a "beginners" guide for using OpenSUSE OBS specifically to get latest Qtractor without needing to compile.
the post on linuxmusicians.com : https://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?t=28399
(Edited Version below, updated on linuxmusicians.com post as well)
For Ubuntu, you can find the official developer's PPA here: https://launchpad.net/~rncbc
For OpenSUSE (Tumbleweed and Slowroll), Fedora, Arch, Debian, Raspbian, SLE (OpenSUSE Leap 15.6) as well as Ubuntu, you can also use the official developer's OpenSUSE OBS Open Build Service repo: https://software.opensuse.org//download.html?project=home%3Arncbc&package=qtractor
For more help, see the guide below.
Note: In addition to Qtractor, you can use the developer's OBS repo to install latest versions of all Qstuff from the developer, such as VeeOneSuite (Synthv1, Samplv1, Drumkv1, Samplv1), Qpwgraph, Qsynth, Qsamplers, and more.
(Vee One Suite plugins are delivered with the Qt framework statically linked for easier installation, meaning in simple terms they include all required Qt code internally, they just work out of the box.)
Find all the available packages on the developer's OBS repo here: https://build.opensuse.org/project/show/home:rncbc
Simply scroll down and in the Packages section, click on the project you're interested in installing. Once you're in the project page, you should see a Download package option. It will take you to the download page with options.
For Ubuntu users, you can also get all the latest Qstuff from the developer on the developer's Ubuntu PPA. For help on how to use it, refer to the guide below.
Note: These are pre-release versions, so that you can enjoy and test the latest features
For additional help, refer to the guide below.
Updated info: there's "aarch64", for ARM 64bit, which is only available to Raspbian and openSUSE Tumbleweed systems.
1. How to get the latest Qtractor from the PPA (for Ubuntu)?
Go to the ppa link provided above. Scroll down to "Personal Package Archives" section, Choose the correct version of Ubuntu (25.04 would be Applications(plucky), for example, and 24.04 would be Applications(noble) ).
Add the PPA (as sudo) via the provided add-apt-repository command, and do apt update . Now you should be able to get latest Qtractor by simply running apt install qtractor (as sudo). You can now also search for other Qstuff from the developer via apt search command.
2. How to use the OpenSUSE OBS to get latest Qtractor (OpenSUSE, Fedora, Arch, Debian, Raspbian, SLE as well as Ubuntu)?
Go to the link provided above.
First click on relevant the icon for your distro.
Option 1 : Add repository and install manually (works for OpenSUSE, Fedora, Arch, Debian, Raspbian, SLE, Ubuntu)
Click "Add repository and install manually" text button (having first clicked on the proper icon for your distro), and follow the relevant shown terminal commands one by one.
Option 2 : Grab binary packages directly (works for OpenSUSE, Fedora, Arch, Debian, Raspbian, SLE, Ubuntu)
Click the "Grab binary packages directly" text button (having first clicked on the proper icon for your distro), then click on the appropriate binary file to begin download
for OpenSUSE and Fedora, x86_64 is for 64 bit systems only, src is source code. For Ubuntu choose correct .deb based on Ubuntu versions: 25.04, 22.04, 24.04. There's "aarch64", for ARM 64bit, which is only available to Raspbian and openSUSE Tumbleweed systems
Option 3: "1-click install" (for OpenSUSE)
Choose between Tumbleweed and Slowroll (under OpenSUSE) or OpenSUSE Leap 15.6 (under SLE)
Just click the relevant download icon.
You may be taken to an XML code .ymp page. Save the file (either right click and save as, or hit ctrl+S).
Now simply open the file (by double clicking depending on your desktop environment setting)
Opening the .ymp file should open the YaST software installer, and you can just follow the guide.
potential confusion point for some: OBS, while by OpenSUSE is not just for installing on OpenSUSE, it is a method for developers to provide their software on multiple distros that are supported by OBS (from my own personal understanding, i.e)
For all files available for download, including binaries, visit https://sourceforge.net/projects/qtractor/files/
Please refer to the following links for official information:
Official qtractor.org download website: https://www.qtractor.org/qtractor-downloads.html#Downloads
official list of repos on the developer's site: https://www.rncbc.org/drupal/page/repos
re. x86_64 is for 32 bit and 64 bit systems...
nope, "x86_64" is for 64bit systems only.
also, there's "aarch64", for ARM 64bit, which is only available to Raspbian and openSUSE Tumbleweed systems.
you could also refer that the OBS repos may also serve for all other so called Qstuff* (not just Qtractor), with a special note on the Vee One Suite plugins being delivered with the Qt framework statically linked!
thanks
Thanks for the corrections!…
Thanks for the corrections!
I added some notes, based on my own understanding as regular joe, and to still be beginner friendly (hopefully) :)
I think this should be included in the official "How-To"
Adding the corrections Rui pointed out, I think this should be included in the official "How-To".
Just one more clarification. At the beginning, a note should be added that says:
"These are pre-release versions, so you can also enjoy and test the latest features."
(Or something like that)
As for the title, I would shorten it to:
How to install the latest Qtractor version without compiling
What do you think?
thanks for the suggestions!…
thanks for the suggestions!
I added your note on the linuxmusicians.com and reddit (r/Qtractor) posts.
As for title , that is definitely more concise! More suitable for a potential official How-To entry or to link to in Unofficial tutorials that are worthwhile section.
If this can actually be of use, I think I can link to the linuxmusicians.com post in the Unofficial tutorials that are worthwhile section. My writing style would probably be a better fit there :)
Thanks, again!
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