Slackware install

Linux Setup Guide < Slackware install

For packaging requests or complaints, please contact the packagers.

Slackware

version 89.0 for Slackware 13.37 x86_64

DevIL-1.6.8_rc2-x86_64-3_SBo.tgz

icu4c-4.6.1-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz

libtorrent-rasterbar-0.15.9-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz

OpenAL-1.13-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz

p7zip-9.20.1-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz

spring-89.0-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz

wxGTK-2.8.12-x86_64-2_SBo.tgz

This need 1.49 version of boost to work properly. I'm working on the package.

maps

• DeltaSiegeDry.sd7
• FolsomDamFinal.sd7
• LLTAComplexV2.sd7
• Small_Supreme_Battlefield_V2.sd7
• SpeedMetal.sd7
• Tabula-v2.sd7
• TheRockFinal.sd7
• Tropical.sd7
• Wide Pass v3.2.sd7
• folsomdamdeluxev4.sd7

games

• ba731.sdz
• zk-v0.8.7.sdz

script

• spring_slackware_32b_install.sh
• spring_slackware_64b_install.sh

If something goes wrong, replace install scripts with one of these. this way, you do not have to download all files to get a patch. just replace it and run it again.

• spring_slackware_32b_install_v1.0.sh(first patch already)
• spring_slackware_64b_install.sh

packages

Depending on both architecture and version of Slackware you are using, there are different versions. this is an example for Slackware 13.37.0 64bits.

• DevIL-1.6.8_rc2-x86_64-3_SBo.tgz
• OpenAL-1.12.854-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz
• icu4c-4.6.1-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz
• libtorrent-rasterbar-0.15.5-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz
• p7zip-9.13-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz
• spring-0.82.7.1-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz
• springlobby-0.131-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz
• wxGTK-2.8.12-x86_64-1_SBo.tgz

How to choose the correct installer file?

You need to know just 3 things: what version of spring do you want, what version of Slackware is running, and what kind of architecture you have. To know what version of spring, you just need to go to http://www.springrts.com and check the last version. if this page is missing the latest version, just send us a mail. To get the Slackware version of your system, you just need to type this:

cat /etc/slackware-version

and to get the architecture of your CPU, just type:

uname -m

Architectures i686, i486 and any other different from x86_64 are 32bits and should work with i486.

For example, this Slackware version is 13.1.0 and the architecture is i686, and I know that the last version of spring is 0.82.7.1, so the required file is:

Spring-<SPRING_VERSION>-Slackware-<SLACKWARE_VERSION>-<ARCHITECTURE>.tar.gz

Spring-0.82.7.1-Slackware-13.1.0-i486.tar.gz

Install

After having downloaded the file, you have to decompress it with:

tar xzvf Spring-0.82.7.1-Slackware-13.1.0-i486.tar.gz

This should create a directory with the same name as the file:

cd Spring-0.82.7.1-Slackware-13.1.0-i486/

And there you just run:

./spring_slackware_32b_install.sh

The script will ask for the root password, install packages, copy maps and games, and check a boost symbolic link that this distribution needs to make to run springlobby properly.

Install by package

For a full install, the dependencies in precompiled tgz's for 32 bits:

spring 0.82.7.1

openAL 1.12.854

DevIL-1.6.8_rc2

icu4c-4.4.1-i486

p7zip-9.13

There is all dependencies in precompiled tgz's for 64 bits (Slackware 13.0, working on 13.1):

spring 0.82.6.1

openAL 1.10.622

DevIL-1.6.8_rc2

boost-1.38.0

icu4c-4.2.1

glew-1.5.1

libtorrent-rasterbar-0.14.9

Assuming that all .tgz are saved in the same directory, open a console and cd inside that directory; then do this:

su -c "installpkg *.tgz"

When asked for the root password, enter it.

A menu entry for spring and another for springlobby will apear in KDE, XFCE and GNOME.

Finalizing installation

You should have Spring installed by now; if not, please see the SetupGuide.

Maps & Mods

Since Spring is only an engine, you need to download games for it, and the maps that go with those games.

SpringLobby will automatically do this for you when you attempt to join a game with a map or mod that you do not currently have, using an integrated downloader.

If you want to download it manually or browse existing maps, there are several easy to use websites:

• SpringFiles
• Spring-Portal
• Darkstars

Pick any of those sites, download a map or mod, and then double click it. This will move it to your Spring folder, using the spring map/mod installer program. If you wish to move maps/mods by hand, they are located under ~/.spring/maps/ or ~/.spring/mods/ (if the folder does not exist - create it). Do not unpack the file in any way though, just download and save it. Reload your maps/mods in SpringLobby, (Tools - Reload maps/mods) and they will be ready to use.

These sites also may provide other neat things like Lua widgets, epic replays, AI bots (for playing offline or to team up on with a friend). Generally the installation requires you to download the file and place it in the appropriate folder in your ~/.spring directory. (you may have to create the folder)

Hint: If you know the name of the map you want, there is a Search function provided in those websites. Just write a part of the name, like one word, and you will easily find the map you were looking for.

Linux specific Troubleshooting

Ingame

Slow Mouse

Run:

echo '# Slow fullscreen cursor fix for Spring' >> ~/.xsessionrc
echo 'SDL_MOUSE_RELATIVE=0' >> ~/.xsessionrc
echo 'export SDL_MOUSE_RELATIVE' >> ~/.xsessionrc

And log out and log in again.

The mouse should now be as fast as in windowed mode.

Rotating Buildings

You can rotate a building before you give the build order, but the keys that do this do not work in Linux by default for some users. Issue the following commands in the beginning of the game:

/bind keycodex buildfacing inc
/bind keycodey buildfacing dec

Keycodex and keycodey above are just placeholders. What you want to write depends on which key you want to use. To see what keycodes any keys have, do:

/keydebug yes

And then hit the keys you want to use, and spring prints the keycodes in the message buffer.

If you want to save these keys you have to edit the uikeys.txt.

Problems with Audio

The engine needs at least OpenAL Soft 1.6 for its sound. If you still have the old openal-0.0.8 installed, you should update it.

Additionally, pulseaudio causes lots of issues, so try to disable it for spring if you have sound problems.

Desync in game

Spring only send the commands and not the result over the network, so it needs to run all math in a repeatable manner, so all other clients in a multiplayer match get the same results. So some CPU specific features have to enabled/disabled. If you desync, you either have a CPU that is not SSE1 capable, or you set the wrong -march/-mtune compiler flags. If you compile Spring via CMake, remove CMakeCache.txt, and leave the march flag at the default.

See also

• IRC