This script automates installation of the new RADE development versions of freedv-gui-2.0-dev in modern Linux distibutions.
It is currently tested in Mageia, LinuxMint, Fedora, Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Manjaro and Debian
It initially checks which Linux distribution is in use, that it is 64 bit, that disk space is adequate, whether internet with working DNS is available and that the script is being run as a regular user.
Then it uses the distro's native package manager to install some essential system packages for which it requests the root password.
The remaining script then continues as the regular user.
A working directory called freedv-rade is created in the user's home directory which is used to hold the complete installation.
The freedv-gui sources are cloned from github and (at present) the v2.0-dev branch is checked out.
A python3 virtual environment is then automatically created and activated as described in the freedv-gui README.md
Several essential python modules are then installed by python pip in the virtual environment.
build_linux.sh is then run to continue with the download and building of more dependencies and ultimately freedv.
On completion of the build a start script is written to the user's home folder called freedv-start which is then made executable ready for use. './freedv-start' or optionally './freedv-start -f yourfreedv.conf' should start freedv v2.0-dev.
The 'freedv-start' script already includes code to start and stop hamlib rigctld, this needs editing to suit the user's radio. See notes in the script.
A desktop file to start FreeDV is added to the user's ~/Desktop folder. This calls the 'freedv-start' script so changes there e.g. rigctld settings will still work.
Important If you start rigctld from 'freedv-start' and run two instances of FreeDV-RADE at the same time, e.g. a second one to monitor an SDR, then you must use two differently named start scripts.
Copy the original under a new name for the SDR instance without rigctld enabled and use the original for your TX/RX with rigctld activated.
If you want a second desktop file for the SDR instance then you can edit the original to point at the new start script and then create a new main one using the 'Update-RADE' script.
freedv-rade-build has been tested in x86_64 installations of the following:
| Distribution | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mageia 9 | OK | Current stable |
| Mageia 10 (-dev) | OK | Next release |
| Linux Mint 22 | OK | |
| Debian 12 | OK | |
| Fedora 41 | OK | |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | OK | |
| Manjaro | OK | Thanks to M0SSN for testing! |
| Xubuntu 24.04 | OK | Thanks to DL7AIS for testing! |
| *buntu clones | ?? | Should be OK if 'cat /etc/os-release|grep -m1 "ID="|cut -d= -f2' returns 'ubuntu' |
| Arch | ?? | Probably broken deps - needs a tester and bug report - anyone? :) |
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7 December 2024 Added a desktop icon to start FreeDV from the desktop
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8 December 2024 mk-start and mk-desktop scripts may be used stand alone to create 'freedv-start' or install 'freedv-rade.desktop' files respectively, without running freedv-rade-build.
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10 December 2024 Icon added to desktop for Update-FreeDV by full build.
N.B. Always copy/paste commands from here excluding the surrounding ' ' to avoid typos!
1. Install the 'git' package using your package manager.
2. Go to a terminal emulator on you machine and type: 'cd' followed by the ENTER key to be sure you are in
your home directory
3. Type: 'git clone https://github.com/barjac/freedv-rade-build' then ENTER
4. Type: 'chmod +x freedv-rade-build/freedv-rade-build' then ENTER
5. Type: 'freedv-rade-build/freedv-rade-build' then ENTER
Now put the kettle on, it will take a while!
On completion you should see a message to that effect and instructions on how to launch the program.
If you are using hamlib don't forget to add yourself (as root) to the 'dialout' group (or in Arch based distros like Manjaro) the 'uucp' group:
# usermod -aG dialout <your_user_name>
# usermod -aG uucp <your_user_name>
To make that active you will need to reboot the system.
There is a 'freedv-rade-update' script which allows fast updating of your freedv-rade (created using freedv-rade-build), full rebuilds, backup/restore and new desktop file creation from a simple text menu. This can now be run from the Update-FreeDV desktop icon.
*NOTE As this install of FreeDV-RADE is not under your system's package management control, a system update (especially in 'Rolling release' distros) could break FreeDV-RADE. If this happens then you will need to run the FreeDV update script and use the 'Full rebuild' option. This will not destroy any settings you have made or re-create any default start scripts or desktop files.
N.B. Always copy/paste commands from here excluding the surrounding ' ' to avoid typos!
If you have a clone of freedv-rade-build then:
1. 'cd ~/freedv-rade-build'
2. 'git pull' to update it
3. 'cd && chmod +x freedv-rade-build/freedv-rade-update' to make the update script executable
4. 'freedv-rade-build/freedv-rade-update' to run it as often as you like
OR use the new Update-RADE desktop icon to run it.
Just follow the prompts. If you hit a problem please open an issue here.
Have fun with FreeDV!