xubuntu 18.04 for the raspberry pi3 desktop only

[bigbass]

I put this in tips and tricks to get the RPI3 working for bacon projects

There are several raspberry pi3 users on this forum
that would like to use the latest webkit development
but couldn't due to old versions of webkit on official debian
raspbian

well after a very long journey we can now have a cutting edge
xubuntu base with just the desktop nothing else installed





So I decided to make it happen here
sourceforge.net/projects/xubuntu-rpi3-desktop-only/

The download
sourceforge.net/projects/xubuntu-rpi3-desktop-only/files/bootable-sdcard-image/

actually I didn't set out to build a super cut down version
of just installing the xubuntu desktop and nothing more
no browser no other preinstalled packages
the plan is to keep it as a low memory footprint and use apt-get
to install what you need

it was all done using the build scripts on a raspbery pi3
this is my personal take on what I wanted
as I said before this happened unexpectedly because
I started out trying to get the latest web kit installed
and after I saw that how many things I needed to do to make happen
it was easier to use a more modern up to date base OS
and ubuntu has more recent packages than debian
and xubuntu is the better choice for a light weight desktop
and still maintain 100% package compatibility

and here we are now with an up to date cutting edge version
for the raspberry pi3


of course bacon compiles and works correctly
with webkit now

-----------------------------------------------------------
The why If you need all the packages and more options go here!
-----------------------------------------------------------


if you notice there is no 18.04 for xubuntu ....yet

official-unofficial RPI3
ubuntu-pi-flavour-maker.org/download/
that guy does a fine job at what he does but I built the latest xubuntu 18.04 from
modifying the build script (it needs to be adjusted to build from and on the rpi3)
I thank him for uploading his work and am very grateful
that he also has a ppa and build scripts!
and recommend using his images for the full version experience
but I was looking for something for my personal special needs
which I explained above







UPDATED FOR FULL DESKTOP most users should use this version


Here is the full xubuntu raspberry pi3 with browser and all official apps that come with it

sourceforge.net/projects/xubuntu-rpi3-desktop-only/files/xubuntu-rpi3-full-version-18.04/

the compressed size is about 100MB larger but of course uses more memory


It ran a dist upgrade also so this is cutting edge with the latest packages from bionic

for those of us that use only the rpi3 we can test many more things and offer feedback

*there is an added script checkmd5.sh that will verify if all your downloaded
parts are correct and complete it explains how in the readme

to save time I added a script checkmd5.sh
it will do the checking if the md5sums match
by reading the file BETA.md5 if all is well
it will calculate the md5 again and compare it to the known
correct md5sums

#just run (make sure you downloaded the BETA.md5 file also)
./checkmd5.sh


you will nedde to add a ppa

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-pi-flavour-makers/ppa

[rikky]

cat xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz.part* > xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz

Just to note, it's not realy important, but on the raspbian.noblabla the asterix does not expand this way, it stays an asterix.
Only when you say : echo *, it shows all the files in the current directory.

Pfff.
I've tried a lot.
I'm through with bash.

So now I need to load these files as binaries, merge them somehow and BSAVE it, I think.
It' s the only thing left I suppose.

 Rik.

edit: btw , this is not a critic, it a thank you.

[bigbass]

Hello rik

The linux command split
was used to do the splitting of the .img.xz

There is no offical command to join the parts together to make the original file that I know of

That's where the cat commamd comes in to get all the files ending in " part* something "
and join them back to make the original compressed image file


Sorry for that the cable tech guy just left my house he replaced the modem now I can upload the whole image
Was having real problems
With my internet connection
For that reason The image was split

P.S I am building LUBUNTU rpi3
Just the desktop no other apps
so in a few days I will upload
That after some testing

Any questions feel free to let me know
Joe


I'll check the syntax again
It looks good reading it
looking at my notes



cd into the directory where all 8 parts you downloaded are ending with aa-ah


#to join all the parts in the original compressed image
It will take about 2 minutes

cat xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz.part* > xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz





you can use md5sum command to confirm the compressed image is correct

md5sum xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz

--------------------------------------
MD5SUM of the original file
ebc179c9e15b2e3e1d5cb87da2eb9131
--------------------------------------
approx 721.5MB


#decompress the xz image file
unxz xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz











change sdX to the sdcard you will write to sda or sdb whatever gets detected
I usually only connect the sdcard nothing else and use sda
to avoid any risk

================working from official raspbian =====================
#sudo apt-get install gddrescue

#this is nice to see the progress of the flashing to the sdcard
#for years I just used the old school dd command

# if you want to do this from raspbian note the differences below
#debian renamed ddrescue to dd_rescue and --force was renamed also -f
#sudo dd_rescue -D -f xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz /dev/sdX
===================================================================

[rikky]

It is more difficult then I thought.


Firstly I was not able to do something like bin[1] = BLOAD(part$[1]) in a loop.
It compiles, but give a segmentationfault, so I do it without loop.

location$ = "/media/pi/buro_disk_1/xubuntu.18.04.2/"
package_name$ = "xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz.parta"
part_endings$ = "abcdefgh"
GLOBAL part$ ARRAY LEN(part_endings$)

'first we get the parts names and total length
total_length = 0
FOR i = 1 TO LEN(part_endings$)
 this_char$ = MID$(part_endings$,i,1)
 part$[i] = location$ & package_name$ & this_char$
 total_length = total_length + FILELEN(part$[i])
NEXT i

PRINT
PRINT part$[1];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[1]))
binaa = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[1]))
binaa = BLOAD(part$[1])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binaa)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binaa+FILELEN(part$[1]))
PRINT

PRINT part$[2];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[2]))
binab = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[2]))
binab = BLOAD(part$[2])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binab)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binab+FILELEN(part$[2]))
PRINT

PRINT part$[3];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[3]))
binac = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[3]))
binac = BLOAD(part$[3])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binac)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binac+FILELEN(part$[3]))
PRINT

PRINT part$[4];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[4]))

IF NOT(FILEEXISTS(part$[4])) THEN PRINT part$[4] & "doesnt exist."

binad = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[4]))
binad = BLOAD(part$[4])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binad)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binad+FILELEN(part$[4]))
PRINT

PRINT part$[5];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[5]))
binae = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[5]))
binae = BLOAD(part$[5])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binae)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binae+FILELEN(part$[5]))
PRINT

PRINT part$[6];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[6]))
binaf = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[6]))
binaf = BLOAD(part$[6])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binaf)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binaf+FILELEN(part$[6]))
PRINT

PRINT part$[7];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[7]))
binag = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[7]))
binag = BLOAD(part$[7])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binag)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binag+FILELEN(part$[7]))
PRINT

PRINT part$[8];
PRINT "  length : " & STR$(FILELEN(part$[8]))
binah = MEMORY(FILELEN(part$[8]))
binah = BLOAD(part$[8])
PRINT "startadress : " & STR$(binah)
PRINT "endadress : " & STR$(binah+FILELEN(part$[8]))
PRINT

FREE binaa , binab , binac , binad ,binae , binaf , binag , binah ,


No need to go any further for it does load part aa, ab and part ac, but for part ad it gives 


Runtime error: function 'BLOAD' at line 46 in 'merge_all_parts.bac': Error opening file: Bad address


I even put an extra FILEEXISTS test for part 'ad', So I am sure that it realy exists.
How come part 'ad' gives an error, while the code is exactly the same as for aa, ab and ac?

bueno, pues nada.
I'll wait a couple o days.


 Rik.

[bigbass]

Hello Rik

You are complicating
The process trying to do it in bacon code

If all 8 parts were
Downloaded

You don't have figure out
How to join them

Just cd to where the parts are
And paste the cat command "as is " posted above and here again

#to join all the parts in the original compressed image It will take about 2 minutes with no progress report

cat xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz.part* > xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz


a suggestion maybe change the view to see your files as detailed list

It does the work for you
And creates
xubuntu-18.04.2-alpha2-desktop-armhf+raspi-ext4.img.xz

It could take about 3 minutes
But once done it will be
In the same folder

it's a copy and paste

Then check the md5sum
To be sure you are burning
The complete file




PS be aware this is a very stripped down version you will have to
Install (all things) using apt-get
we all need to remember the famous spiderman quote when installing apps
and all will be fine

the sorurceforge server just wont allow me to upload
the full image even with the new modem
or I still have some connection problem to maintain
a connection for several hours

Joe

[rikky]

Pfff.
Now it suddenly works.
Right checksum and all.
How come it did not work some days ago?

Never mind.

I go put this one on an usb-stick for I've distroyed one Raspberry.
If you open the standard box not carefully enough, you tear away the sd-card + holder.

So I've booted the raspberry, with the sdcard clamped with my thumb and put a :
program_usb_boot_mode=1 in the /boot/config.txt
this will change the one time only memory, so it is forever.
beware if you put the same sd card into another Raspi. 
  
I will also try to make, I think it is squasfs or something, for the berryboot bootloader.
With berryboot you can have several OSes on a stick or SD card..
Your original data is not messed with, it stays Read Only.
Your new data comes in a seperate layer mounted on top of the original,
And you have a shared folder, for all the OS es.
So you can compile a new BaCon and then put the new files in the Shared folder, like .../shared/bin/bacon
and the new BaCon will apear in every OS you start up as /bin/bacon.

Tomorrow. 

Thanks, Rik 

[bigbass]

Here is the full xubuntu raspberry pi3 with browser and all official apps that come with it

sourceforge.net/projects/xubuntu-rpi3-desktop-only/files/xubuntu-rpi3-full-version-18.04/

the compressed size is about 100MB larger but of course uses more memory

I'm going to say it again that I didn't set out to build an xubuntu port for the raspberry pi3
I just needed it and it came to be (not quickly also I may add a lot of testing ) so that I could test
some projects that are closer to linux mint and the latest ubuntu

It ran a dist upgrade also so this is cutting edge with the latest packages from bionic

for those of us that use only the rpi3 we can test many more things and offer feedback

*there is an added script checkmd5.sh that will verify if all your downloaded
parts are correct and complete it explains how in the readme

to save time I added a script checkmd5.sh
it will do the checking if the md5sums match
by reading the file BETA.md5 if all is well
it will calculate the md5 again and compare it to the known
correct md5sums

#just run  (make sure you downloaded the BETA.md5 file also)
./checkmd5.sh




it is Long term supported because of ubuntu packages so we should be fine for a long time
without having to rebuild the img for 3 years keeping it all really simple
so you can use the light version or the full version

P.S I am happy with the official raspbian
this just gives us more options than we had before
because the base was shifted to use ubuntu instead of debian

Joe