A note for 64-bit (x64) users

[probono]

PortableLinuxApps currently hosts AppImages that are designed to run on the recent 32-bit versions of the popular Ubuntu, OpenSUSE (GNOME), and Fedora (GNOME) distributions. By making this choice, we hope to reach most users possible.

If you are running a 64-bit (x64) system (as is useful only when you have very large amounts of RAM installed), then you need to install 32bit compatibility libraries in order to use the AppImages from this site. However, most desktop users should have no need to use a 64-bit (x64) system at this time.

The following is said to work (I haven't tested it myself due to lack of a 64-bit system) [Edit: I have successfully tested the following on Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick]:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs-gtk
cd /tmp
wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/f/fuse/libfuse2_2.8.1-1.1ubuntu2_i386.deb
dpkg --extract libfuse2_2.8.1-1.1ubuntu2_i386.deb libfuse
sudo chown root:root libfuse/lib/lib*
sudo mv libfuse/lib/lib* /lib32/
rm -r libfuse

Of course, you need 32-bit versions of all relevant libraries installed.

So all in all, it might not be worth the hassle - this is why Ubuntu recommends the 32-bit version for general desktop users.

[ike]

first thanks for posting the possible workaround.

positioning your logic that people just shouldn't use 64 bit seems a bit ignorant. what about people who use multithreaded programs such as maya (me). I have to use 64bit and want to for my art and work. I think the project is great, but i think that it is not a good solution if it just ignores completely the entire 64 bit users. 64 bit is incredibly important to tons of users. Why would you not try to support 64 bit appimages? the project should help at least allow a path for people to easily create their own 64 bit appimages and submit them. i still think it's awesome, but i'm able to use the RUNZ appdirs on 64 bit no problem. I think actual 64 bit versions of the apps should be made, that way they can become a more standard solution for people, especially companies considering putting their programs on linux too. Also it's good for people who want to use linux for computer intensive tasks. it's good to support showing off the limits of linux's abilities so that other people know they can do computer intensive things in linux too. Maya and blender run way better on my linux machine than the macs at work, but people won't know that if projects try to forget the importance of 64 bit.

[probono]

Using the above instructions on the 64-bit version of Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick, I was successfully able to run the following AppImages without any issues:

• Viewnior
• XChat
• Putty
• Spotify
• Pinta

The following were not successful, presumably because I am still missing the 32-bit versions of some libraries:

• Transmission 2.03: error while loading shared libraries: libnotify.so.1

So in summary, 32-bit AppImages can run on 64-bit systems if the basic 32-bit compatibiliy libraries are installed, like described in the first posting.

Of course, it would technically be possible to create special 64-bit AppImages, but I doubt it would be worth the duplication of effort since any given desktop-type app rarely ever needs more than 2GB of RAM for itself. If you feel a need for 64-bit AppImages, nothing prevents you from making them.

[sandman]

two things:

what if my portable comes bundled with a bunch of libraries. do I need to sym link them to lib32 within the appdir so the host doesn't have to install the libraries separately?

why are you downloading 32bit fuse libraries? I guessed fuse is used to mount the ISO already but why am I downloading 32 when I already have 64bit on my system?

thanks for taking the time and effort to post this. I hope to come to a multiarch solution for my portables.

edit-----
I think I figured out the fuse libs. your using a c compiled i386 app to operate fuse instead of a bash script. thus elf32 is detected and lib32 is used. am I right?

[probono]

You are right. Of course if you are only targeting 64-bit users, then you can compile the ELF as 64-bit as well.

[jackysol]

I tried to use XChat on 64 bit, but it didn't work. Thankfully, I've found this topic now and it works!

Jacky

[RazZziel]

We should at least create one 64bit AppImage that automates including support for 32bit AppImages on any distro. I'll give it a try.

[RazZziel]

I tried these instructions today on a Ubuntu 12.04 Live CD, and the ia32-libs package doesn't exist

I finally got it working however and documented the process here: https://sourceforge.net/p/pg4l/wiki/Set ... AppImages/

[RazZziel]

Looks like the actual problem that prevents us from just needing to install libfuse2:i386 is this bug.

It could be worked around forging a custom .deb that installs the missing .so file

[probono]

By popular request, I have made some native 64-bit versions for testing:
http://portablelinuxapps.org/64/