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libFAUDES/DESTool is developed in a Linux environment, so one would think, deployment for that platform is particularly easy. The contrary is the case ...
Until there is an automated installation script, DESTool must be manually unpacked. This is perhaps a bit old fashioned, but not difficult.
Download the latest archive faudes_destool_x_xx.tar.gz from our online archive.
Extract the archive somewhere in the users file system. System wide installation is currently not supported. Extraction will look something like this:
> mkdir ~/here_should_detool_go > cd ~/here_should_detool_go > tar -xzf ~/Download/faudes_destool_x_xx.tar.gz
You can now start DESTool by
> cd ~/here_should_detool_go > ./faudes_destool_x_xx/bin/destool
When DESTool starts, you can use the About menu to verify versions and available plug-ins. There should be at least the VioGenerator plug-in, which is responsible for graphical representation of generators.
If you get errors on missing libraries or other obscure messages before even the DESTool welcome screen shows ... stay calm, presumably there is nothing big missing.
We have verified DESTool do operate on a range of 64-bit Linux distributions, including Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, Fedota 14 (2010) and various versions of plain Debian (2014). There is also a 32-bit version of DESTool available, compatible back to SUSE 10.0 (2005). However, the 32-bit version is only updated upon request -- let us know if you need a recent 32-bit binary.
Technically, DESTool is dynamically linked against the so called LSB library stubs. While this type of linkage is meant to increase binary compatibility, on some distributions manual installation of an LSB loader is required. To list present LSB modules, try:
> lsb_release
Among the listed modules, there is a module core-3.0-amd64 core-3.2-amd64 or core-4.0-amd64: you should be fine.
There are no ...-amd64 modules at all, but core-3.0-ia32 core-3.2-ia32 or core-4.0-ia32: you are running a 32-bit Linux, so you'll need 32-bit DESTool.
No modules reported at all (just something like command not found): LSB support is not installed, see below.
There are ...-ia32 modules, but the highest version number is core-2.1-ia32: the distribution is just too old, sorry.
Examples on how to install LSB packages ...
... on Ubuntu 10.04, both 32-bit and 64-bit distributions:
> aptitude install lsb > aptitude install lsb-desktop
... on Fedora 14, both 32-bit and 64-bit distributions:
> yum install redhat-lsb > yum install redhat-lsb-graphics
... on Fedora 14, 64-bit distribution to run 32-bit DESTool:
> yum install redhat-lsb > yum install redhat-lsb-graphics > yum install redhat-lsb.i686 > yum install redhat-lsb-graphics.i686
If you still experience errors for missing libraries or unresolved symbols, please let us know.
DESTool uses Qt 4.8 as a GUI framework. To operate on older Linux installations that do not provide Qt 4.8, DESTool ships with a customized copy of Qt 4.8 (linked against LSB library stubs, see above). If, on the other hand, one installs DESTool on a more recent Linux installation, it may be preferable that DESTool uses the installation's version of Qt. This will have a more consistent look & feel and, presumably, be more stable than the one that comes with DESTool.
To test which version of Qt came with your Linux distribution, try
> qmake -v
If your systems Qt version is 4.8 or above, it is recommended to delete the Qt libraries from the DESTool package. This can be done as follows.
> cd ~/here_is_destool > rm ./faudes_destool_x_xx/lib/libQt* > rm ./faudes_destool_x_xx/lib/q*.bin > rm ./faudes_destool_x_xx/lib/plugins/imageformats/* > rm ./faudes_destool_x_xx/lib/plugins/sqldrivers/* > rm ./faudes_destool_x_xx/lib/assistant.lib > rm ./faudes_destool_x_xx/bin/assistant
The DESTool online help is managed by Qt's assistant. This is really a great tool, however, we have observed hick-ups somehow related to cached states/files. You may decide to delete the assistant's cache ... if you find it. Try
> mv ~/.assistant ~/assistant_delete_later > mv ~/.local/share/data/Trolltech/Assistant ~/assistant_delete_later
Note: when removing the assistant's cache you will lose assistant bookmarks and local copies of any help-files.
Most of the above deployment issues come from binary distribution, so why not make DESTool open source?
Honestly, the source is currently not in a shape that allows for effective collaborative development. There is the intention to release the source under GPL terms, once it makes sense to share. Core requirements include:
clean and well documented interface for visual representations of faudes-objects;
fix at least the five most irritating design flaws that sneaked in due to laziness and pragmatism.
If you would like to inspect the situation in detail, perhaps to contribute to the further development of DESTool, this can be aranged
libFAUDES 2.28b --- 2019.12.01 --- with "synthesis-observer-diagnosis-iosystem-hiosys-multitasking-coordinationcontrol-timed-iodevice-simulator-luabindings"