Thanks @kugiigi and @arubislander , caveat noted. As an update for anyone trying to do similar it seems GPS is not working with the App in Focal (so my search for a Focal-based app to record GPS (.gpx) track continues.

(See also my other post on "Libertine fails to install a package because of permissions related to the creation of a directory /run/gpsd. How do you fix permission errors related to gpsd?" - https://forums.ubports.com/topic/9175/libertine-app-install-run-and-remove)

Here is what happens with Activity Tracker (a Xenial based app running in Focal):
• map show API Key Required
• clicking on saved activity shows spinning wheel
• importing .gpx file shows correctly but clicking on saved activity shows spinning wheel
• Recording activities (screen on or off, app on top or background) shows no data for speed and altitude also distance 0.
• Map shows whatever you set it to (starts at Trafalgar Sq in London.
• Time advances but seems to stop advancing when screen is off (locked).
• Ditto for “i” Track Info when looking at gpx track– spinning wheel. After stopping record:

cd ~/.local/share/activitytracker.cwayne18/
phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~/.local/share/activitytracker.cwayne18$ ls -la
total 40
drwxrwxr-x  2 phablet phablet  4096 Jul 27 19:31 .
drwx------ 37 phablet phablet  4096 Jul 27 17:50 ..
-rw-rw-r--  1 phablet phablet   341 Jul 27 19:10 1690499407.gpx
-rw-rw-r--  1 phablet phablet   341 Jul 27 19:31 1690500673.gpx
-rw-r--r--  1 phablet phablet 16384 Jul 27 19:31 activities.db
-rw-rw-r--  1 phablet phablet     8 Jul 27 17:50 .dbfixed
-rw-rw-r--  1 phablet phablet     8 Jul 27 17:50 .dbfixed2

1690499407.gpx

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<gpx xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/0/gpx.xsd" version="1.0" creator="gpx.py -- https://github.com/tkrajina/gpxpy">
<trk>
<trkseg></trkseg></trk></gpx>
1690499407.gpx (END)

@arubislander said in Xenial (16.04) .click app or desktop app on Focal (20.04)?:

Is it possible to run an app written for Xenial (16.04) on Focal (20.04)?

Yes, that is possible. Have you tried simply tapping on the file from the file explorer and chosing OpenStore to handle it from the list of applications?

Thank you @arubislander. The problem I was having was that:

1. The app was not listed in the OpenStore app itself and I coud not see a way to get Xenial rather than Focal Apps listed.
2. When I found the app in the online version of OpenStore (https://open-store.io/app/activitytracker.cwayne18) clicking "Install" opened the OpenStore app - or switched to it if it was open already - but did not install it.

Instead "Downloading" the app from the online version of OpenStore and, as you say, clicking on it in File Explorer and choosing the OpenStore app to handle it worked.Once I accepted the risks, the program installed.

I am trying to install foxtrotgps (https://www.foxtrotgps.org/) as an app in a Libertine Contianer. I am running Ubuntu 20.04 (2023-W13) from 20.04/arm64/android9plus/stable on a Google Pixel 3a phone.

1. Libertine fails to install a package because of permissions related to the creation of a directory /run/gpsd. How do you fix permission errors related to gpsd?
2. Why is there are discrepancy between the terminal “container list-apps” and the Libertine GUI?
3. Shouldn’t failed installs not show under start menu and “libertine-container-manager list-apps”?
4. Shouldn’t “libertine-container-manager list” and Settings>Libertine>Manage Libertine Containers show the same information?

Details:
I have a default Libertine container set up "Ubuntu 'Focal Fossa'". I set the container up in Settings>Libertine and it shows in the terminal:

$ libertine-container-manager list
focal

and it shows in Settings>Libertine>Manage Libertine Containers as"
Ubuntu 'Focal Fossa'
I tried to install the app but the Libertine GUI shows no apps installed. But:

$ libertine-container-manager list-apps 
focal_foxtrotgps_0.0

Running the application from the start screen starts X11 support and the foxtrotgps app but nothing but a black screen appears.

Also starting the package from the command line (as per the documentation) fails. The documentation says: “Run desktop application - Run it from the app menu like any other app. To start a graphical app from the command-line, for example gedit, run this in a terminal:
#ubuntu-app-launch <CONTAINER_ID>_<desktop_file_name>_0.0
ubuntu-app-launch xenial_gedit_0.0”
I get the following:

$ ubuntu-app-launch focal_foxtrotgps_0.0
-bash: ubuntu-app-launch: command not found

Here is what is shown when I try to install the app from the command line. The sticking point seems to be “Stopped: Couldn't create home directory `/run/gpsd': Permission denied.” When I install the same app on my desktop computer the /run/gpsd directory gets created with no problem. Here is the output from trying to install the app with Libertine:

$ libertine-container-manager install-package -p foxtrotgps
Failed to connect to bus: Operation not permitted
Hit:1 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal InRelease
Get:2 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal-updates InRelease [114 kB]
Get:3 https://repo2.ubports.com focal InRelease [10.4 kB]
Get:4 https://repo2.ubports.com focal/main arm64 Packages [4,275 kB]
Get:5 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal-updates/main arm64 Packages [2,025 kB]
Get:6 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal-updates/main Translation-en [453 kB]
Get:7 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal-updates/universe arm64 Packages [1,006 kB]
Get:8 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal-updates/universe Translation-en [260 kB]
Get:9 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal-updates/multiverse arm64 Packages [8,476 B]
Get:10 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports focal-updates/multiverse Translation-en [7,484 B]
Fetched 8,159 kB in 6s (1,315 kB/s)
Reading package lists...
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
foxtrotgps is already the newest version (1.2.2-2ubuntu1).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up gpsd (3.20-8ubuntu0.4) ...
Creating/updating gpsd user account...
Stopped: Couldn't create home directory `/run/gpsd': Permission denied.

Removing directory `/run/gpsd' ...
Removing user `gpsd' ...
dpkg: error processing package gpsd (--configure):
 installed gpsd package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 gpsd
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up gpsd (3.20-8ubuntu0.4) ...
Creating/updating gpsd user account...
Stopped: Couldn't create home directory `/run/gpsd': Permission denied.

Removing directory `/run/gpsd' ...
Removing user `gpsd' ...
dpkg: error processing package gpsd (--configure):
 installed gpsd package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 gpsd
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
libertine-container-manager:184: ERROR: install_package():	Package 'foxtrotgps' failed to install in container 'focal'

If I try to remove the app:

$ libertine-container-manager remove-package -p focal_foxtrotgps_0.0
libertine-container-manager:219: ERROR: remove_package(): Package 'focal_foxtrotgps_0.0' is not installed.
$ libertine-container-manager list-apps
focal_foxtrotgps_0.0

So..

1. Libertine fails to install a package because of permissions related to the creation of a directory /run/gpsd. How do you fix permission errors related to gpsd?
2. Why is there are discrepancy between the terminal “libertine-container-manager list-apps” and the Libertine GUI?
3. Shouldn’t failed installs not show under start menu and “libertine-container-manager list-apps”?
4. Shouldn’t libertine-container-manager list and Settings>Libertine>Manage Libertine Containers show the same information?

I am running Ubuntu 20.04 (2023-W13) from 20.04/arm64/android9plus/stable on a Google Pixel 3a phone.

1. Is it possible to run an app written for Xenial (16.04) on Focal (20.04)?
2. Is it possible to run a Xenial desktop app in a container using a Libertine container set up as separate from my default Focal Fossa container?

---

For 1) Is it possible to run an app written for Xenial (16.04) on Focal (20.04)? I’ve tried downloading the .click file and installing but that doesn’t work:

click info ~/Downloads/activitytracker.cwayne18_0.15_all.click
{
"architecture": "all",
"description": "Activity tracker for Ubuntu touch",
"framework": "ubuntu-sdk-16.04",
"hooks": {
"activitytracker": {
"apparmor": "activitytracker.apparmor",
"desktop": "activitytracker.desktop"
}
},
"installed-size": "774",
"maintainer": "Erne st slash.tux@gmail.com",
"name": "activitytracker.cwayne18",
"title": "Activity tracker",
"version": "0.15"
}

pkcon install-local ~/Downloads/activitytracker.cwayne18_0.15_all.click --allow-untrusted
Installing files [=========================]
Finished [=========================]
Fatal error: No such file /home/phablet/Downloads/activitytracker.cwayne18_0.15_all.click, or unknown or unsupported content type

and I’ve also tried:

click install ~/Downloads/activitytracker.cwayne18_0.15_all.click
Cannot install /home/phablet/Downloads/activitytracker.cwayne18_0.15_all.click: Signature verification error: debsig: Origin Signature check failed. This deb might not be signed.

---

For 2) Is it possible to run a Xenial desktop app in a container using a Libertine container? I have tried using the “+” in the GUI but cannot see anywhere to specify the version I want (just container name ane password)

I have a default Libertine container set up "Ubuntu 'Focal Fossa'" and would like to set up a Xenial container to try and run the application from there. I assume I use some version of the “libertine-container-manager create” but how do I specify Xenial rather than Focal?

@staryvyr said in Issues with Libertine:

A) When I am trying remove a package, for that the installation has not
been completed before (it fails for several reason, e.g. the wifi was
disconnected during install) then
libertine-container-manager remove-package -p <PACKAGE_NAME>
is giving an error message that the package is already installed
(in german).

I avoid the German reprimand and instead it tells me the package is not installed even though the list-apps shows it.

Also starting the package from the command line (as per the documentation) fails. The documentation says:

Run desktop application - Run it from the app menu like any other app. To start a graphical app from the command-line, for example gedit, run this in a terminal:
#ubuntu-app-launch <CONTAINER_ID>_<desktop_file_name>_0.0
ubuntu-app-launch xenial_gedit_0.0

I get the following:
LIST
$ libertine-container-manager list-apps
focal_foxtrotgps_0.0
focal_osmose-emulator_0.0
focal_python3.8_0.0
focal_vim_0.0
RUN
$ ubuntu-app-launch focal_foxtrotgps_0.0
-bash: ubuntu-app-launch: command not found
REMOVE
$ libertine-container-manager remove-package -p focal_foxtrotgps_0.0
libertine-container-manager:219: ERROR: remove_package(): Package 'focal_foxtrotgps_0.0' is not installed.
LIST AGAIN
$ libertine-container-manager list-apps
focal_foxtrotgps_0.0
focal_osmose-emulator_0.0
focal_python3.8_0.0
focal_vim_0.0

I'm afraid I can't help but I can add my experiences with C) installation of packages with Libertine.

I am running Ubuntu 20.04 (2023-W13) from 20.04/arm64/android9plus/stable on a Google Pixel 3a phone.

Let me start with what I want to accomplish as someone may have a workaround. I am in search of an application to record a GPX track. I'd like a fitness-type app that will record speed, altitude, and GPS coordinates whilst cycling. To that end I have been experimenting with uNav and Pure Maps. However so far I have been unable to find how to record and save a GPX track. So I tried installing FoxtrotGPS in a Libertine container.

I set the container up in Settings>Libertine and it shows in the terminal:

$ libertine-container-manager list
focal

and it shows in Settings>Libertine>Manage Libertine Containers as"

Ubuntu 'Focal Fossa'

Then, after clicking on the name I try to add a package (+) and the installation fails. I do the installation by searching for the package name "foxtrotgps" and it returns "foxtrotgps - GTK+ mapping and GPS application". Clicking on that starts the installation. Clicking on the rotating wheel and then Operation Details shows me what is going on ...

...
Setting up gpsd (3.20-8ubuntu0.4) ...
Creating/updating gpsd user account...
Stopped: Couldn't create home directory `/run/gpsd': Permission denied.

Removing directory /run/gpsd' ... Removing user gpsd' ...
dpkg: error processing package gpsd (--configure):
installed gpsd package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
gpsd
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
...

The GUI for the container now shows that the install status is removed and that there are no packages installed.

But foxtrotgps shows in the main list of apps from the start screen. And it shows in the container list of applications:

$libertine-container-manager list-apps
focal_foxtrotgps_0.0
focal_osmose-emulator_0.0
focal_python3.8_0.0
focal_vim_0.0

Running the application from the start screen starts X11 support and the foxtrotgps app but nothing but a black screen appears.

I have tried other packages (all seem to rely on gpsd) and all have the same permission errors. I tried manually installing by changing permissions and trying Waydroid and development channels which got me into a mess the solution to which was the new stable installation I have now.

So ....

1. same problem as @staryvyr in that Libertine fails to install a package.
2. why is there are discrepancy between the terminal list-apps and the Libertine GUI?
   2a) should failed installs show under start menu and libertine-container-manager list-apps?
   2b) it would be less confusing if libertine-container-manager list and Settings>Libertine>Manage Libertine Containers showed the same information.
3. how do you fix permission errors related to gpsd?
4. has anyone found an GPS app that works to record a .GPX track on Ubuntu Touch?

@Ian Wonderful!. Thank you very much.

Can someone (@jackduckworth, @arubislander?) tell me how to switch to the development channel from the stable channel?

I am running 20.04/arm64/android9plus/stable, build 2023-W13, on a Google Pixel 3a.

Thanks.