Linux Viewer
in progress
Signal Linden
LL stopped publishing an official Linux compatible viewer build in 2015. Despite this, TPVs have managed to support linux builds in the years since, performing necessary 3p upgrade work and fixing breaks in compatibility introduced from upstream.
Aside from a handful of library updates (SDL to SDL2, etc.) there isn't too much to do to restore linux build support. This would benefit TPVs, as they can reduce their delta from upstream, and benefit users who use linux as a main OS or want to run SL natively on Steamdeck, etc.
Further thoughts:
- Rather than shipping a distro-specific package (deb, rpm, etc.) just drop a compressed archive. This will allow distros to re-package as necessary, and allow the most broad compatibility
- Many linux64compatible 3p packages have already been rebuilt on Github as part of CI/CD modernization efforts (Examples: expat, zlib-ng) 🙂
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Yes please!
Darling Brody
Fantastic Idea. There are so many Linux based platforms that would benefit from being able to run SL natively. Please do this!
Lordy Boo
Yes, please do this. Just the ability to compile it myself again would be amazing since I do most of my creation and developer work in Linux in Software Dev/Blender/Substance Painter/etc. I also like to help track down bugs and it's impossible to figure out if it is a LL specific bug or a 3rd party viewer bug on this platform. The way Firestorm packages their viewer works fine. Thank you guys so much for all the amazing work you've been doing lately.
Fenny Foxpaws
I remember being so angry when they decided to pull support for the Linux Release. For many years after, the only viewers available without the need to compile drivers for voice or integrate your own wine session was Firestorm and CoolVlViewer which only recently made its debut back into the Third Party Viewer Repository.
I would have hope that the recent strides towards WEBrtc and eventual processing of Vulcan API would be encouragement for the Linden Labs development team to see the importance of this category of operating system as they transition to tools supported and developed by what was removed.
Throughout the years the Secondlife Official Viewer has grown into a standard of stability for users who have access to it. As such, I run an Operating System designed with stability in mind, and would like to pair such a tool with the most stable client in the field, yet find myself unable to do so for the foreseeable future.
I second this notion for Flatpak integration to mitigate much of the work necessary for maintainers to make these releases available as all 3 most commonly used bases (Debian, Fedora & Arch) all have the capability to support its packaging formats with relative ease. This will ensure its availability to both advanced users and new users alike.
Fullperm Alpha
I would also suggest making it available in many Linux repositories through package management and not only via downloads and install scripts. Somebody would have to manage this.
Flatpak might be the best solution for now to solve this issue. It allows for easy installation and reaches a wide range of Linux distributions, avoiding the hassle of dealing with different package managers.
Therefore i enjoy doing yay -s firestorm-bin alchemy-viewer as long as this issue is not solved. But i am really willing to use the official viewer when this issue is finally solved.
Woolfyy Resident
Fullperm Alpha For Archlinux there is already a maintainer doing a Firestorm build as far as i saw from the time when i was under Manjaro before moving to Pop!OS. Anyway, after months under Pop!OS i find it better stabilized for a daily use and optimized with the latest stable graphic cards drivers.
My main question for Linux is to know when SL will also optimize its viewer for Wayland as it is now stable and more efficient than OpenGL.
Fullperm Alpha
Woolfyy Resident + for wayland support and lets stick to talk about linux in general in favor of personal linux distributions.
Secret Foxtail
I would love to see the return of official GNU/Linux support. Since 2015 GNU/Linux has only gained in popularity on the desktop, especially as Microsoft continues to make increasingly silly business and design decisions. :P
Fullperm Alpha
Secret Foxtail Linux now holds a 4% global market share among desktop operating systems. Just 2-3 years ago, it was hovering around 2%.
This represents a 100% increase, making it the best-performing rising operating system worldwide.
Any company that continues to ignore Linux support for an extended period is making a significant mistake.
Signal Linden
in progress
Coffee Pancake
Signal Linden
TrakRailySurely Resident
I'm trying to compile the main branch on linux.
You can configure by changing the 3p library, but an error will occur when building.
It is necessary to modify the source code itself.
Spidey Linden
Merged in a post:
For LL to provide support for Linux in its viewer.
Paige Addams
Rather than narrow the scope of this request I would like to request LL provide support for Linux in their viewer. There are many ways the distribution and such could be handled which at this point I feel would be best left to LL. Depending on how long this takes it is possible a more efficient form of distribution might be adopted by the Linux development community that would work better than what is now being used.
Woolfyy Resident
I would say to go by steps, and in step 1 make the standard LL viewer work under the latest Ubuntu LTS distro so that we know that it works as is ... It would be a good way to see all what plants real problems.
Fullperm Alpha
Woolfyy Resident, I am using Arch Linux like the upvoters Heather Laughton and Chaser Zaks as Alchemy Viewer developer, and HappyBits Onyx.
I believe also an other upvoter enjoy using his or her favorite Linux distribution, so there is no point in prioritizing a Linux viewer getting it running first under "xyz" Linux.
Woolfyy Resident
Fullperm Alpha The reality is that any dev is only efficient at making support on the release that he/she is using.
So better focus on having something standard from LL and then up to Linux SL compatible viewers to do their own "sauce" and manage their own users, as anyway LL will have no money to support "exotic" versions.
It is already a good thing to have LL cleaning its code to make it easier for compatible viewers under Linux.
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