Error when attempting to install fpc-laz

[jsgsix]

I am running Linux Lite ver 7.2. I have successfully installed free pascal 3.2.0. When I try to install Lazarus fpc-laz I get this error: Cannot install 'binutils:i386'   What is going on? Is something missing on GNU? I was not certain which version of Lazarus to download. I downloaded lazarus-project_4.0.0-0_i386.deb   Not certain what I should have downloaded. Am running an Intel Core i5-7200 U cpu.

[Handoko]

Try to install architecture i386, like this:
https://www.unixmen.com/enable-32-bit-support-64-bit-ubuntu-13-10-greater/

[jsgsix]

the command sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 does not work. Produces error about the word add. Very frustrating.

[lainz]

Just install lazarus 64 bit on 64 bit OS.

[TRon]

Exactly my thought Lainz.

If you have FPC already installed without experiencing the same issue then that implies running at 64-bit so install the package with the same bitness.

[Warfley]

The best way of installing Lazarus on linux at the time of writing is the following:
1. Install FPC and FPC Source from your system repo. The last FPC release 3.2.2 is from 2021 and as long as you have an OS which is not 4 years out of date, it should be in your system repo:

Code: Bash  [Select][+][-]

1. sudo apt-get install fpc fpc-source

2. Download the lates version of lazarus sources, either as zip from gitlab: https://gitlab.com/freepascal.org/lazarus/lazarus/-/tags (the lazarus_x_x are the official release versions, just grab the newest). Just download the zip and unpack it where you want to install it (e.g. in the user folder)
or via git command line tool:

Code: Bash  [Select][+][-]

1. git clone --depth=1 -b lazarus_3_6 https://gitlab.com/freepascal.org/lazarus/lazarus.git

3. Open your terminal in the lazarus folder and build it:

Code: Bash  [Select][+][-]

1. make all

4. (Optional if secondary installation) Set the config path (execute in the lazarus directory)

Code: Bash  [Select][+][-]

1. echo "--pcp=$(realpath .)/config" > lazarus.cfg

Now you have the startlazarus and lazarus application right in that folder that you can just use to start Lazarus.

[TRon]

For newcomers, in this case particularly someone not familiar with linux (look at the distro being used) and assuming also new to FPC/Lazarus I lean towards simply using the package manager.

Unless specially requested to use several different version installed at the same time or requesting a specific version of the compiler/lazarus that is the easiest way for a newcomer (and yes, the upgrade path is in that case tiresome but when is that going to happen ?)

Problem with every suggestion made is that nobody seem to care about the restrictions/freedoms that come with the suggested solution. Most people simply argue against a opted way to install to never help the person that the suggestion was made to in case issues arise (simply because they do not care, it works for them personally or simply do not have a clue). Seems a recurring theme btw.

[Warfley]

I do fully agree, I myself just use the package manager provided Lazarus for most use cases. BUT there is a big Problem with that approach and thats called Debian. Because for some reason newcomers are always recommended to use a debian based distro like Ubuntu, Mint or in this case Linux Lite.

And the problem with those distros is, they only update the major version of packages with new distro versions, so Ubuntu has a 2 year LTS release cycle, so you only get a new Lazarus version every 2 years. For someone still using Ubuntu 22.04, which is still supported and only recently got superceded by 24.04, you are going to have Lazarus 2.2.x. And there have been really big improvements since then (especially to the debugger).

So this gives the great cycle to observe in the forums: New user wants to try out Lazarus, installs via package manager -> Lazarus version is severely out of date -> Asks how to get new version -> Gets 10 different recommendations each having their own issues -> Complains why everything is so complicated.

Don't get me wrong, this is not the fault of the Lazarus team at all, it's just a bad choice of a distro, and I have seen the same issues with Python (where back when python 3.12 was new, I got asked by a colleague why things aren't working and turns out he only got python 3.7 on his Ubuntu), or C++ (where in 2019 I had the issues with having a gcc version which didn't even support C++14 fully).
So I simply do not understand why everyone keeps recommending these distros which clearly are not well suited for beginners, because to use anything non archeic requires to do custom installs, use unstable repositories, etc. which can severly damage your system if you don't know what you are doing.

[cdbc]

Hi
If you have the choice of OS distro, I would recommend PCLinuxOS, you see, we've got FPC 3.2.2 & Lazarus 3.6 in our repository.
So you're set with the latest release versions, from the 'getgo'...
Just my 2 cents worth
Regards Benny

[Warfley]

Basically anything non debian based is a good choice. I personally use OpenSuse Tumbleweed which is a rolling release distro. But even if you go for the stable distros OpenSuse Leap gets more frequent updates. Fedora also a stable distro gets updates every 2-3 month.
Like literally anything thats not debian is going to give you reasonably up to date software. Just keep away from Debian/Ubuntu and all the derivates (Mint, Lite, etc.)

[dsiders]

I personally use OpenSuse Tumbleweed...

I do too. Recommended. Just don't believe their minimum hardware requirements... especially for RAM. And stick to X11. Wayland is brain dead... by design.