Install xed text editor on Buster? [Solved]

[debbiethekiwi]

Is it possible? if so how? I've searched and find instructions for Debian 8 or 9 which leave me with unsolveable dependencies; the version of xed now on github no longer uses autogen.sh but a meson build system which I've never use before...

[Chrisdb]

the version of xed now on github no longer uses autogen.sh but a meson build system which I've never use before...

The install procedure seems straightforward:

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 % meson . build				# run the `configure' script
 % ninja -v -C build		# build xed
 [ Become root if necessary ]
 % ninja install -v  -C  build	# install xed

Just make sure you have 'meson' installed:

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sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install meson

If you're not sure, you can try to build it in a chroot

btw, here's a quick guide:
https://mesonbuild.com/Quick-guide.html

[debbiethekiwi]

Just make sure you have 'meson' installed:

Sorry, I'm old-fashioned, gcc and make were good enough ...
plus, not intending to compile debian 'packages' I hadn't installed everthing on the build-essential list, so meson gave me dependency agony. Eventually built and installed but

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(xed:14161): GLib-GIO-ERROR **: 10:20:05.521: Settings schema 'org.x.editor.preferences.editor' is not installed
Trace/breakpoint trap

running

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meson --prefix=/usr . build

wasn't sufficient, it also needed

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/usr/bin/glib-compile-schemas /usr/share/glib-2.0/schemas/

as described at https://github.com/linuxmint/xed/issues/265
all going and happy camping now, thanks Chrisdb

[stevepusser]

plus, not intending to compile debian 'packages' I hadn't installed everthing on the build-essential list

Did you think the metapackage was named build-essential for no reason?

[capbonhislf]

plus, not intending to compile debian 'packages' I hadn't installed everthing on the build-essential list

Did you think the metapackage was named build-essential for no reason?

Thank you very much. I am also looking for the same. Can some one please respond.

[Bloom]

Compiling xed yourself has the disadvantage that it cannot be updated automatically and you would have to find and compile each new version manually.
There is a version of xed in de repository of Linux Mint Debian Edition. You could add that repository to Debian with a -10 preference and then install it and have it updated.

Adding the repository to Debian:

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echo "deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debbie main upstream import backport romeo"|sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mint.list

Add the proper key to your system:

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sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver pgpkeys.eu 3EE67F3D0FF405B2

Make sure the preferences indicate that nothing is to be installed automatically. Edit /etc/apt/preferences.d/10-prefrules and make it contain this:

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Package: *
Pin: release a=stable
Pin-Priority: 900
Package: *
Pin: release o=Debian
Pin-Priority: -10

Then update the packages list:

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sudo apt update

And install xed:

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sudo apt install xed/debbie

Done!

[cuckooflew]

There is a version of xed in de repository of Linux Mint Debian Edition. You could add that repository to Debian with a -10 preference and then install it and have it updated.

Not my idea of good advice, READ ME FIRST

Ubuntu, Mint or other derivative repositories are not compatible with Debian!

And also

Don't blindly follow bad advice

Unfortunately there's a lot of bad advice on the Internet. Tutorials found on blogs, forums and other sites often include instructions that will break your system in subtle ways.

Better yet read it all.
Especially if you are new to Debian, and if you still don't believe me, read the topics in this thread:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php? ... 30#p539707

The OP here took the more correct path , compiling it for the specific version, etc . is the better method. But also that is for more advanced users, of course it is all way good when newbies try to learn as well.

[Bloom]

This is a repo for Linux Mint DEBIAN EDITION. The xed editor in there is perfectly compatible. I have tried it myself before advising it.

[None1975]

Very strange. Why do you need that program? After all, standard Debian application repositories have great applications of this type, for example fte

https://packages.debian.org/buster/fte

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Edit /etc/apt/preferences.d/10-prefrules and make it contain this:

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Package: *
Pin: release a=stable
Pin-Priority: 900
Package: *
Pin: release o=Debian
Pin-Priority: -10

That doesn't do what you think it does. Have you read apt_preferences(5)?

In my buster system that source and preferences file results in an instant FrankenDebian.

This is better:

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Package: *
Pin release o=linuxmint
Pin-Priority: 100

^ That gives the Mint repository the same priority as buster-backports.

[stevepusser]

Safest of all is to rebuild the package yourself on Debian in the same manner as for simple backports or from a PPA, as in the Debian wiki. That way, you don't really have to be familiar with the ins and outs of meson, etc.--just the recipe for porting over packages from source. You only have to open the hood and get your hands dirty if something goes wrong with the build.

Isn't xed a forked version of ye olde time GNOME 2 gedit, anyway? What sets it apart from the zillion other text editors you can get?