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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

[UPDATED] Install INDI and KSTARS on Raspbian Buster

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Update:
As @wvreeven pointed out in the comments, the below steps might break the system, so do it on your own risk.
It is recommended to backup first the SDCARD (using win32diskimager or similar tool)


Hello

I am trying to install INDI and KSTARS on Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ running the latest Raspbian Buster OS. Actually it is realtively easy, but there is one problem with indi-gphoto package.

Prerequisites to successfully install INDI/KSTARS are following:
1. Register reporistory keys:
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 487CEC2B3F33A288
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 40976EAF437D05B5

2. Create new repository source file
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/indi-ekos-kstars.list
with following content:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mutlaqja/ppa/ubuntu/ xenial main
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mutlaqja/libgphoto2/ubuntu/ xenial main
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ xenial main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ xenial-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ xenial-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ xenial main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ xenial-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ xenial-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse

3. Update package cache:
sudo apt-get update

That's it, we are ready to install our lovely astro software. Now after the above prerequisites we can simply install by:
sudo apt-get install indi-full kstars-bleeding gsc

Everything works well during installation, but unfortunately the indi-gphoto package has following errors:
libgphoto2 PPA is not installed. Will enable it now...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/apt-add-repository", line 95, in <module>
    sp = SoftwareProperties(options=options)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 114, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 607, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)    
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 93, in get_sources
    (self.id, self.codename))
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template for Raspbian/buster
dpkg: error processing package indi-gphoto (--configure):
 installed indi-gphoto package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1

Nevertheless everything will be available after installation, the KSTARS can be started, new profile can be created in EKOS and some devices I tested seems to be working!

Anyway, has anybody an idea, what's the above error and how to fix it?

BR,

Ladislav
The following user(s) said Thank You: Lupták Norbert
Last edit: 4 years 7 months ago by Ladislav Heller.
4 years 8 months ago #41271

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Hi,
You can’t use PPA repositories with Raspbian, you have to compile from Source, hence you issue, you can only use those with Ubuntu...or other Linux distros But not with Debian... :)
4 years 8 months ago #41272

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4 years 8 months ago #41275

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Sorry, but it IS true. The fact that it works is coincidence. The PPA system is designed for Ubuntu, not for Debian. The deb files in the PPA have Ubuntu dependencies, which are different than Debian dependencies. When including Ubuntu PPA's to a Debian system, you run the risk of installing the same software or libraries twice which may (and likely will) render your Debian system useless.

The only way is to compile the sources on a Debian system. See for instance this blog post

linuxconfig.org/install-packages-from-an...-ppa-on-debian-linux


HTH, Wouter
4 years 8 months ago #41276

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4 years 8 months ago #41279

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Yep, understand the risk. But fortunately this time it works and the system is still alive :)

But compiling full INDI-EKOS-KSTARS takes 2,5 hours on my RPI which is really annoying. That's why I tried to install it via PPA.
4 years 8 months ago #41280

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I understand and agree with you that it is not easy and actually cumbersome to get KStars and Ekos running on a system that's not Ubuntu. I merely wanted to point out the risks of doing it this way. It is good to know that a workable system can be created by using the PPAs on Debian. Fingers crossed that this keeps on working in the future but unfortunately I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't.

EDIT: By the way I am not trying to point fingers to anyone about this. I am merely trying to state that it requires a lot of effort. Which should make all of us realise the tremendous amount of work going into this free-of-charge project for which I am very grateful!!!
The following user(s) said Thank You: Ladislav Heller
Last edit: 4 years 8 months ago by Wouter van Reeven.
4 years 8 months ago #41283

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Tried to update my opening post with your info about the risks of that approach, but somehow the forum does not allow me to edit the post. Anyway thank for info and explanation.
4 years 8 months ago #41284

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Maybe packaging this as a snap would be better? anyone willing to help?
The following user(s) said Thank You: Ladislav Heller
4 years 8 months ago #41285

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Hi,
First of all, thank you very much for this guide. I know it's far away from the proper way, (taking the risk of destroying the debian), but I got a working system under Debian raspbian PI4 at least - more or less- .
Finally my question is have you managed to install the astrometry.net too after the KSTARS and INDI?
4 years 8 months ago #41374

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Hi there,

this is an older thread I just stumbled upon.

To get things working on the PI with EKOS I am working - from the beginning - with astroberry (github.com/rkaczorek/astroberry-server). This is the most hassle-free method getting everything needed up and running on the PI. Or simply buy www.stellarmate.com/ :-)
Cheers
3 years 11 months ago #52152

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