SlimJet 64-bit SFS packages

[orrin]

Hi Mike,

Got the new version.... what did they change?

[Mike Walsh]

Hi, orrin.

Not an awful lot, TBH. If you're interested, this page'll explain what they've altered with the last few releases:-

http://www.slimjet.com/en/whatisnew.php

Hope that helps.


Mike.

[Marv]

Hi Mike,
I've been running the 32bit version 13.0.7.0 for a few days now. I just downloaded the deb from slimjet, extracted and resquashed it as an SFS. Loads and runs fine in LxPupSc, X-slacko 4.2 and X-slacko slim 4.2r41 on both the core 2 duo and the Pentium M laptops. The wrapper script in the 32b version is much improved since 13.0.3.0. If extra libraries are required (as in Xslim), place them in /opt/slimjet/lib and it picks them up, exports that lib path and uses them. Instead of symlinking your profile to ~/.config/slimjet, it requires if running from root that you export your profile location and explains that pretty clearly when running the wrapper. I used the following in /etc/profile:

Code: Select all

# slimjet data directory location
export SLIMJET_USER_DATA_DIR=/mnt/sda2/BrowserData/slimjet

You could also create an /etc/profile.local of course.

Other than the standard puny toolbar/menu fonts that don't follow the system theme I've no complaints at all with it. Ya the cache is in the profile not ~/.config/.cache so my crond cleaner can't get at it and is encrypted but you can limit its size in the settings.

[Mike Walsh]

Hi, Marv.

Hmm. Interesting....

I'll have to have a look at this a bit more closely. I tend to junk the standard wrapper and use my own, which is a mixture of some of Oscar's stuff and my own.

Mine's around 36-38 lines in length.....where FlashPeak's isn't far short of 200 lines (although a big chunk of that is localization, it's true.) This business of the .cache being relocated might be worth re-investigation.

Cheers for the heads-up. Ta.


Mike.

[orrin]

Using Slacko 64-6.3.2

A couple of extensions that I use do not work the same as in Chrome!

Vanilla Cookie Manager - The icon does not change from cookies to no-cookies (a cookie symbol with a line through it). The rest of the application seems to work OK.

Clear Cache - Does not reload the current tab after the cache is cleared! As far as I can tell, it is clearing the cache.

Would I be better off setting the max cache in the options to a low number like 1M and dumping the extension?

[slavvo67]

Can't it run in incognito? I think you don't need to release the cache if you run it that way.

[Marv]

Just about my sole complaint with the latest 32 bit slimjet was the toolbar and menu fonts. It's fixed for me installing the latest DejaVu fonts from here:http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 195#948195 and of course running mkfont.sh in that directory. Thanks musher0! So far only tested in X-slacko Slim 4.2r42 and no font culling or tweaking done, just running DejaVu sans as the system font; but I think it solves the 'problem'. It's a simple thing to try if you have old or challenged eyes

[Mike Walsh]

*** NEW Version 13.0.8.0 now available***

Evening, everybody.

The current release, 13.0.8.0, is now available for download. These can be found at the usual location in post #2. This includes the current version of Pepper, 25.0.0.127.

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I don't usually bother with one release straight after another, given that Flashpeak pop these updates out so quickly.....but I decided to break with tradition this time, given that they've finally included several new audio codecs with this version. I thought y'all would appreciate having the choice!

New stuff in this release:-

https://www.slimjet.com/en/whatisnew.php

As Oscar also discovered, the website talks about downloading a specially-modified version of libffmpeg.so, despite there being a version of it in the /opt/slimjet directory already. It would appear that Oscar and I have both done the same thing; placed the modified version in the /opt/slimjet/lib folder, and also replaced the existing version with it. This way, SlimJet will find libffmpeg.so wherever it looks.

Have fun. Any probs, you know where to find me.


Mike.

[Mike Walsh]

*** NEW Version 13.0.9.0 now available***

Evening, everybody.

The current release, 13.0.9.0, is now available for download. These can be found at the usual location in post #2. This includes the current version of Pepper, 25.0.0.148.

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As stated in the last post, I don't usually bother with one release straight after another, but I'm definitely making an exception this time, too.....because at long last, FlashPeak have included the WideVine modules. And that means they've finally relented and included the h.264 codec, too!

New stuff in this release:-

https://www.slimjet.com/en/whatisnew.php

The previously-mentioned modified version of libffmpeg.so is, of course,included (in both locations. 13.0.9.0 has, however, thrown up a curiosity; normally, the libnss3.so & libnssutil3.so modules are included in /slimjet/lib, and I'm guessing SlimJet usually looks there for them. With this release, it throws up all sorts of errors in the terminal with these left in their usual location. The problem is solved by removing these two libs, and allowing it to 'find' the system versions by itself; sym-linking to the system libs doesn't work.....which is odd.

Anyway, NetFlix works fine with this release, so.....have fun. Any probs, you know where to find me.


Mike.

[orrin]

Hello Mike,

The new version is loaded and working OK here so far!
Thanks for your efforts!

When the new version loaded, there was a message saying there
was no support for mp4 files. I wonder why that is since it's based on
Chrome which DOES support mp4's. I checked it with my own website
which has HTML5 videos. Slimjet played the webm version and Chrome
played the mp4 version!

[orrin]

Hi Mike,

I reverted to the 13.0.7.0 version! The new one would not play the live
video content on Bloomberg or Fox. Also some YouTube channels would
not play, like the live SkyNews feed.

It looks like mp4 support is needed for the sites I visit.
13.0.7.0 does support mp4!

[mikeslr]

Hi Mike,

Of the web-browsers based on the blink engine, Slimjet remains my favorite as it has the best bookmarking tools. I still, however, can't use it.

I reported previously that it had what I suspected as a problem with not shutting down cleanly. Of course, the only way that becomes obvious is when you want to open it again. Sometimes it takes 20 or so seconds. Sometimes it won't open until I restart-X (AKA graphical server) and sometime an entire reboot is necessary. My understanding is that restaring-x should have killed all running processes. But, apparently some used by slimjet hang on. (Failure to re-open seems to be more prevalent in Tahrpup64 than Xenialpup64).

It finally occurred to me to examine what processes were running after Slimjet shuts down. I've attached a screenshot. But it gets worse. Either I stopped scrolling too soon before taking the shot or the next time I opened pprocess manager after trying to start slimjet a couple more times, more instances of the same processes (plus perhaps some others) appeared.

I wonder if starting the flashpeak-slimjet wrapper with "kill" commands --one for each of the "ghost" processes-- would help?

If I'm the only one still experiencing this problem, can you save me some searching time by indicating an example code to kill a process?

Thanks,

mikesLr

P.S. Using version 13.0.9.0, I don't have orrin's problem with mp4 vids. Those from bloomberg work OK after following the instructions. That Fox is having difficulty reaching an audience is a plus.

[orrin]

Hi Mike,

Of the web-browsers based on the blink engine, Slimjet remains my favorite as it has the best bookmarking tools. I still, however, can't use it.

I reported previously that it had what I suspected as a problem with not shutting down cleanly. Of course, the only way that becomes obvious is when you want to open it again. Sometimes it takes 20 or so seconds. Sometimes it won't open until I restart-X (AKA graphical server) and sometime an entire reboot is necessary. My understanding is that restaring-x should have killed all running processes. But, apparently some used by slimjet hang on. (Failure to re-open seems to be more prevalent in Tahrpup64 than Xenialpup64).

I had the same problem until I cleared out some of the stuff from the browsing area. Now it opens quickly after a shutdown!
Using Slacko 64-6.3.2

[Mike Walsh]

Hi, Mike/orrin.

In all honesty, I've discovered the same thing that everybody else has that's ever tried to re-package Chrome/Chromium/SlimJet at al for the Puppians; it's as noisy as hell in the terminal.....and it's always complaining about something!

Personally, I do the same as you, if it proves reluctant to start; I restart 'X'. 99 times out of 100, it works.

There's one little trick you could try. Create a small bash script in Geany, and place it in /root/Startup, which goes like this:-

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh
flashpeak-slimjet --silent-launch &

I got the idea for it from ETP, in his original v.1 release of 'Chromebook Pup', in which he was attempting to emulate the extremely rapid start-up of a Chromebook. It works because it makes use of just one of the multitude of command-line 'switches' you can incorporate into the exec-line of the Chromium-based browsers' wrapper scripts. His original was:-

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh
google-chrome --silent-launch &

It works just as well for SlimJet (and Iron!) as it does for Chrome; just change 'google-chrome' for the executable of whichever browser you're trying this with.

It does seem to cut down greatly on the number of 'false starts' you get with 'em. Just make sure to make it executable. It'll work for either 32- or 64-bit Pups, 'cos the name of the executable is still the same. And if you run more than one of these browsers, just create one of these scripts for each one, with the name of the appropriate executable.

In essence, it causes Chromium/Chrome/whatever to 'launch' at startup......without actually opening! (If that makes any kinda sense...) I won't guarantee it'll work for you.....bit it seems to work for me.

If you're interested in trying some of this stuff out, the full list of command-line 'switches' for the wrapper script's exec-line can be found here:-

http://peter.sh/experiments/chromium-co ... -switches/

I'll warn you now; it's a bloody long list..! There are hundreds and hundreds of these things, and it gives a wee bit of insight into just how complex Chrome/Chromium's code really is.

Let me know if that helps at all.


Mike.

[mikeslr]

Thanks orrin and the other Mike,

I'll try both.

Orrin, you live in one of the most beautiful areas of our country; and nicest even if it's in a "Red State". I've frequently suggested to my wife that relocate there. At first, I was serious. Now, it's mostly to tease her. She's an inveterate "New Yorker" who, when we first met, joked about needing a passport to come to New Jersey. Or maybe she wasn't joking.

mikesLr

[orrin]

Thanks orrin and the other Mike,

I'll try both.

Orrin, you live in one of the most beautiful areas of our country; and nicest even if it's in a "Red State". I've frequently suggested to my wife that relocate there. At first, I was serious. Now, it's mostly to tease her. She's an inveterate "New Yorker" who, when we first met, joked about needing a passport to come to New Jersey. Or maybe she wasn't joking.

mikesLr

We are originally from Long Island.... its a heck of a lot nicer here than
there! Check out this slideshow:

http://gallery.orrin.org/video/nw_nevada.htm

[Mike Walsh]

*** NEW Version 14.0.2.0 now available***

Evening, all.

The current stable release, 14.0.2.0, is now available for download. These can be found at the usual location in post #2. This includes the current version of Pepper, 25.0.0.148.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As stated in the last couple of posts, I don't usually bother with one release straight after another, but, once again, I'm making an exception.....we are, after all, marking the release of a new series!

New stuff in this release:-

https://www.slimjet.com/en/whatisnew.php

The previously-mentioned modified version of libffmpeg.so is, once again, included in both locations. 14.0.2.0, just like its predecessor, refuses to work with the included versions of libnss3.so & libnss3utils.so, so.....they've been dispatched again. Slimmie seems happy to pick up the system versions anyway, so I can't quite figure out why Flashpeak have gone to the trouble of adding extra 'weight'.

Once again, NetFlix works fine with this release, so.....enjoy.

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Iguleder's (peebee-modified) libpuppygc.so module has been pressed into service with this release, since Flashpeak have jumped straight from 55 to 57; Chrome 56 was where all the 'root' aggravation re-surfaced, so; it's not like I wasn't expecting it...!

It may not be as elegant a solution as Phil B's 'bbe' thingy that Oscar has been using to great effect with the sandboxes in the 32-bit releases, but hey! It works.....and that's the whole point of the excercise, after all. (And it only adds an extra 7 kb to the total. I can live with that!)

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Which brings me to the final point. I've included a small modification with this release. The previously-mentioned 'silent-launch' feature has been added to /root/Startup; if you look in /root/Startup, you'll find a new script, entitled 'silent_launch_slimjet'. What this effectively does is to launch SlimJet at boot, without 'opening' it; rather along the same lines as how modern Windoze works with hibernation and Fast Startup; it essentially holds it in 'standby-mode' until you launch from either desktop launcher or Menu entry. Upon doing so, it starts almost instantly.

If you don't want to make use of this, or wish to disable it, simply delete it from /root/Startup (or comment out the second line).

That's it! Any probs, give us a shout.


Mike.

[orrin]

Hi Mike,

Is MP4 supported in 14.0.1.0? If not, I will stick with the older version!

[Mike Walsh]

Nah; wouldn't bother, mate. Just tried Bloomberg and Fox in 14.0.2.0, which came out just a few hours ago;. It'll play the live Fox stuff.....but Bloomberg sits there grinning at you with a big blank space where it ought to be showing you a video feed. Doesn't want to know...

I did hear somewhere that Bloomberg were cozying up to MyCrudSoft, so it's quite on the cards that there'll be a strongly-worded 'love-letter' somewhere in the works that'll be suggesting only Edge should be 'allowed' to play their stuff.....


Mike.

[orrin]

Nah; wouldn't bother, mate. Just tried Bloomberg and Fox in 14.0.2.0, which came out just a few hours ago;. It'll play the live Fox stuff.....but Bloomberg sits there grinning at you with a big blank space where it ought to be showing you a video feed. Doesn't want to know...

I did hear somewhere that Bloomberg were cozying up to MyCrudSoft, so it's quite on the cards that there'll be a strongly-worded 'love-letter' somewhere in the works that'll be suggesting only Edge should be 'allowed' to play their stuff.....

Thanks for the reply... everything plays OK in 13.0.7.0 so I will stick with it.
The latest version of Chrome also plays everything!