control. That way there is no need to explain things related to fpcupdeluxe  :) (e.g. fpcupdeluxe might decide to pick a specific hash for a certain build for example. I simply do not know if something like that is the case for macos and 3.99). What I do know is that fpcupdeluxe uses its own custom build-process and thus might have certain components  removed or installed on purpose (it is even customizable in fpcupdeluxe).

In general and with trunk, literally everything is possible: from things that worked in a normal release that are broken in trunk, unable to build trunk et all to features being removed and/or other features having been added. There are no rules for trunk and you use it at your own risk with no guarantees whatsoever.

Having said that, if you do experience regression or other broken behaviour then you are encouraged to report them at the bugtracker so that the developers know these issues exist (and that they can be addressed). In that case you become more or less involved in the development process and requires you to keep an eye on the bug-tracker (so that you do not report something twice and/or support other reported issues either with confirmation (or denial) of the issue, provide additional information or otherwise. Your choice.

I did not experience any issue with trunk from 2 days ago on Linux 64 bit. However do note that issues might only exist on/for a certain platform. As written in one of my previous posts many things have been addressed on/for macos (and they might not all be for the better: your input is valuable if nobody else complained).

Anchordockingdesign was an option on my first startup dialog from Lazarus trunk/main (disquised in the option if you want to use a single window or multiple for the IDE and/or want to have a floating form design window or a docked one).
« Last Edit: September 21, 2024, 05:45:44 pm by TRon »
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JuhaManninen

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2024, 08:28:22 am »
Well, I used `fpcupdeluxe-x86_64-darwin-cocoa` to download the trunk versions of FPC and Lazarus, and was excited to see 3.99 on the splash screen. Once I restored my dark theme with the `-WM10.14` option, I then loaded my project and ran it. It was so slow that it was totally unusable. I swtched back to 3.4 and my snappy project was restored 😃

Is this a known problem with 3.99?
No, it is not a known problem. Is it caused by trunk FPC or trunk Lazarus? You should test different combinations.
It must be some configuration issues. Trunk FPC has new optimizations and should generate faster code, at least when proper flags are provided.
Mostly Lazarus trunk and FPC 3.2 on Manjaro Linux 64-bit.

carl_caulkett

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2024, 11:59:26 pm »
To be honest, my desire to upgrade to 3.99 was mostly based on FOMO 😉 3.4 will serve my needs until 4.00 comes out, which surely can't be that far away 🙏🏽
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JuhaManninen

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2024, 08:22:06 am »
To be honest, my desire to upgrade to 3.99 was mostly based on FOMO 😉 3.4 will serve my needs until 4.00 comes out, which surely can't be that far away 🙏🏽
It must be a MacOS / Cocoa issue. On my Linux the trunk versions work. Can others reproduce?

I recommend you try Lazarus trunk 3.99 with the released FPC version. Fpcupdeluxe is not needed then. Just build Lazarus and start it from its location.
Mostly Lazarus trunk and FPC 3.2 on Manjaro Linux 64-bit.

carl_caulkett

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Re: Should I install Lazarus 3.99
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2024, 03:49:09 pm »
I decided to try again with FpcupDeluxe, this time with Laz=3.99 and FPC=3.3.1. This combination seems to work very well.
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