Linux GUI app static linking: it works! (please test) (update: It does not, back to whiteboard)

[mirek-fidler]

To my surprise, after a long while, I have revisited the issue and with Ubuntu LTS I was able to statically link X11 app!

I guess adding Xft.a helped, I believe that one was not around the last time I have tried.

In any case, this is quite huge for me... fixes some sore spots in my work.

If you are interested, here is statically linked UWord for x86_64:

UWord.zip

(Testing on as many distros as possible appreciated).

Known problem: Crashes on close. Will fix in time...

[klugier]

Doesn't work on Manjaro:
6.16.8-1-MANJARO
Crashes on startup. Tested on Wayland session, will try on X11. Update: the same crash for pure X11 session.

I am not sure if static linking on Linux is the way to go. There is alternatives like Flatpak (you can have your own private repository) or AppImage. It breaks the GPL license. You need to share the code to third parties, of course if you sell it. If it is for own use or within company then static linking is fine. This is one of the causes why umk package for POSIX is source base and doesn't contain any static binary.

[ismail-yilmaz]

Test 1

Window flashes. (On up-to-date Arch Linux, Gnome 49) and I got segmentation fault. :/

[ismail-yilmaz]

Test 2

Ubuntu 24.04 (VM):

Works fine! No crash etc.

[ismail-yilmaz]

Test 3 (VM):
Fails on KDE Neon 5.25 (somewhat old distro) exactly as on Arch Linux.

[mirek-fidler]

Ok ok, looks like its more complicated than that. Thanks for testing.

…

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[lukoml]

It works in Void Linux but crashes on exit.

$ ./UWord
double free or corruption (out)
Aborted                    ./UWord