KiCad-7.x.y AND KiCad-8.0 fail to run without error.
 

Hi Folks

I have been trying to build and install KiCad-7.0.9 and/or KiCad-8.0 from slackbuilds.org.

While I was working on KiCad-7.0.9, with a great deal of help from Luan,
all of the KiCad-7.0.9 stuff on slackbuilds disappeared.

SO

I fetched KiCad-8.0 and the entire dependency tree including nanosvg.

The attached file shows the entire build tree that I used.

Has anybody been able to actualy build, install, and run KiCad-8.0 without the following error message? If so,how did you do it?

Error message follows:
"Could not determine wxPython version. python plugins will not be available"

The links for KiCAD 6.0.11 & 7.0.11 for slackware64 15.0 are here:

http://www.infoukes.com/test-gwk/slackware64_15.0/kicad_6.0.11/

http://www.infoukes.com/test-gwk/slackware64_15.0/kicad_7.0.11/

It includes every dependency, slackbuilds, source code, and built binaries that were used to build at the particular time.

Attached is my latest slackbuild script for kicad. I've no time to update it since then for both personal reasons and difficulties communicating with the kicad people. They are basically the kind "I know it's wrong and I see the fix but I don't fix because Ubuntu works".

The fix related to this specific error reported by the OP is

I JUST went through this...

First off, the "Could not determine wxPython version. python plugins will not be available" error is a nothing error. You can ignore it.

As for how to get KiCAD 8 to build, I had to 'clean out' all of the wx stuff and reinstall from SBo. #1, if you're running AlienBob's wxGTK3 package, get rid of it. It interferes with the latest wxWidgets package.


After that, remove the wx stuff and reinstall from the lastest slackbuild.

Here's what's on my box that FINALLY let KiCAD 8 to build (ignoring the python-* packages)


Do a
...and compare to my list.

Hi, I have installed kicad 8.0.1 on both aarch64 and x86_64 both on slackware current. I saw your post and Luan's comments and followed his lead. I built nanosvg using slackbuilds though. wxWidgets will pick it up. I changed the slackbuild to get wxPython to use system version of wxWidgets. There was also a problem with ffmpeg and something which I can look up but I can't remember right now. I found a patch for that too. All good. I even got kicad docs to build but only on x86_64.

It was a clean install of slackware with no other versions of wx stuff on it.
Kind regard

Dunc.

Hi,
I was able to get kicad-8.0 to compile. I didn't install wxPython4 and changed one of the compile options in the Slackbuild to: -DKICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=OFF. Mine is an Slackware64-15.0 system.

Hi Slak-uke and quanx

Thank you both for your help!!!

I am a wanabe pedal steel musician and have designed using KiCad-4.0.7 and built a dual channel amplifier,
the design of which, I would like to release as an open hardware design.

I will be on the road for the next 2 or 3 weeks but when i get back I will try again to get KiCad runing.

I am first going to try to again to build KiCad-8.0 using the modification to the kicad-slackbuild.
If that does not work I will fall back to KiCad-7.o.11 using the stuff that Slak-uke provided.

You folks are amazing!

-- Ken --

I'm on slackware-current and last built Kicad 2012/2013? FTR, I installed Devuan on a spare slice to have all these dependencies sorted out with others having the migraines :D. But Devuan only offers version 6.0.1 :(.

Have any of you guys with successful builds put the package(s) online anywhere?

@business_kid I can do that for you, and anyone else. I have a GitHub account which is currently unused. It will be a few days hence as I am enjoying some family time right now. I will post back when it is ready.

Dunc.

That would be great.

In 2013, I built a project using a HEMT & (then tiny) 74AUC logic because the Academic year didn't allow me time to go the FPGA route. I had to waste so much time looking good, there was no time to do the project! Kicad was the only thing I could configure the stuff on. There was no simulator back then, but it was the best pcb drafting package about.

I have the opposite problem since these days I only work with tube/valve era circuitry. I'm still using Kicad 5.0.9 that I simply migrated over from 14.2. I doubt there is any advantage in newer versions of Kicad for my workflow and really I'd rather be able to setup a profile that would only load valve related items and leave out all the digital and PCB stuff. I prefer turret boards and point-to-point. Yes, I'm very old :)

Phew finally managed to do the upload. Please feel free try it out here. The 3D models is missing because it is +800M and github has a file size limit of 100M. Turns out git is not the perfect fit for file uploads. It is not so great if you just want one file to download either. @enorbet I too have spent a lot of time working on thermionic devices. I haven't done any with them for a hobby in a long while.

Kind regards

Dunc.

Thanks for taking the trouble. I found a way to clone the lot, because when I grabbed them individually, they all came the same size :confused:. I presume I can grab the 3D models from the Kicad site?

BTW, the last thing I want is thermionic valve profiles. I had them in tvs, the occasional audio thing. Then I took over someone's work in RF generators, used for plastic welding & wood glue curing. Lastly, I picked up a secondhand Heathkit Signal Generator going from a couple of khz to over 110Mhz in w sinewave with switchable AM. It dated back to the early 1950s. It got put up for sale. We should have auctioned it, because it was a collector's piece. It fetched the asking price within a few hours - a guy drove over to collect it! It was like I was selling a Ming Vase!

The 3D models build just fine. I think it just a puts them in the share directory and sets permissions and packages it. It is a hefty download. The latest versions can be found here. I see 8.0.2 is out. I will look at the changelog but I will probably pass.

Dunc.

Thanks for that. I ended up going round in circles last time I did this

1. What do I want?
2. What can I actually buy? Lead time?
3. Ok, what can I actually use? & return to Q2, etc.

I did very well, except I discovered there were two 1202 sizes for capacitors. One was metric, one imperial. I made the PC for one, and bought the other :redface:. The capacitors were larger. I was able to solder a single strand of multicore wire, and bring it under the capacitor body and attach it there, or extend the pad with it. I forget which I did.

Next time, who knows?