Build for Linux

[efa]

I saw someone built the Pascal sources for Linux/ARM (Raspberry Pi) with Lazarus:
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=40522
Given there is an OpenGL backend I think all the GUI should work as well.
What is the build procedure for Linux?

[ZXDunny]

Complex and SpecBAS has evolved considerably since then - you'll have quite a job on your hands. I recently tried to build with Lazarus/FPC for Windows and it went reasonably well - it runs, at least. You'd need to review MainForm.pas (which is where most if not all of the Windows dependent code is) and possibly SP_Display.pas which may contain some GDI code.

Last time I built it for MacOS and Linux I needed to use SDL2 for the OpenGL surface and keyboard handling, so I'd start there.

I'll be interested to see if it can be done. It has in the past as I said, but that was a long time ago.

[efa]

I'm a complete newbie to Pascal, but I saw this guide:
https://wiki.freepascal.org/Lazarus_For_Delphi_Users

I expect OpenGL/SDL2 backend work on Linux.
I saw you generate 2 Win .exe 2 backend (_GDI.exe and OpenGL .exe). BTW both work well in Wine.
How do you select the backend (GDI|OpenGL) on build time?

[ZXDunny]

At build time you set a compiler define. If you specify {$DEFINE OPENGL} then it will build for opengl, otherwise GDI. I would say that although I applaud your efforts, if you don't know much about Pascal or Delphi then you're in for a real fun time. My to-do list does include a Linux/MacOS build - I have both boxes sat here that I can test with - so I'm not against the idea.

[efa]

in the src directory there are two project files:
SpecBAS.dpr
adjbuild.dpr
which is the main one?

[ZXDunny]

That would be SpecBAS.dpr - the other one is for a small stub that's run by the build batch file to bump the version number each time it runs.

[efa]

I saw there is a ready SpecBAS.lpi so I loaded that in Lazarus, instead of converting SpecBAS.dpr

I removed all the "uses lib" where lib is not found on Linux, but I got this error on build:

SP_Components.pas(134,20) Error: Identifier not found "TDictionary"
SP_Components.pas(134,31) Error: Error in type definition
SP_Components.pas(134,31) Error: Syntax error, ";" expected but "<" found

where is defined "TDictionary" ?

[ZXDunny]

You can find information on TDictionary here: https://wiki.freepascal.org/TDictionary

[efa]

OK so the:
uses System.Generics.Collections
is needed in SP_Components.pas

Why I got this other error if I left in:
SP_Components.pas(26,23) Error: Impossibile trovare System.Generics.Collections usato da SP_Components
It seems a compile error and not a link error.
Need I add the library to the project file include path? Where?

[ZXDunny]

Yes it's a compiler error. I wouldn't know why, but it would appear that the FPC compiler cannot find the System.Generics.Collections unit - it should be part of the LCL if it's been installed correctly. Beyond that I cannot help as I don't have Lazarus/FPC installed here to test.

[efa]

I saw that System.Generics.Collections is mentioned in:
https://github.com/ZXDunny/SpecBAS/blob/master/src/build.bat
with:
-AGenerics.Collections=System.Generics.Collections
as parameter for 'dcc64.exe'
I haven't Delphi and I cannot find online whats mean -A

My doubt is that the Lazarus project file can be outdated:
SpecBAS.lpi 4 years ago
SpecBAS.dpr 8 months ago
so I will try converting the .dpr with the Lazarus dedicated wizard, maybe work better

[ZXDunny]

I think that's an Alias switch.

[efa]

I think that's an Alias switch.

but is:
-AcurrentName=newName
or is:
-AnewName=currentName
?

[ZXDunny]

Here's a comprehensive list of switches:

Embarcadero Delphi for Win64 compiler version 36.0
Copyright (c) 1983,2025 Embarcadero Technologies, Inc.

Syntax: dcc64 [options] filename [options]

-A= = Set unit alias
-B = Build all units
-CC = Console target
-CG = GUI target
-D = Define conditionals
-E = EXE/DLL output directory
-F = Find error
-GD = Detailed map file
-GP = Map file with publics
-GS = Map file with segments
-H = Output hint messages
-I = Include directories
-J = Generate .obj file
-JPHNE = Generate C++ .obj file, .hpp file, in namespace, export all
-JL = Generate package .lib, .bpi, and all .hpp files for C++
-K = Set image base addr
-LE = package .bpl output directory
-LN = package .dcp output directory
-LU = Use package
-M = Make modified units
-NU = unit .dcu output directory
-NH = unit .hpp output directory
-NO = unit .obj output directory
-NB = unit .bpi output directory
-NX = unit .xml output directory
-NS = Namespace search path
-O = Object directories
-P = look for 8.3 file names also
-Q = Quiet compile
-R = Resource directories
-TX = Output name extension
-U = Unit directories
-V = Debug information in EXE
-VR = Generate remote debug (RSM)
-VT = Debug information in TDS
-VN = TDS symbols in namespace
-W[+|-|^][warn_id] = Output warning messages
-Z = Output 'never build' DCPs
-$

= Compiler directive
--help = Show this help screen
--version = Show name and version
--codepage: = specify source file encoding
--default-namespace: = set namespace
--depends = output unit dependency information
--doc = output XML documentation
--drc = output resource string .drc file
--no-config = do not load default dcc64.cfg file
--description: = set executable description
--inline:{on|off|auto} = function inlining control
--legacy-ifend = allow legacy $IFEND directive
--zero-based-strings[+|-] = strings are indexed starting at 0
--peflags: = set extra PE Header flags field
--peoptflags: = set extra PE Header optional flags field
--peosversion:. = set OS Version fields in PE Header (default: 5.0)
--pesubsysversion:. = set Subsystem Version fields in PE Header (default: 5.0)
--peuserversion:. = set User Version fields in PE Header (default: 0.0)
--lib-version: = Output package name version
--lib-suffix: = Output package name suffix
Compiler switches: -$ (defaults are shown below)
A8 Aligned record fields
B- Full boolean Evaluation
C+ Evaluate assertions at runtime
D+ Debug information
G+ Use imported data references
H+ Use long strings by default
I+ I/O checking
J- Writeable structured consts
L+ Local debug symbols
M- Runtime type info
O+ Optimization
P+ Open string params
Q- Integer overflow checking
R- Range checking
T- Typed @ operator
V+ Strict var-strings
W- Generate stack frames
X+ Extended syntax
Y+ Symbol reference info
Z1 Minimum size of enum types

[efa]

I found that work with:
uses Generics.Collections;
instead of:
uses System.Generics.Collections;

[efa]

At build time you set a compiler define. If you specify {$DEFINE OPENGL}

I had to add it to:
menu Project, Project Options, Compiler Options, Custom Options:
-dBorland -dVer150 -dDelphi7 -dCompiler6_Up -dPUREPASCAL -dOPENGL
?