new x86_64-linux 25 release, AppImage : no one works on debian 12 (glibc version issue)

[GFNIAE]

Summary

The new x86_64-linux 25 release binary does not start on debian 12. It gives following error :
$ hx
hx: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libm.so.6: version GLIBC_2.38' not found (required by hx) hx: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version GLIBC_2.39' not found (required by hx)

The AppImage does not work neither :
$ hh
/tmp/.mount_hh4pxB2c/usr/bin/hx: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libm.so.6: version GLIBC_2.38' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_hh4pxB2c/usr/bin/hx) /tmp/.mount_hh4pxB2c/usr/bin/hx: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6: version GLIBC_2.39' not found (required by /tmp/.mount_hh4pxB2c/usr/bin/hx)

Reproduction Steps

I tried this:

1. hx

I expected this to happen: hx to launch !

Instead, this happened: the error about glibc occured and I cannot use 25 release

Helix log

No response

Platform

Linux

Terminal Emulator

xfce4-terminal

Installation Method

binary from the release pages

Helix Version

25.01

[kirawi]

Closing as a duplicate of #1932 since the binary's version is bound to the version of glib available in CI. The resolution may be something like #11243

[GFNIAE]

And… what should I do to help make it to work ? you left me without any obvious solution nor hope !

[kirawi]

There are some solutions covered in #1932

Additionally:

• Some reported success with Flatpak and Homebrew
• Fork the GitHub repository and change the CI to use an older version of Ubuntu. Then, trigger a release run on your fork.
• Build from source per https://docs.helix-editor.com/building-from-source.html

[debajyoti1990]

Yep, homebrew version works fine. Homebrew has a very relaxed glibc requirement: >= 2.13

[GFNIAE]

Hello,

Thanks @kirawi for these clues !

I have never used homebrew, it does not seem to be very usual on a debian install ! Flatpak is not very convenient, and to install flatpak system for a 20 Mo binary… that’s quite like buying a whole 30 stores building to use a wooden chair (in my mind at least).

I compiled 25.01 from source and it works well, but that’s not something that will help us to have helix widely used… it’s a more involved choice that a lot of peole won’t make.

As for github release run from a fork, I tried but I am not a developper and I guess I should spend more time to learn how to do that. Does not seem very natural to get such a release.

It would be great to offer a binary working with up-to-date debian 12 OS and its numerous siblings ! Please think about it for this or next releases !

[cjordan]

Hi, if you're interested in a helix 25.01 binary that's been compiled on Ubuntu 22.04, you can download my forked release here.

My steps:

1. Fork helix
2. Edit the release CI script to use ubuntu-22.04, not ubuntu-latest
3. Make a new tag 25.01.1

For some reason the CI didn't put a nice tarball in the github releases area, hence I have to link to release.zip from the CI.

According to glibc-check.sh, this new binary requires glibc 2.14, so it should be good for a number of not-bleeding-edge distros.

[debajyoti1990]

Hello,

Thanks @kirawi for these clues !

I have never used homebrew, it does not seem to be very usual on a debian install ! Flatpak is not very convenient, and to install flatpak system for a 20 Mo binary… that’s quite like buying a whole 30 stores building to use a wooden chair (in my mind at least).

I compiled 25.01 from source and it works well, but that’s not something that will help us to have helix widely used… it’s a more involved choice that a lot of peole won’t make.

As for github release run from a fork, I tried but I am not a developper and I guess I should spend more time to learn how to do that. Does not seem very natural to get such a release.

It would be great to offer a binary working with up-to-date debian 12 OS and its numerous siblings ! Please think about it for this or next releases !

I second you in all the points mentioned.

A small thing, AFAIK, Homebrew is the de-facto package manager in Mac, so latest version of Helix (and others) would always be released in that. So one can exploit this fact to get latest software in any linux distro. And Helix is actually being added in Debian repo, it's just slow may be.

[kirawi]

I'm surprised ubuntu-22.04 has a glibc of 2.14. https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/ubuntu/Ubuntu2204-Readme.md says it should be at 2.35 I believe?

[GFNIAE]

Hello @kirawi
I can tell that on my MXLinux 23, which is based on Debian 12, glibc version is 2.36.
And Ubuntu 22.04 is based on Debian 12 as well, so I guess glibc is 2.36.

@debajyoti1990 thanks for your post supporting my points and for the info about homebrew and integration-to-come in Debian ! no immediate solutions for Debian however…

helix devs : you rock for such a piece of software… but… If it is only needed to change a compilation parameter from 'latest-ubuntu' to 'ubuntu-22.04' without any side effect… please do !

And as far as AppImage is concerned it is stranger to me : should the AppImage not include all needed libs ? I guess libc is too much of a common lib and not included by default ? please include it if it is okay for you.

@cjordan thanks for your release ! I compiled this release so not in a hurry for a new file. I also tested releases from https://github.com/zydou/helix with success (both gnu and musl).

It is still so much better to have the native repo offering releases for main OSes ! The nearer (from the source) the better !

[pozix604]

If it is only needed to change a compilation parameter from 'latest-ubuntu' to 'ubuntu-22.04' without any side effect… please do !

Uhh ... this issue is closed as "not planned". As are all the other duplicates #12419, #12401, #12397. This means NO, and a big middle finger to all distributions not using the latest and greatest glibc.

[kirawi]

Blame GitHub's UI. If you hover over the underlined text for Closed as Not Planned, it'll say: "Won't fix, can't repro, duplicate, stale." In this case, it's closed as a dupe.

[GFNIAE]

Thanks @kirawi for the commit :)