T2/Linux 26.3 “Desktop Edition”
Embedded Engineering Meets Cross-Architecture Desktop Ambition
T2/Linux has released version 26.3 "Desktop Edition," marking a significant milestone in delivering a modern, cross-architecture desktop experience.
The distribution distinguishes itself by providing a fully reproducible KDE Plasma Wayland session across nine different CPU architectures, including x86, ARM64, PowerPC, and RISC-V. This achievement is built on T2's long-standing foundation as a system development environment engineered for strict cross-compilation, architectural correctness, and deterministic builds.
T2/Linux compiling errors
Hello and good morning, I'm back at my Powermac G5, playing around a bit with T2/Linux (all articles).
I recently reported that a current version of Firefox is capable of running on PPC64, making this distro the only one that allows this. Everyone else is having major problems with Firefox right now. Although I assume René, the maintainer of T2, is sending his patches upstream. He does a lot for the community.
Anyway, I'd like to install mousepad, an editor for Xfce4. Unfortunately, I can't compile it. I'm getting an error with the gtksourceview4 package, which is required to build mousepad. And I can't fix it.
[…]
[83/251] Compiling C object tests/test-completion.p/test-completion.c.o
[84/251] Generating symbol file gtksourceview/libgtksourceview-4.so.0.0.0.p/libgtksourceview-4.so.0.0.0.symbols
[85/251] Generating gtksourceview/GtkSource-4.gir with a custom command (wrapped by meson to set env)
FAILED: [code=1] gtksourceview/GtkSource-4.gir
env PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/meson-uninstalled:/lib64/pkgconfig:/lib/pkgconfig:/usr/share/pkgconfig:/usr/lib64/pkgconfig:/usr/lib/pkgconfig:/usr/X11/share/pkgconfig:/usr/X11R7/share/pkgconfig:/usr/X11/lib64/pkgconfig:/usr/X11R7/lib64/pkgconfig:/usr/X11/lib/pkgconfig:/usr/X11R7/lib/pkgconfig:/opt/gnome/share/pkgconfig:/opt/gnome/lib64/pkgconfig:/opt/xfce4/lib64/pkgconfig PKG_CONFIG=/usr/bin/pkg-config CC=gcc CFLAGS= /opt/gnome/bin/g-ir-scanner --quiet --no-libtool --namespace=GtkSource --nsversion=4 --warn-all --output gtksourceview/GtkSource-4.gir --c-include=gtksourceview/gtksource.h --warn-all -I/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/gtksourceview -I/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/gtksourceview -I/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/. -I/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/. --filelist=/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/gtksourceview/libgtksourceview-4.so.0.0.0.p/GtkSource_4_gir_filelist -L/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/gtksourceview -L/opt/gnome/lib64 --extra-library=gtksourceview-4 --include=Gdk-3.0 --include=Gtk-3.0 --symbol-prefix=gtk_source --identifier-prefix=GtkSource --pkg-export=gtksourceview-4 --cflags-begin -DG_DISABLE_DEPRECATED -DGDK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED -DGTK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED -DGDK_PIXBUF_DISABLE_DEPRECATED -DGDK_VERSION_MIN_REQUIRED=GDK_VERSION_3_24 -DGDK_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED=GDK_VERSION_3_24 -DGLIB_VERSION_MIN_REQUIRED=GLIB_VERSION_2_48 -DGLIB_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED=GLIB_VERSION_2_48 -I/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/. -I/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/. -I/usr/include/fribidi -I/opt/gnome/include/glib-2.0 -I/opt/gnome/lib64/glib-2.0/include -I/opt/gnome/include -I/usr/include/libmount -I/usr/include/blkid -I/usr/include/dbus-1.0 -I/usr/lib64/dbus-1.0/include -I/usr/include/harfbuzz -I/usr/include/cairo -I/usr/include/freetype2 -I/usr/include/libpng16 -I/usr/X11R7/include -I/usr/X11R7/include/pixman-1 -I/opt/gnome/include/gtk-3.0 -I/opt/gnome/include/at-spi2-atk/2.0 -I/opt/gnome/include/at-spi-2.0 -I/opt/gnome/include/gio-unix-2.0 -I/opt/gnome/include/pango-1.0 -I/opt/gnome/include/atk-1.0 -I/opt/gnome/include/gdk-pixbuf-2.0 -I/usr/include/libxml2 -I/opt/gnome/include/gobject-introspection-1.0 --cflags-end --add-include-path=/opt/gnome/share/gir-1.0 -L/usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/gtksourceview --library gtksourceview-4 -L/opt/gnome/lib64 --extra-library=m --extra-library=fribidi -L/opt/gnome/lib64 --extra-library=glib-2.0 --extra-library=gobject-2.0 --extra-library=gio-2.0 --extra-library=gtk-3 --extra-library=gdk-3 --extra-library=pangocairo-1.0 --extra-library=pango-1.0 --extra-library=harfbuzz --extra-library=atk-1.0 --extra-library=cairo-gobject --extra-library=cairo --extra-library=gdk_pixbuf-2.0 --extra-library=xml2 --extra-library=girepository-1.0 --sources-top-dirs /usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/ --sources-top-dirs /usr/src/t2-src/src.gtksourceview4.251018.101622.11937/gtksourceview-4.8.4/objs/
Couldn't find include 'Gdk-3.0.gir' (search path: '['/opt/gnome/share/gir-1.0', '/root/.local/share/gir-1.0', '/usr/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/gnome/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/java/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/libreoffice/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/mozilla/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/openldap/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/rust/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/wasi/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/xfce4/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/gnome/share/gir-1.0', '/opt/gnome/share/gir-1.0', '/usr/share/gir-1.0']')
[86/251] Compiling C object tests/test-int2str.p/test-int2str.c.o
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
Due to previous errors, no 9-gtksourceview4.log file!
(Try enabling xtrace in the config to track an error inside the build system.)
--- BUILD ERROR ---
Creating file list and doing final adaptions ...
Searching for orphaned files ...
Found 6 files for this package.
Found 1 orphaned files for this package.
Calculating package dependencies ...
Deleting dependencies, pattern: -e ".*: t2-src$" -e ".*: glibc$" -e ".*: gcc$" ...
Adding dependencies, glib
Marking optional dependencies, glib
Creating md5sum files ...
Creating package description ...
Making post-install adaptions.
If I look at it more closely, it means something like that the error encounters during the GtkSourceView4 build on T2 Linux is due to a missing GObject Introspection (.gir) file, which is a common issue when build dependencies aren't fully met.
Rene is writing on his website, that if you plan to compile or cross compile,
you need to reinstall some packages and I reinstalled t2 install -f gobject-introspection and it worked.
So I have no glued what to do here. I always stuck with those failures I can't
handle by myself and the Powermac G5 is a slow machine, I do it on bare metal
becouse crosscompiling for ppc64 on my mac mini m4 is even more pointless.
There are other packages wich also not build, e.g. appstream-glib:
[64/114] Compiling C object client/appstream-compose.p/as-compose.c.o
[65/114] Linking target libappstream-glib/as-self-test
[66/114] Generating libappstream-glib/AppStreamGlib-1.0.typelib with a custom command
[67/114] Generating data/appstream-util-man with a custom command
FAILED: [code=4] data/appstream-util.1
/usr/bin/xsltproc --nonet --stringparam man.output.quietly 1 --stringparam
funcsynopsis.style ansi --stringparam man.th.extra1.suppress 1 --stringparam
man.authors.section.enabled 0 --stringparam man.copyright.section.enabled 0
-o data/appstream-util.1 http://docbook.sourceforge.net/release/xsl
/current/manpages/docbook.xsl ../data/appstream-util.xml
I/O error : failed to load "http://docbook.sourceforge.net/release/
xsl/current/manpages/docbook.xsl": Attempt to load network entity
warning: failed to load external entity "http://docbook.sourceforge.net
/release/xsl/current/manpages/docbook.xsl"
cannot parse http://docbook.sourceforge.net/release/xsl/current/manpages/docbook.xsl
[68/114] Compiling C object client/appstream-util.p/as-util.c.o
In file included from ../client/as-util.c:21:
In function 'as_util_mirror_screenshots_app_url',
inlined from 'as_util_mirror_screenshots_app' at ../client/as-util.c:3520:8,
inlined from 'as_util_mirror_screenshots' at ../client/as-util.c:3636:8:
../client/as-util.c:3450:23: warning: call to '_curl_easy_setopt_err_long' declared with attribute warning: curl_easy_setopt expects a long argument [-Wattribute-warning]
3450 | (void)curl_easy_setopt(priv->curl, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, 1);
| ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
Due to previous errors, no 9-appstream-glib.log file!
(Try enabling xtrace in the config to track an error inside the build system.)
--- BUILD ERROR ---
Creating file list and doing final adaptions ...
Searching for orphaned files ...
Found 6 files for this package.
Found 1 orphaned files for this package.
Calculating package dependencies ...
Deleting dependencies, pattern: -e ".*: t2-src$" -e ".*: glibc$" -e ".*: gcc$" ...
Tags: t2linux, compiling, crosscompiling
T2 Linux is fucking amazing
So yesterday I found out that with the PPC64 Version Firefox is working and this is a dealbreaker, a gamechanger. Because of a modern Browser, you can use this old computer nearly productive. I can webmail (even Googlemail), I can spotify, I can Youtube. I can do a lot of modern things only because the browser is working.
My Powermac G5 Desktop with XFCE 4 and some Terminal Windows.
On the other side I configure the system to my need. I installed my TerminalDrome Navidrome Client, I compile a lot of software and try to figure things out. I am looking for a lightwight Texteditor like Mousepad, but I can't get it to work.
Meanwhile I try to crosscompile on my MacMini M4 for PPC64 but this also doesn't work like expected. A lot of high hangig fruits.
So long, Jan
T2/Linux 25.10 "Never Obsolete" is there - It runs Firefox 143.0.1 on PowerPC
Master-Hacker René Rebe has published his newest version of T2/Linux, an SDE Linux with the most CPU Architechture support in the world. It is also the most active and most actual Linux Distro as you can see on distro watch and other sites.
I installed this new version on my Powermac G5 Workstation and it works like charme.
Here you can find the direct download for ppc, ppc64 or ppc64/32*
I installed the 64/32 Bit Variante, because it is optimized for the 970 Processor which works in the Powermac G5.
*64-bit OS kernel, 32-bit user-space
[Update]. I just installed the 64-Bit Version of the PPC64 variant and what shall I say? Firefox works, so I created a screenshot directly under my Powermac to show what crazy René has done for the comunity of PPC Enthusiast. Unbelievable. And I just played this Video of Townes on my other Weblog in the Browser on my PowermacG5.
My Powermac G5 with real Firefox 143.0.1 (ppc64)
This is freaking fantastic guys! DAMN!
Ressources
- T2 25.10 Never Obsolte at t2linux.com
- Media in SHOCK about this Linux distro - Renes Stream about!
- T2 Download Portal for 25.10
- T2 Main Website
- Quick Build in seven-1 easy steps
- Getting started w/ a fresh T2 install
- Rene Rebes Medium Blog
Tags: powermacg5, ppc, ppc64, t2linux, linux, download, firefox
Hello T2/Linux 25.04 - I switched back to 12.24
Man, I am a little bit frustrated right now. Everytime a new release of
T2/Linux
is going online, I am really happy to try it out on my Powermac G5. I download
it and dd it to a USB Stick (here
I explain how to boot a PPC Mac from USB) and than boot the Powermac via OpenFirmware
from that USB Stick and everything works like charme. Like I exspect it.
The Install Process is straight forward and easy, thanks to STONE, the Installer
of T2. But with Version 25.04 there is a problem, the FANs turn to MAX rotation like
there is a kernel module not loaded or something like that and you think the G5
will soon fly away. The next thing: X seems to be broken, I can't startx
anymore.
In 24.12 these things were okay, X works and even 3D-Acceleration works so I could use it in a quite usual way. But now - all of this is gone. Everytime I try, there is another problem. Something other broken. And I am not smart enough to fix it. I do not understand enough and there is not enough documentation to get this done. Sure, René is a One-Man-Show with his T2 Linux Project and he is fixing a lot of older drivers and software packages and he earns nothing and I say thank you man. Great Job. But even in his documentation, I am unable to find the right solution e.g. to crosscompile not the whole target, just a package and all of it's depencies.
I never got Palemoon or ArcticFox compiled or crosscompiled, because there are errors I canot solve. I installed T2/ARM64 on my Mac Mini M4 because this small machine is really powerful so it is a great crosscompoling solution for the me at home for my PPC64 Powermac. But it starts while compiling gcc. I am unable to compile GCC. And without GCC there is no way to compile anything further.