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[moocapiean]

Well, I managed to compile and install Pidgin on my XO, but I don't think the Pidgin UI works well in Sugar.  Sugar sees Pidgin as using two windows (Pidgin has two items on the "taskbar"), three when I have an IM window open.  However, they all bring you to the buddy list and it's very hard to get to an already-open IM window (it's not impossible, just inconvenient).

If you're determined to get Pidgin on the XO, I'll put my instructions below, but I think using Finch (Pidgin's terminal-based user interface) works out much better.  It's also a lot smaller.  The entire Finch installation is about 3 MB while Pidgin is about 8 MB.

Anyway, here's how I compiled and installed Finch (see farther below for Pidgin instructions).  The compilation is done on another computer.  I used Gentoo Linux, but any Linux distro should work.  Any line starting with a '#' is a note, not something you should type into a terminal.  The <Ctrl-D> means press Ctrl and D at the same time.

Code:

# READ: On the other computer:
# READ: Download the Pidgin source code at: [url]http://pidgin.im/download/source/[/url]
# READ: In the directory you downloaded the source to:
tar -jxf pidgin-2.3.1.tar.bz2
cd pidgin-2.3.1
# READ: Some of these parameters may not be needed, but I know this works.
# NOTE: I disabled plugins and only compile the protocols: AIM (oscar), Jabber, and IRC
./configure --disable-gtkui --disable-sm --disable-gtkspell --disable-gevolution --disable-perl --disable-tcl --disable-tk --disable-cap --disable-gestures --disable-startup-notification --disable-plugins --with-static-prpls=oscar,jabber,irc --prefix=/usr/share/activities/Pidgin.activity
make && make install
cd /usr/share/activities/Pidgin.activity
cd bin ; strip -s finch ; rm purple-* ; cd ..
rm -r include
# You could remove all of the share/ subdirectory...
rm -r share/locale
cd lib ; strip -s * ; cd ..
cd ..
tar -cjf Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2 Pidgin.activity
#READ: Now you need to somehow transfer it to your XO, I just emailed it to myself
# READ: On your XO:
su
# READ: Put Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2 in /usr/share/activities, you can do this by doing: mv <location of Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2> /usr/share/activities
tar -jxf Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2
rm Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2
ln -s /lib/libexpat.so.0 /lib/libexpat.so.1
ln -s /usr/share/activities/Pidgin.activity/finch /usr/bin/finch
exit
cd
cat >> ~/.gntrc
[general]
shadow = 0
mouse = 1
<Ctrl-D>

Ok, now Finch should be installed.  You can use it by typing finch at a terminal and it'll run in that terminal.  You can learn more about Finch at: http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/Using%20Finch#UsingFinch.


Compiling and using Pidgin (most of the instructions are the same as for Finch):
The compilation is done on another computer.  I used Gentoo Linux, but any Linux distro should work.  Any line starting with a '#' is a note, not something you should type into a terminal.  The <Ctrl-D> means press Ctrl and D at the same time.

Code:

# READ: On the other computer:
# READ: Download the Pidgin source code at: [url]http://pidgin.im/download/source/[/url]
# READ: In the directory you downloaded the source to:
tar -jxf pidgin-2.3.1.tar.bz2
cd pidgin-2.3.1
# READ: Some of these parameters may not be needed, but I know this works.
# NOTE: I disabled plugins and only compile the protocols: AIM (oscar), Jabber, and IRC
./configure --disable-consoleui --disable-sm --disable-gtkspell --disable-gevolution --disable-perl --disable-tcl --disable-tk --disable-cap --disable-gestures --disable-startup-notification --disable-plugins --with-static-prpls=oscar,jabber,irc --prefix=/usr/share/activities/Pidgin.activity
make && make install
cd /usr/share/activities/Pidgin.activity
cd bin ; strip -s pidgin ; rm purple-* ; cd ..
rm -r include
# You could remove all of the share/ subdirectory...
rm -r share/locale
cd lib ; strip -s * ; cd ..
cd ..
tar -cjf Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2 Pidgin.activity
#READ: Now you need to somehow transfer it to your XO, I just emailed it to myself
# READ: On your XO:
su
# READ: Put Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2 in /usr/share/activities, you can do this by doing: mv <location of Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2> /usr/share/activities
tar -jxf Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2
rm Pidgin.activity.tar.bz2
ln -s /lib/libexpat.so.0 /lib/libexpat.so.1
ln -s /usr/share/activities/Pidgin.activity/pidgin /usr/bin/pidgin
exit

Ok, now Pidgin should be installed.  You can start it by typing pidgin at a terminal and it'll open in Sugar.

Well, that's it!  Let me know if there are any problems or questions.

[moocapiean]

So after a bit more playing around, I found a way to install Pidgin or Finch using yum.

You need to download NetworkManager (http://rpmfind.net/linux/rpm2html/search.php?query=libnm_glib.so.0) and install that first.  First run:
rpm -vi http://ftp://rpmfind.net/linux/fedora/core/development/i386/os/Fedora/NetworkManager-glib-0.6.5-2.fc7.i386.rpm

Once that's done, you can run:
yum install pidgin
to install Pidgin, or:
yum install finch
to install Finch.

You'll still need to start them from a Terminal.

If you followed my instructions above, but want to take this approach instead, just do:
rm -r /usr/share/activities/Pidgin.activity /lib/libexpat.so.1
then either:
rm /usr/bin/pidgin
for Pidgin, or:
rm /usr/bin/finch
for Finch.

That's it!

[Infamy]

gnomemeeting is the only video chat client I've seen for sure. If you have ever used netmeeting in windows, it is pretty much the same thing.

Since gnomemeeting has already set the ground work for video chat, it probably wouldn't be outlandish to see an XO interface for it. The only thing I am unsure of is how easily an XO can run gnomemeeting.

Cheers,

Infamy

**EDIT** I looked back at this and it looks out of place. I saw that no one had answered Lershac about video chat. So this is in response to that

[Eph Zero]

Wow, this is great! I never even knew Finch existed, but it's perfect for what I wanted to do ...

[kalen]

Hey, can someone help me install finch? i've never used linux before and i dont know how to get the commands to work...

[moocapiean]

Sure! Open a terminal from sugar and type in the following:

Code:

su
rpm -vi ftp://rpmfind.net/linux/fedora/core/development/i386/os/Fedora/NetworkManager-glib-0.6.5-2.fc7.i386.rpm
yum install finch

The first instruction gives you root privileges, which you'll need for the next two commands.  The second installs NetworkManager, something finch needs but Fedora doesn't have in its package repositories.  The third installs finch (and all other dependencies for finch).  It'll ask if you want install all those dependencies, just answer yes.

Once everything's installed, you can run finch from the terminal.  You should probably exit root privilege (type exit) first (you only need to do it this time because you gained root privilege to install everything), then type:
finch

That should be it.  Let me know if you have any problems.

[kalen]

yes! it installed, thank you! how exactly do i run it?

[moocapiean]

Hmm, you should be able to run it by typing: finch
It should have been installed in /usr/bin/finch, so if the above doesn't work, try /usr/bin/finch

As for using Finch, here's the User Guide for Finch:
http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/Using%20Finch

[kalen]

oh coool. thanks for all your help!

[ashtond33]

Pidgin works great with xfce! Thanks for the help

[DavidXO]

I got finch to work but I don't like it much. I installed Pidgin using yum but it can't find the commands.

[moocapiean]

Hmm, I guess I'll start with the obvious: Did you type pidgin into a Terminal to start Pidgin (capitalization matters)?

If you did and it didn't work, let's try searching for the file:
find / -name pidgin -type f -ls

That should show all the files with the name pidgin.  Look for one in a bin directory (like /bin, /usr/bin, or /usr/local/bin).  It might look like:
601633  732 -rwxr-xr-x   1 root     root       744344 Nov 27 15:01 /usr/bin/pidgin

That third column (the one with -rwxr-xr-x) tells you the permissions of that file.  Make sure there are three x-es, those mean it's executable.  If there aren't three, as root (if you haven't gained root privilege yet, type su), type chmod a+x /usr/bin/pidgin

Now try running /usr/bin/pidgin from the terminal (you can exit root now, by typing exit):
/usr/bin/pidgin

That will hopefully work.  If it does, in the future you should be able to just type pidgin

[newbie]

Help! I can't seem to install the NetworkManager. All I get is

 - transfer failed - Unknown or unexpected error

What am I doing wrong?

Also - is there a definite answer by now which works better on the xo - Pidgin or Finch? It would be great if I could use my xo to chat with my icq-contacts.

[moocapiean]

Hmm, when I tried to download the NetworkManager rpm just now, I get a 550 error.  I'll go searching for a new rpm to try and report back.  So, to answer your question: You did nothing wrong, the rpm just changed locations.

As for your second question, I think it's a matter of preference.  In my opinion, Finch was better since it was easier to switch between IM windows and the buddy list.  But, I guess others might like Pidgin's user interface more.

Update: It looks like it was just a temporary error.  I just tried again and it's working now.

[newbie]

Thanks for the incredibly fast reply!

It still doesn't work for me. Weird.  Is there another way to install the Network Manager?