Is V7.1.40 downloadable for Linux?

General
1

Is V7.1.40 downloadable for Linux? I have some graphical problems that hopefully is fixed in Linux Arch. (For example show true width is not working)

2

Install v7.1.35 from www.sheetcam.com downloads page. I can’t say for sure that this applies to Linux, but the Windows version will auto-update on first use to v7.1.40.

3

I’m also experiencing issues running v7.1.35 on Linux.
But I’m unable to update to v7.1.40, it says there are no updates found.
Is there another way to acquire the latest Linux version?

4

It is nearly impossible to support every Linux release. Due to this, Sheetcam has focused on Ubuntu 18.04

You may have more success running the Windows version using Wine. You can install Wine using your package manager. Wine acts as a translation layer, allowing Windows applications to run on Linux.

Thank you for choosing Sheetcam.

5

I used wine 9.20 and the software is still not usable. The main screen stays black and I can’t see the machine/plate or my imported dxf. I updated to 7.1.40.

The interface seems to work better than the linux version, but is not usable.

6

I’m afraid the Linux releases tend to lag a bit behind the Windows releases so 7.1.40 is not yet available for Linux.
A black main screen sounds like a graphics driver issue. It may be worth playing around with you driver settings.

7

I think I’ll switch to a dedicated windows machine for my plasma cutting needs.

I’m planning on ordering a license, if in the future the Linux version catches up, can I just swap my license back and forth?

Thanks for the help.

8

Yes, the license works on both the Windows and Linux versions. You can only install it on one copy of SheetCam at a time.

9

Just for curiosity. Is it made for Wayland or emulated in Wayland as x11?

10

The main window uses OpenGL. I’m not sure how Wayland handles OpenGL.
The rest of the GUI uses GTK2. Considering how old GTK2 is, it probably relies on Wayland’s X11 emulation.

11

As i am a total noob at Linux and have no programming skills i asked chatgpt what it would take to make it run better under wayland and got this answer.

"Updating the code to work better with Wayland would involve addressing two primary compatibility layers: OpenGL rendering and GTK2-based GUI elements. Here’s an overview of what changes would be needed:

### 1. Switching OpenGL Rendering to EGL

** Wayland uses EGL for OpenGL instead of the traditional GLX used in X11.*
** The developer would need to:*

    • Replace or abstract the OpenGL context creation to support both Wayland and X11 backends.*
    • Use libraries like EGL or libwayland-egl to manage the OpenGL context in Wayland.*
      ** This can be relatively straightforward if the OpenGL usage is modular.*

### 2. Migrating GTK2 to GTK3 or GTK4

** GTK2 is outdated and has minimal support for Wayland.*
** Migrating to GTK3 or GTK4 would involve:*

    • Updating deprecated GTK2 functions.*
    • Adjusting the UI to handle new GTK widget properties and behaviors.*
    • Replacing older APIs like GdkScreen with newer equivalents in GTK3/4.*
      ** This step could range from simple to complex, depending on how deeply integrated GTK2 is.*

### 3. Handling Input and Windowing in Wayland

** Wayland handles input (mouse, keyboard) and window management differently than X11.*
** If the application directly manages these features, the developer might need to integrate libraries like SDL2 or wlroots for better Wayland support.*

### 4. Testing and Debugging

** Wayland’s architecture differs significantly from X11, so thorough testing would be needed, especially for UI scaling, multi-monitor setups, and input handling.*

### Challenges

** If the codebase is large or heavily relies on X11-specific features, this process could be time-consuming.*
** GTK migration might break existing functionality temporarily, especially if custom widgets are used.*

### Feasibility

If the developer is willing and the application has an active user base, these updates are worthwhile and align with the long-term shift towards Wayland. However, this depends on the developer’s familiarity with Wayland, the state of the codebase, and available resources.

Would you like guidance on proposing this to the developer or finding alternatives for your current setup?"

But it would be great to have it running better under Linux :smiley:
Is that something that i planned?

12

I have solved my trouble now (i think). If i run this command, i get the menus. It seams that all my issues is gone!

GDK_BACKEND=x11 ./run-sheetcam

ChatGPT is fantasitc :smiley:

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