Sigil 1.9.20 for Linux Won't Launch

amo48 · 02-23-2023, 04:05 PM

Downloaded and installed Sigil 1.9.20 Flatpak onto my Dell E6510 laptop via my distro's (Linux Mint 20.3) software repository. But when I go to launch it, nothing happens--no error message or anything. Confusing. I thought Flatpaks are supposed to contain everything needed to install and run an application program.

I'd very much appreciate any tips on how to get Sigil to work on my computer. I did see a previous posting here with instructions on how to build Sigil from source code. I suppose i could try that, but I'm a Linux newbie and am not sure I wouldn't screw it all up.

DiapDealer · 02-23-2023, 05:34 PM

We don't maintain the flatpak version of Sigil, but in short... No. Flatpak packages do not always have every little thing needed to run. You might be thinking of an AppImage. Still... Many people seem to be able to use the flatpak version of Sigil on their machines, so you should be able to get it to work. Try launching it from a command prompt and see if it gives you more detail on what's failing.

amo48 · 02-23-2023, 06:46 PM

Thanks much for the info about Flatpaks; good to know.

I did try to launch Sigil from the command line--same result. No nothing. Process list doesn't show it running. If I didn't do anything wrong in the download/install process, the reason could be a bug in this new Sigil version or in the Flatpak itself. My Linux distro does have a default version of Sigil, which is widely used, i.e., the outdated v. 1.1.0. I was wanting an upgrade to the latest version.

Guess I'll try to do the build and install Sigil myself according to a previous posting here that links to repository owner Doug Massay. Though I'm a Linux newbie, I did do a lot of stuff a long time ago from the MS-DOS command prompt.

DiapDealer · 02-23-2023, 09:33 PM

I am that Doug. That forked repository in my personal github profile might not be up to date. Use the Linux build documentation from the official Sigil repo's docs folder.

https://github.com/Sigil-Ebook/Sigil...ng_on_Linux.md

DiapDealer · 02-24-2023, 12:13 PM

Try this. From a command prompt, find the names of all installed flatpak apps with:

Code:

flatpak list --app

Grab the full name of the flatpack version of Sigil (should be the second column). It might be something similar to com.sigil-ebook.Sigil.

Using that full name (case sensitive), try to run it from the command prompt with:

Code:

flatpak run <insert flatpack sigil full name here (without the angle brackets)>

See if that gives you any further detail.

02-23-2023, 04:05 PM	#1
amo48 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle	Sigil 1.9.20 for Linux Won't Launch Downloaded and installed Sigil 1.9.20 Flatpak onto my Dell E6510 laptop via my distro's (Linux Mint 20.3) software repository. But when I go to launch it, nothing happens--no error message or anything. Confusing. I thought Flatpaks are supposed to contain everything needed to install and run an application program. I'd very much appreciate any tips on how to get Sigil to work on my computer. I did see a previous posting here with instructions on how to build Sigil from source code. I suppose i could try that, but I'm a Linux newbie and am not sure I wouldn't screw it all up.

02-23-2023, 09:33 PM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I am that Doug. That forked repository in my personal github profile might not be up to date. Use the Linux build documentation from the official Sigil repo's docs folder. https://github.com/Sigil-Ebook/Sigil...ng_on_Linux.md Last edited by DiapDealer; 02-23-2023 at 09:36 PM.

02-24-2023, 12:13 PM	#5
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Try this. From a command prompt, find the names of all installed flatpak apps with: Code: flatpak list --app Grab the full name of the flatpack version of Sigil (should be the second column). It might be something similar to com.sigil-ebook.Sigil. Using that full name (case sensitive), try to run it from the command prompt with: Code: flatpak run <insert flatpack sigil full name here (without the angle brackets)> See if that gives you any further detail.

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02-23-2023, 05:34 PM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	We don't maintain the flatpak version of Sigil, but in short... No. Flatpak packages do not always have every little thing needed to run. You might be thinking of an AppImage. Still... Many people seem to be able to use the flatpak version of Sigil on their machines, so you should be able to get it to work. Try launching it from a command prompt and see if it gives you more detail on what's failing.

02-23-2023, 06:46 PM	#3
amo48 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle	Thanks much for the info about Flatpaks; good to know. I did try to launch Sigil from the command line--same result. No nothing. Process list doesn't show it running. If I didn't do anything wrong in the download/install process, the reason could be a bug in this new Sigil version or in the Flatpak itself. My Linux distro does have a default version of Sigil, which is widely used, i.e., the outdated v. 1.1.0. I was wanting an upgrade to the latest version. Guess I'll try to do the build and install Sigil myself according to a previous posting here that links to repository owner Doug Massay. Though I'm a Linux newbie, I did do a lot of stuff a long time ago from the MS-DOS command prompt.