Wish Linux distribution is suitable for working with B4A or B4J?

[TILogistic]

What Linux distribution do you recommend for working with B4A or B4J?

I look forward to your comments.

Note:
This is for a project where I use several languages in addition to B4A and B4J.

regards.

 

[walt61]

I use them with Linux Mint Cinnamon: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/t...x-mint-20-2-cinnamon-with-64-bit-wine.134069/

 

[MichalK73]

You can do it on any distribution. The problem is running B4X on Linux. See the thread for Mint

[B4X] Using/running B4A and/or B4J on 64 bit Linux Mint 20.2 Cinnamon with 64 bit Wine

*** Contents *** Intro Acknowledgements Disclaimer Environment Conventions used in this post Making it work Compiling and running your programs A semi-automated way to get your B4J UI programs ready Android SDK Manager Useful tips *** Intro *** Ever since the arrival of Windows 10 and all its...

www.b4x.com

However, I was never able to get B4J to run properly on Fedora 42. Now most distributions are switching to the Wayland graphics server which has problems instead of X11.
So I went a slightly different route, using QEMU Virtio's KVM. I've described it in detail here.

[B4X] Using/running B4A and/or B4J on 64 bit Linux Mint 20.2 Cinnamon with 64 bit Wine

*** Contents *** Intro Acknowledgements Disclaimer Environment Conventions used in this post Making it work Compiling and running your programs A semi-automated way to get your B4J UI programs ready Android SDK Manager Useful tips *** Intro *** Ever since the arrival of Windows 10 and all its...

www.b4x.com

 

[LucaMs]

What Linux distribution do you recommend for working with B4A or B4J?

Just curious: what do you mean by working with B4A and B4J on Linux?

Maybe you run Windows on Linux? I don't know, so... I'll search the web.

 

[LucaMs]

Just curious: what do you mean by working with B4A and B4J on Linux?

Maybe you run Windows on Linux? I don't know, so... I'll search the web.

(Perpexity)

Yes, it is possible to run Windows programs on Linux in several ways. While you cannot run Windows natively as the operating system on Linux, you can use tools that allow Windows software to run within a Linux environment.

Main solutions:​

• Wine: Wine is an open-source compatibility layer that enables you to run native Windows applications on Linux without emulation. It supports many Windows programs, including games and productivity software, although compatibility is not guaranteed for all applications, especially newer or more complex ones. Wine is continuously updated, with recent versions improving compatibility, performance, and graphics support (Direct3D, OpenGL, Vulkan).
• Virtual Machines: You can install Windows as a guest operating system inside a virtual machine (e.g., using VirtualBox) on Linux. This way, Windows runs "inside" Linux, allowing you to use Windows programs in an isolated environment. This solution is useful if you need Windows for a few specific applications while keeping Linux as your main OS. It also allows file sharing between the two systems.
• Other tools: There are additional tools like Bottles or Lutris that simplify running Windows applications on Linux. These often build on Wine but provide more user-friendly interfaces and easier configuration, especially for games.

Summary:​

If your goal is to use Windows programs on Linux, the choice depends on the software type and compatibility needs:

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
Wine	Free, runs Windows programs directly on Linux	Partial compatibility, issues with newer or complex software
Virtual Machine	Full Windows environment, high compatibility	Requires hardware resources, Windows installation and disk space needed
Tools like Bottles or Lutris	User-friendly, optimized for games and apps	Dependent on Wine, not always perfect

In conclusion, yes, you can run Windows on Linux through these methods, but it’s not native Windows installation. Instead, you run Windows programs or Windows itself via virtualization or compatibility layers.


If you want, I can also help you with installation instructions or recommendations for your specific use case!

 

[LucaMs]

(Perpexity)

Yes, it is possible to run Windows programs on Linux in several ways. While you cannot run Windows natively as the operating system on Linux, you can use tools that allow Windows software to run within a Linux environment.

Main solutions:​

• Wine: Wine is an open-source compatibility layer that enables you to run native Windows applications on Linux without emulation. It supports many Windows programs, including games and productivity software, although compatibility is not guaranteed for all applications, especially newer or more complex ones. Wine is continuously updated, with recent versions improving compatibility, performance, and graphics support (Direct3D, OpenGL, Vulkan).
• Virtual Machines: You can install Windows as a guest operating system inside a virtual machine (e.g., using VirtualBox) on Linux. This way, Windows runs "inside" Linux, allowing you to use Windows programs in an isolated environment. This solution is useful if you need Windows for a few specific applications while keeping Linux as your main OS. It also allows file sharing between the two systems.
• Other tools: There are additional tools like Bottles or Lutris that simplify running Windows applications on Linux. These often build on Wine but provide more user-friendly interfaces and easier configuration, especially for games.

Summary:​

If your goal is to use Windows programs on Linux, the choice depends on the software type and compatibility needs:

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
Wine	Free, runs Windows programs directly on Linux	Partial compatibility, issues with newer or complex software
Virtual Machine	Full Windows environment, high compatibility	Requires hardware resources, Windows installation and disk space needed
Tools like Bottles or Lutris	User-friendly, optimized for games and apps	Dependent on Wine, not always perfect

In conclusion, yes, you can run Windows on Linux through these methods, but it’s not native Windows installation. Instead, you run Windows programs or Windows itself via virtualization or compatibility layers.


If you want, I can also help you with installation instructions or recommendations for your specific use case!

For running Windows in virtual machines on Linux, the best Linux distribution depends on stability, hardware compatibility, and ease of use. Based on recent evaluations, Ubuntu and Linux Mint stand out as top choices:

: It is widely regarded as the most popular and user-friendly Linux distro with excellent hardware support and a large community. Its stability and extensive documentation make it ideal for virtualization setups, including running Windows VMs with tools like VirtualBox or KVM. Ubuntu’s LTS (Long Term Support) versions offer reliable updates and security

• .

: Based on Ubuntu, Mint offers a familiar interface especially for users coming from Windows, making it easier to manage virtual machines without a steep learning curve. It is stable, lightweight compared to Ubuntu, and has good multimedia and hardware support out of the box, which can be beneficial for VM performance

• .

Other distros like Debian (stable and lightweight) or Fedora (cutting-edge features) are also viable but may require more manual setup or have faster update cycles that could affect VM stability

.

​

Distribution	Strengths for VM use	Notes
Ubuntu	Stability, hardware support, large community	Best overall for virtualization
Linux Mint	User-friendly, lightweight, Windows-like UI	Great for beginners and smooth VM experience
Debian	Very stable, minimal, lightweight	Good for advanced users
Fedora	Latest features, good virtualization tools	Faster updates, may be less stable

In conclusion, Ubuntu or Linux Mint are generally considered the best Linux distros for running Windows virtual machines due to their balance of stability, ease of use, and hardware compatibility

 

[TILogistic]

What do you think of Arch Linux or Manjaro, which many software developers recommend?

NOTE:
Why it's only Linux is due to the client company's policies.

Additionally, many backend processes are developed in shell scripts, Java, and others.

 

[TILogistic]

I've been using Manjaro and was surprised at how easy it was to install development packages, such as Visual Android, VScode, Java, Android SDK, OpenJDK, OpenJFX, databases, Git, Wine, etc.

For now, we'll look at how to install B4A and B4J. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

 

[aeric]

I prefer Debian stable for more vanilla and clean experience.
I tried Manjaro once and having an issue with loading jpg file from assets folder when building B4J UI app.

 

[TILogistic]

I prefer Debian stable for more vanilla and clean experience.
I tried Manjaro once and having an issue with loading jpg file from assets folder when building B4J UI app.

I have tried some APP in jar (generated B4J) and I have not had problems with what you mention in Manjaro or ArchLinux.
I've also used other applications developed in other Java languages and haven't had any problems.
The client software company has provided support in resolving any issues I've encountered.