For Linux users, which version to install?

[guiv42]

This post intends to provide guidance to Linux users to chose which version of TuxGuitar to install, and from which source.
Here is my proposal, from higher to lower priority.

1. Latest pre-release

Pros: you will get all new features early, and it's clearly the best way to contribute to the project
Cons: you may encounter a bug from time to time

Update frequently: use the most recent Release marked with a "Pre-Release" label, and don't forget to report any issue you may find. Recommended variant:

• for Debian/Ubuntu you can install tuxguitar-xxxx-xx-xx-master-linux-swt-amd64.deb package
• for all distributions, just unpack tuxguitar-xxxx-xx-xx-master-linux-swt-amd64.tar.gz wherever you want and launch TuxGuitar manually with tuxguitar.sh command.

A good option is to install latest stable version (see following sections), and to use latest pre-release with tar.gz format (i.e. without installing it). This way the 2 versions can co-exist, and a stable version is always available as a backup.

2. Distribution packages

Pros: better integration in your environment
Cons: not available for all distributions, and may not always be up-to-date

Some distributions provide a native package for TuxGuitar, just install it as you would install any other software from your package manager. When writing this, it should work at least for Ubuntu, Debian (trixie, sid) and OpenSUSE (tumbleweed).

For other distributions:

• OpenSUSE Leap or Slowroll: search for a TuxGuitar package. You should be able to use an "experimental" package from "Education" or "Java:packages" repository
• Fedora: a community-built package should be installable from here (thank you @ycollet!)
• Gentoo: refer to dedicated discussion TuxGuitar on gentoo #407 (thank you @domichel!)
• Arch: I found a package here
• ... don't hesitate to complete the list

Note that the packaging of TuxGuitar for distributions is done completely independently from our development activity here. If you cannot find an official package for your distribution, this could be a good opportunity to consider contributing!

3. Flatpak

Pros: a good alternative for an integration in your environment when no distribution-specific package is available
Cons: will use more disk space than a distribution package. May not always be up-to-date

A community-built flatpak version of TuxGuitar is available on Flathub, and should be usable with many distributions. As for distribution packages, it is maintained independently from our project (see here).
Refer to your distribution-specific instructions to install a flatpak.

4. Latest stable release from GitHub

Pros: probably the safest way to run TuxGuitar
Cons: it will not be integrated in your desktop environment if you use .tar.gz variant

See Releases, and search for last version: it is marked with a green label "Latest".
Recommended variant:

• for Debian/Ubuntu you can install tuxguitar-x.y.z-linux-swt-amd64.deb package
• for rpm-based distributions, you can have a try with the provided rpm package.
  Important note: all rpm-based distributions are quite different, we cannot guarantee this will work everywhere. If any problem arises, prefer the tar.gz version.
• for all distributions: you can unpack tuxguitar-x.y.z-linux-swt-amd64.tar.gz wherever you want and launch TuxGuitar manually with tuxguitar.sh command.

[Bluebuddy590]

Hello.
In the Linux MInt 22.1 software manager, the old Tux Guitar app is badly outdated, of course. And the old listed Homepage has been taken over by something odd or suspicious, written in Indonesian. Maybe don't use that old app version anymore. I asked about this and other outdated apps in the Linux Mint software manager, on Reddit, but I don't think L.M. developers can remove old apps.
Thanks for rescuing this application!

[guiv42]

Thanks for your feedback.

I asked about this and other outdated apps in the Linux Mint software manager, on Reddit, but I don't think L.M. developers can remove old apps

@Bluebuddy590: Reddit is not the right place to discuss this I think. In this case, the best solution is probably to create an issue in Linux Mint bug tracker. Something like "TuxGuitar is outdated, please switch to the new repository" and a link pointing here.
A quick search led me here: https://projects.linuxmint.com/reporting-an-issue.html