Any recommendations for distributing a FPC gtk-2 GUI app on Linux ? I would prefer it to be as simple as possible. Use something like AppImage ? Create a .desktop file? Or create different packages for different distros ? The application consists of an executable and a folder with .html and .pdf docs. The bare executable currently starts from the Linux Terminal only.

Thanks,

Adriaan van Os

Or create different packages for different distros ?

If you can afford the maintenance burden, this is the best that every specific distro user will love. Otherwise, just provide a compressed archive with README inside.

This is a puzzling sentence: "From the Linux Terminal only" - As opposed to what ?

Normally a zip file with a the binary and supporing files, plus a README file should be enough.

Michael.

Michael Van Canneyt wrote

This is a puzzling sentence: "From the Linux Terminal only" - As opposed to what ?

I meant to say that, without a .desktop file, the app is not double-clickable.

Regards,

Adriaan van Os

Of course it is ?
The .desktop file is just there to create an item in the Menu or on the desktop. (depending on where you put it)

But if you double click it in your file explorer, it will always start provided the file mode is set correctly (execute bit set)

Michael.

I meant to say that, without a .desktop file, the app is not

double-clickable.

This is DE/WM/FM dependent, you app must already have execute bit set anyway (otherwise, it won't be executable even through CLI). Some allow double clicking, some not, some configurable.

What about flatpak or snap-pak packages ?

Regards,

Adriaan van Os

I may be not a good reference, but I've never installed a flatpack or snap-pak, nor have I seen a system where this was used.

If your app has not too many requirements, I don't think they are worth the effort.

Michael.

Michael Van Canneyt wrote

Normally a zip file with a the binary and supporing files, plus a README file should be enough.

Can you refer me to an example ?

Thanks,

Adriaan van Os

You can't get more simple than this I think:

https://github.com/gohugoio/hugo/releases/download/v0.74.3/hugo_0.74.3_Linux-64bit.tar.gz

It's a golang binary, but that's equivalent to an FPC binary.

For example Gitea just makes available the binary:

https://dl.gitea.io/gitea/1.12.3

There is nothing to it really, unless I misunderstand what you need...

Michael.