visualpython-users

[Visualpython-users] Notes on Ubuntu 9.10

[Gary P. <gar...@gm...>]

Here are a few recent observations:

Preface:  I had visual running on Ubuntu 9.10.   I think I compiled it
myself ... I don't really remember.  But I have another problem:  Ubuntu
9.10 has a bug in the kernel and/or Mesa which causes irretrevable damage to
the file system if you have Radeon Mobility 7500 graphics, which of course I
do have.  Hence I'm very reluctant to run Vpython (or Googleearth, or ... ).

Notes:

Someone has made new boost packages for Ubuntu:
https://launchpad.net/~ajmitch/+archive/ppa<https://launchpad.net/%7Eajmitch/+archive/ppa>

I installed them on a Ubuntu 9.10 virtual machine, and Vpython did not
segfault.  Python did crash with a graphics error when I attempted to create
a sphere, but you may have different results.

I have a workaround that lets me use visual on my Ubuntu machine, and I can
think of another that should work for anyone.

My University has put a WinXP machine on my desk.  I have Vpython installed
there, and I access the machine using Remote Desktop Protocol from Ubuntu.
Works like a charm.  Little or no degradation of performance.

Another idea that should work, but I haven't tried it, is to install a
distribution of linux for which Vpython *does* work on a virtual machine on
the Ubuntu host.  VirtualBox <http://www.virtualbox.org/> seems to work
perfectly on Ubuntu, and it's (mostly) open source.  E.g., install a Fedora
guest on the Ubuntu host, then install Vpython on Fedora.  There's likely to
be a small performance hit in this scheme, but it might be tolerable.  Maybe
I'll give this a try myself if I have time.

-gary

Re: [Visualpython-users] Notes on Ubuntu 9.10

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

Gary, I fought my way through the arcaneness of the ppa machinery (Linux 
isn't for the faint of heart). I installed the new Boost 1.38 and 1.40, 
and tried 1.40 first, but couldn't compile. So I removed 1.40 and found 
I could compile with Boost 1.38 but not link: the message in 
src/build.log is

    /usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lboost_python

even though I can see libboost_python-mt-py26.a, 
libboost_python-mt-py26.so, and libboost_python-mt-py26.so.1.38.0 in 
/usr/lib, and the package manager thinks they're installed.

Did you do some additional arcane operation to make the library 
findable? What am I missing?

Bruce Sherwood

Gary Pajer wrote:
> Someone has made new boost packages for Ubuntu:
> https://launchpad.net/~ajmitch/+archive/ppa 
> <https://launchpad.net/%7Eajmitch/+archive/ppa>
>
> I installed them on a Ubuntu 9.10 virtual machine, and Vpython did not 
> segfault.  Python did crash with a graphics error when I attempted to 
> create a sphere, but you may have different results.
>

Re: [Visualpython-users] Notes on Ubuntu 9.10

[Gary P. <gar...@gm...>]

PPA:  Once you've done it three or four times you get used to it.  :)

I do have to correct my earlier comment.  When I first installed the package
python-visual, it simply segfaulted on start up.  When I installed boost
from ppa, it did not segfault, but it did crash.   I misinterpreted the
error message, though.  The current error is the glibmm error mentioned
here:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/python/+bug/457688
(I had just glanced at the error, saw the letters "gl", and thought it was
an OpenGL error.)  Is that part of the boost bug?

I now have two Ubuntus: my regular OS, and one running in a VM.  My regular
os is the one where Vpython ran, but the file system became corrupted due to
the Mesa/kernel/Radeon bug.    I simply don't remember if I installed boost
packages, or compiled boost from source.  I did not have the PPA boost
installed ... I didn't know about that until yesterday.   I can't tell by
looking at what's installed because I did a complete reinstall of Ubuntu in
the meantime, hoping that one or more of my bugs would go away.

In the VM Ubuntu I installed the visual-python package, and boost from the
PPA.  That's the setup that allows me to import visual, but crashes with the
glibmm error whenever I try to create a visual object.

I have another VM, this one running Mandriva.  There's no visual rpm for
Mandriva that I'm aware of.  I'm in the process of installing the
prerequisites for visual from standard Mandriva rpm packages, and then I'll
compile visual.

I'll also see what progress I can make on the Ubuntu VM.  I'll let you know
what happens.  As you very well know, all this takes time.  What you may not
know is I have a life.   :)    I'll get it done before long.

-gary

PS  I'm beginning to wonder whether Ubuntu's policy of forcing out a new
release every six months is such a good idea after all.  We'll probably get
visual running on 9.10 just as 10.04 comes out.

On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 8:37 PM, Bruce Sherwood <Bru...@nc...>wrote:

> Gary, I fought my way through the arcaneness of the ppa machinery (Linux
> isn't for the faint of heart). I installed the new Boost 1.38 and 1.40,
> and tried 1.40 first, but couldn't compile. So I removed 1.40 and found
> I could compile with Boost 1.38 but not link: the message in
> src/build.log is
>
>    /usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lboost_python
>
> even though I can see libboost_python-mt-py26.a,
> libboost_python-mt-py26.so, and libboost_python-mt-py26.so.1.38.0 in
> /usr/lib, and the package manager thinks they're installed.
>
> Did you do some additional arcane operation to make the library
> findable? What am I missing?
>
> Bruce Sherwood
>
> Gary Pajer wrote:
> > Someone has made new boost packages for Ubuntu:
> > https://launchpad.net/~ajmitch/+archive/ppa<https://launchpad.net/%7Eajmitch/+archive/ppa>
> > <https://launchpad.net/%7Eajmitch/+archive/ppa>
> >
> > I installed them on a Ubuntu 9.10 virtual machine, and Vpython did not
> > segfault.  Python did crash with a graphics error when I attempted to
> > create a sphere, but you may have different results.
> >
>
>
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[Visualpython-users] Running VPython on Ubuntu 9.10

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

Thanks to Gary's comments, I now see that it is possible to run VPython 
on Ubuntu 9.10. Before installing the "ppa" from 
https://launchpad.net/~ajmitch/+archive/ppa 
<https://launchpad.net/%7Eajmitch/+archive/ppa> even the Ubuntu 9.10 
python-visual package would not run. But after updating the Boost 
libraries, the python-visual package DOES run on my Ubuntu 9.10 machine 
(I realize that Gary has other problems). This is progress, so I'll 
summarize:

If you want to run VPython on Ubuntu 9.10, go through the ppa stuff at 
the URL listed above (be sure to read and follow ALL of the arcane 
instructions; click on everything in sight on that web page). Use the 
package manager to install the standard python-visual package, which is 
version 5.11. You'll now be able to run VPython.

This leaves open the question of how to build a new version from source 
should you wish to do so. As I reported, I can compile all the files but 
not link to the Boost libraries. The message in src/build.log is 
"/usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lboost_python" even though I can see 
libboost_python-mt-py26.a, libboost_python-mt-py26.so, and 
libboost_python-mt-py26.so.1.38.0 in /usr/lib, and the package manager 
thinks they're installed. I have no idea why the link fails.

Bruce Sherwood

Gary Pajer wrote:
> I do have to correct my earlier comment.  When I first installed the 
> package python-visual, it simply segfaulted on start up.  When I 
> installed boost from ppa, it did not segfault, but it did crash.