Raspberry Pi 64 Bit OS

[bbowden]

On 2/2/2022 The Raspberry Pi Foundation released the 64 bit version of their OS.
Yes Raspberry PI is now available with 64 bit OS.
I downloaded xLights-2022.4-x86_64.AppImage and made executable.
When I double click the file, I get the message:
This file 'xLights-2022.4-x86_64.AppImage" is executable. Do you want to execute it?
After clicking execute, nothing happen.

[bbowden]

I've a partial answer. I got an error code when I tried to run it in the terminal. Looks as if there is a difference between x86_64 and aarch64 builds. This has happen with other programs. There appears to be work a rounds. I need to do more research and experiment. Any hints are welcome.

[Gilrock]

Well yeah programs need to be compiled for the hardware architecture they will run on.  x86-64 would be what you would use for like a PC with an Intel chip.  A Raspberry Pi has an Arm chip so you would need to compile the xLights source with a compiler like gcc configured for an Arm target.  Its possible I did it a couple years ago.  I built the code for xSchedule and got it running on a Pi.  I used the Raspberry Pi itself to do the compiling.  Don't expect it to perform very well.

[bbowden]

I think I understand. Two programs are promising. Wine64 works with  Windows exe files. Box64 works with x86_64.AppImage files. Apparently xLights-2022.04-x86_64.AppImage has to be extracted before it will run in Box64. Apparently appimagetool does this. I got the -help and -list commands to work, but am having trouble with extracting. One suggest method gave a error that I need appstream metadata. This was added but now I get a message that the AppImage file should be unpacked. I think I may be getting close. If I get there I will share.

[Gilrock]

Nobody should be trying to run xLights on a Pi.  You run FPP on a Pi to play the output files that xLights produces.  The Pi is for being a show player not for running a graphics intensive program like xLights.  And running it in an application that acts like a virtual machine is going to make things even worse.

[bbowden]

I'm reminded of the story from Greek Mythology of how No One defeated the cyclops. I'm somewhat used to programing for a Pi and it looks doable. The Windows version shows how xLights should work and I need to learn how to work in that first. The xLights graphics are well within the Pi's capacity. This is an experiment for me. I'm using a 4b that I use as my personal desktop with a Falcon Picap and 100 WS2811's that I've fashioned into a tomato cage tree with a star. I've crossed several hurdles to get as far as I have. Some have slowed me down but none has stopped me.

[Gilrock]

The xLights graphics are well within the Pi's capacity.

Oh really...based on what?  I'll be surprised if you get more than 4 frames per second.

It's not just xLights you got to get compiling you're gonna need all the support libraries xLights uses like wxWidgets and others.  It would be best to use a PC and cross-compile.  I've read wxWidgets alone can take over an hour to compile on the Pi.

[Gilrock]

I notice it takes a week for you to reply.  Is that because the Pi is your desktop computer?

[bbowden]

Yes and limited time. Currently using a work Windows laptop to address the Pi but would like to use a 400. Great thing about a Pi is one can swap OS by swapping the SD card.

[jnealand]

When I was a Director of IT many, many years ago I loved to hire programmers who ran straight at the walls put in front of them, because of their enthusiasm and belief that they could get thru that wall.  But reality often sank in early and they learned that there were paths that could get them around the wall with less work.  So I say, go for it, but I for one will not be holding my breath to see if this wall gets knocked down.  Running into walls is part of the learning process.  Have fun.

[bbowden]

Success!!!!
Windows certainly is easier.
There are a number of errors in the xLights Linux build instructions as applied to Raspberry Pi.
Also the make file doesn't work with respect to log4cpp.
My current install is sloppy with many failed attempts.
If I can clean up the instructions, I'll post.
Now on to testing.
I recently got a basic Windows laptop  test against the Raspberry.
Right now I have only one Raspberry which I have to switch functions.
But I'll be getting a Raspberry 400 to test xLights  to drive the 4B with a PiCap running FPP.

[bbowden]

Install xLights on Raspberry Pi 64 bit OS build instructions.
Requires and tested on Bulleyes 64 bit OS.

see for reference:

https://github.com/smeighan/xLights#readme

Open terminal and update your system before beginning:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt clean


Using apt-get, install the packages listed in the readme file.
Copy and paste:

sudo apt-get install g++ gcc build-essential libgtk-3-dev libgstreamer1.0-dev libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev freeglut3-dev libavcodec-dev libavformat-dev libswscale-dev libsdl2-dev libswresample-dev libavutil-dev libavresample-dev libportmidi-dev libzstd-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libltc-dev liblua5.3-dev wget git cbp2make

Install log4cpp for Debian Bullseye or make will crash:

sudo apt install liblog4cpp5-dev


Get the xLights source code by copying:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/smeighan/xLights.git xLights


Change directory to where this was downloaded:

cd xLights

Now you can build xLights which will take between 3.5 and 4.5 hours. The 2>&1 | tee make_error.txt isn?t needed but captures the screen output that will indicate errors.

sudo make 2>&1 | tee make_error.txt

Then install xLights.

sudo make install 2>&1 | tee install_error.txt

xLights will be found in the Raspberry start menu under Sounds & Video.
xLights icons loaded in an earlier test but did not in later.

Note qm-vamp may not have installed. The following error message was received:

install -d -m 755 //usr/lib/vamp
install -D -m 644 lib/linux/qm-vamp-plugins-1.7/INSTALL_linux.txt //usr/lib/vamp/ ;  install -D -m 644 lib/linux/qm-vamp-plugins-1.7/qm-vamp-plugins.n3 //usr/lib/vamp/ ;  install -D -m 644 lib/linux/qm-vamp-plugins-1.7/README.txt //usr/lib/vamp/ ;  install -D -m 644 lib/linux/qm-vamp-plugins-1.7/qm-vamp-plugins.cat //usr/lib/vamp/ ;
install -D -m 644 lib/linux/qm-vamp-plugins-1.7/qm-vamp-plugins.so.`uname -m` //usr/lib/vamp/qm-vamp-plugins.so
install: cannot stat 'lib/linux/qm-vamp-plugins-1.7/qm-vamp-plugins.so.aarch64': No such file or directory
make: *** [Makefile:147: install] Error 1

However I was able to load a musical sequence.

Run the clean command:

sudo make clean 2>&1 | tee clean_error.txt

Consider this a beta release. In my early testing it is working as good as a Windows build. 

[Gilrock]

I?ve moved onto a Mac .  XLights development on Mac can?t be beat.