This is a heads up that I'm currently investigating whether it would be better to stop offering a Solus-specific Kodi build and instead point people to the flatpak version of Kodi.

The main reason is that upstream will no longer officially support the convenient "batteries-included" build that I'm currently doing once kodi v19 "Matrix" lands (unless the build is done with PREFIX=/usr/local).

Kodi v19 "Matrix" is currently in alpha and upstream has indicated that Kodi v18.8 will be the last update to the "Leia" branch. The Kodi version available on flathub is v18.8 as of this writing.

    ermo I have two KODI versions installed and I use Solus-specific Kodi build. The flatpak version is just a back-up. I guess I am not care about "batteries-included" (preinstalled addons, right?)

    My concerns about flatpak version are:

    • will there be a delay for the flatpak releases
    • I have to figure out how to transfer my library/favorites/addon settings (not a big problem)

    Is there a simple way to test alpha v19 on Solus?

    • ermo replied to this.

        Solarmass

        From an official Solus packaging perspective, there's obviously the option to build only the main kodi distribution and the kodi-platform package.

        This would allow users to follow a guide in order to build the binary add-ons from e.g a from-source package.yml via solbuild and have said locally-built package install to /usr/local.

        However, I'm not sold on this option as it will break every time there is a kodi rebuild.

        But to answer your actual question:

        Right now, there's no simple way to test alpha v19 on Solus unless you want to build the package yourself -- either directly from source or via a locally written package.yml, which builds to an installable .eopkg using solbuild configured with a local repository.

            ermo This would allow users to follow a guide in order to build the binary add-ons from e.g a from-source package.yml via solbuild and have said locally-built package install to /usr/local.

            Can you give some examples of these binary add-ons? It is not YouTube add-on.

            However, I'm not sold on this option as it will break every time there is a kodi rebuild.

            Not a great experience, yes

            Right now, there's no simple way to test alpha v19 on Solus unless you want to build the package yourself -- either directly from source or via a locally written package.yml, which builds to an installable .eopkg using solbuild configured with a local repository.

            Thanks. I think the simple way to test it would be in the Windows VM.

              10 days later

              Just successfully built Kodi 18.9 locally. Will try to get it pushed to -unstable along with a samba stack upgrade over the weekend/early next week.

              19 days later
              3 months later
              7 days later

              I just had Kodi 19 update on my mobile phone and it broke all of my add-ons, is there a way I could edit a conf file for sudo eopkg up to exclude kodi from future updates(since it might take awhile until these add-ons start working on this version) It seems natural that I could do sudo eopkg up --exclude kodi but it would be great if I could edit it in a conf file till the inevitable future!

                laky
                No. An its not feasible to hold back manually for an indefinite period of time either. The last two Kodi updates Solus made were rebuilds against updated dependencies.

                • laky replied to this.

                    Harvey Meaning the involved dependencies that might get updated would break the old kodi version? Well that is a shame , but thanks for clearing it up.

                        laky

                        Yeah, it is why partial updates are not supported. They are the number one cause of breakages. An I promise you something will break eventually and in a way more spectacular fashion than some Kodi addons not working.

                        EDIT:
                        I know flatpak's did not used to update themselves automatically a few years ago. If that is still the case or there is a way to stop flatpak updating its containers. That might be a working alternative.

                            Harvey That seems very true indeed I had few of those spectacular "breaks" over my period of using linux system, most of them you can actually revert and save yourself the future troubles if you are lucky and stubborn enough to do so. 🙂 But I get your point !

                            On further notice I did install an app : librewolf via flatpak just the other day and right now I am seeing there was a new version out 2 days ago but my flatpak update doesn't seem to find it?!(maybe I need to download .flatpak file again.. ) Might actually be a good thing regarding the kodi situation I will be in this friday. I'll take a look at it might be my only option since I never learned how to use containers.
                            Edit:
                            Flathubs repository kodi is on 18.8-Leia , crazy enough this might work much better than kodi 19. Considered this problem as solved.

                                Solarmass it is good, all my add-ons work as they should. It is just a matter of time to get used to it now, inb I find a better way to make this to work! 😄

                                    laky it is good, all my add-ons work as they should.

                                    Nice! But you should be careful not to update to the Kodi 19 flatpak when it will be available in the repo 😉

                                      Solarmass Damn, that was fast, I don't understand why did they decide to skip 18.9 completely and just go from 18.8 to 19, nonetheless It still requires me to manually update so I'll be safe as long as I press /n at every popup . Thanks for heads up , appreciate it. 😃
                                      EDIT:
                                      Also I've just realize the new librewolf 86.0-1 is not going to work for Solus since it requires newer glibc version , so staying on older one for now.

                                        My current thinking is that if the flathub version of Kodi 19 works well enough, I'm inclined to stop supporting the native build (currently on 18.9).

                                        The way upstream expects packagers to deal with binary add-ons is just too much of a hassle/burden for me to enjoy the experience.