2022-01-24, 10:43 PM
OpenPlotter OpenCPN Installer app is done!
Currently there is a bit of a mess with the linux version of OpenCPN because there are several options to install it and each one has its pros and cons:
Installing from Debian official repository: this would be the perfect option because here you have versions for any architecture on any Debian derivative like Raspberry OS or Ubuntu. Usually there are versions for all plugins. The big con is that publishing on official Debian Repository takes a looong time and OpenCPN updates are only published after months/years. There is someone working on this and probably this will change soon but maintaining this is a hard work.
Installing from Ubuntu PPA: this has been the way we have used OpenCPN in OpenPlotter successfully for years. OpenCPN updates are applied the same day they are released and it is well maintained by developers. The cons are that the version for arm64 is not well maintained at this moment (no plugins for it) and making the plugins work in the Raspberry OS 32 bit needs special versions for them. Developers are working on trying to fix this.
Installing from Flatpak: Installing using the embedded system flatpak is the way for non Debian linux distributions like Red Hat, CentOs, Fedora, etc. to install OpenCPN. It can be also used in Debian but requires more space in your SD (about 400MB extra). There is good support for 64 bit for any architecture including arm and there are version of almost all plugins. There is not 32 bit version.
Add to this zoo that OpenPlotter can be installed on any Debian derivative and any architecture 32 or 64 bits and we have a big problem here. We needed to make a decision and we did it, we decided to be ready for any future scenario and added all of them
Both Debian and PPA solutions are compatible with each other and can be switched. Any of them can life with a flatpak installation in the same system at the same time.
Which to choose? As a general rule, you should choose Debian/PPA, but if the plugin you need is not available for your architecture/OS combination or if it is not the latest version of OpenCPN, then choose the flatpak installation.
Currently there is a bit of a mess with the linux version of OpenCPN because there are several options to install it and each one has its pros and cons:
Installing from Debian official repository: this would be the perfect option because here you have versions for any architecture on any Debian derivative like Raspberry OS or Ubuntu. Usually there are versions for all plugins. The big con is that publishing on official Debian Repository takes a looong time and OpenCPN updates are only published after months/years. There is someone working on this and probably this will change soon but maintaining this is a hard work.
Installing from Ubuntu PPA: this has been the way we have used OpenCPN in OpenPlotter successfully for years. OpenCPN updates are applied the same day they are released and it is well maintained by developers. The cons are that the version for arm64 is not well maintained at this moment (no plugins for it) and making the plugins work in the Raspberry OS 32 bit needs special versions for them. Developers are working on trying to fix this.
Installing from Flatpak: Installing using the embedded system flatpak is the way for non Debian linux distributions like Red Hat, CentOs, Fedora, etc. to install OpenCPN. It can be also used in Debian but requires more space in your SD (about 400MB extra). There is good support for 64 bit for any architecture including arm and there are version of almost all plugins. There is not 32 bit version.
Add to this zoo that OpenPlotter can be installed on any Debian derivative and any architecture 32 or 64 bits and we have a big problem here. We needed to make a decision and we did it, we decided to be ready for any future scenario and added all of them
Both Debian and PPA solutions are compatible with each other and can be switched. Any of them can life with a flatpak installation in the same system at the same time.
Which to choose? As a general rule, you should choose Debian/PPA, but if the plugin you need is not available for your architecture/OS combination or if it is not the latest version of OpenCPN, then choose the flatpak installation.