This is specifically meant for my regular reader known as "ta" from the British Antarctic Survey who was asking about CAD solutions on Linux. Anyone else interested in CAD should also find this helpful.
They were specifically asking about a multi-platform app called Draft Sight. After looking into things and attempting to install it I received this error saying it's the wrong architecture. This app is x86 only across the board as even the Mac version is Intel only. This could take weeks to port so at this moment in time at least that is unrealistic.
I did some research and found an alternative called LibreCAD which is apparently based on QCAD.
I was able to find and successfully install LibreCAD which appears to be capable enough but I am no CAD expert so I will leave that up to those that are. Here is a screenshot of it running on my Stormtrooper.
The way I installed it was with Synaptic but be aware that one of the archives within the package is damaged but the fix is very easy.
Method that worked for me:
1. Open Synaptic and search for LibreCAD
2. Double click it to mark for installation then click apply.
3. Click apply again in the window that pops up. Allow it to install.
If you have errors like I did then close Synaptic and fire up the LXTerminal.
Type:
sudo apt-get clean
After you enter your pass type:
sudo apt-get update
Launch Synaptic again and click the status button followed by the broken filter above. Right click LibreCAD and select 'Mark for reinstallation' followed by clicking apply.
After the one remaining package installs close Synaptic and enjoy some CAD play.
Let me know if you need more help and how you like LibreCAD.
Well I must say a very big thank you to Mr PPC Liberation, I know next to nothing about computers and even less about Linux. I've been aware of Linux for a long time and have tried previously to install it on a computer in my cabin with limited success. Ok i've managed to get it going but without a decent internet connection never managed to download any apps.
ReplyDeleteI'm running Lubuntu on a 17” Powerbook G4. I've added 2GB of ram and as when I bought it second hand it didn't have a HD i'm also running it on a compact flash adapter and 32GB card.
When in port I bought a USB dongle and with the current setup it just worked straight away when I installed Lubuntu. A newish Laser Logitech mouse doesn't work, although i'm sure it could with the necessary driver (or something) installed, it works fine with an older mouse (bluetooth?).
Downloaded and installed LibreCAD and while no where near as slick as Draft Sight it should just about do. Bearing in mind I couldn't run DraftSight on this machine before anyway(I would say if you like your CAD at the minute at least having an Intel Mac or a PC to run it on is definitely worth it, it's by far the best free CAD programe I have come across so far) it should be fine for the home machinest /non pro enginner. Despite what was said in the blog I did indeed manage to download programs/apps from the Lubuntu Software Centre. I'm not sure what some of the Ubunutu stuff means, Universal? I'm also not sure if there are other issues seeing as it's a PPC version of Lubuntu i'm running. Some things I got from the Ubuntu thing haven't worked but then again that might just be me!
Firefox works great with no issues yet and everything seems quite nippy. My laptop doesn't seem to like going to sleep too much. When I come back to it after a lay up period the screen is blank (but I think it's a displayed black as it's quite warm). I've since found the screensaver preferences bit and it was set to a very generous 240minutes before switching off so that could have been the problem.
As suggested i've downloaded and installed VLC and as with Gnome player that came with Lubuntu I can't get any sound out of it. Gnome player just doesn't have any sound (the picture is sharp and judder free) while VLC comes up with 'Audio output failed, The audio device “default” could not be used: no such file or directory'. Tried avi and mp4. Hopefully i'll get that sorted.
Installed a BASIC programming application called BASIC 256 and this works fine
I miss 'Finder' and being able to easy access it to see how much of my (limited) disk space is left and where my folders are. I'm sure it's there but i'm just finding my feet.
Bearing in mind I knew the computer was 'outdated' when I bought it i'm very happy with it. Got my first Mac some time ago and still have it (a used and abused G3 iBook that has been around the world). I was considering an 'upgrade' to Leopard just before I found this but thought my machine would struggle to make use of the new system. I think it's a crime what Apple have been doing recently, what was cutting edge a year or two ago can now struggle to even run with the new OS. I'm sure for 90% of the time 90% of the computer users don't kneed all the bells and whistles just to check e-mails or write a fecking letter. Anyway i've said it before and i'll say it again more power to you MrPPC Liberation, we're only obsolete if we choose to be.
I'm a big time scanner of documents and reader of pdf's and the Document viewer that comes as standard with Lubuntu is great.
ta
Written using Libre Office.
P.S.Oh and by the way 'ta' means thanks, is it a Scots word? Not sure.
P.P.S. Just found the File Manger – Muppett.................
P.P.P.S i did have to copy and paste this onto a windows machine as i can’t figure out the wireless just yet.....oh deer
The interesting thing about LibreCAD is that the Linux version is the only only PowerPC version developed. The Mac version is intel only like DraftSight.
DeleteThe wifi issue is about the most common one people on portables have. This page lists all the common wifi issues and fixes:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ#Will_my_wireless_work.3F
In terms of sound it should work fine. Is it only the two video apps where audio doesn't work or is it system wide?
Try some of the methods listed here:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ#Why_do_I_have_no_sound.3F
Another option for both wifi and audio is to buy cheap x86 market USB devices. wifi dongles can be bought for under $10 and USB audio controllers for about the same.
Don't buy either of those till you try everything. If those the info at those two url doesn't help let me know and I will look further into it.
Glad to hear the experience is more good than bad. Thats a great end result considering you're new to Linux. Things will only get easier as time goes by and you will acquire computer skills that most never have.
Thanks for the kind words. I am learning new things myself by helping others like yourself deal with issues that I don't have to because we use different hardware.
I forgot to comment on the Software Centre point you made.
DeleteIt's Update Manager that never works for me. Software Centre works 70-80% of the time for me vs. about 99% success with Synaptic. Synaptic can even fix it's own errors most of the time but it's not so user friendly at first. It's worth learning. LSC is much more user friendly but Synaptic has far more ability and combined with it's high success rate it's my clear choice.
I would call Synaptic the Swiss Army Knife of package managers/updaters.
Is the Lubuntu Software Centre not for software specifically made to work on/with Lubuntu? What i mean is, is it fair to say that if an application is not listed on the LSC but is on Synaptic it may still work?
ReplyDeleteI have a few Linux magazines kicking about but haven't worked out how to install anything from a disk yet, i'm guessing some of it may not work anyway but if you have any tips it would be much appreciated,
At sea agin, need to get into port again to try some fixes
ta
LSC is only part of LXDE in Lubuntu where as Synaptic is on virtually every distro of Linux that exists. Because we live in an x86 dominant world and PowerPC is the little kid on the block the builds are community supported. Because of this there are limited amounts of people fixing things so there will be loose ends here and there in terms of architecture support. After using Lubuntu relentlessly for a couple months now I have seen architecture issues come up only a few times.
DeleteAs for those Linux magazine CD's they would very likely be x86 unless otherwise noted. PowerPC is a RISC architecture vs the CISC in Intel or AMD powered machines. they are complete polar opposites in terms of how they crunch data.
This is why I recommend looking for alternatives or for even the same software but acquiring it through Synaptic rather than a mag CD. Synaptic also has an arch filter so that you know you're getting PowerPC code.
Search for the names of the software on those CD's in Synaptic. Trying to get that CD to work in your PowerBook would be like having a conversation with someone that speaks a completely different language.