FMXLinux Introduction - Delphi's FireMonkey for Linux

Join Jim McKeeth as he introduces you to FMXLinux, and shows how you can bring the power of FireMonkey to Linux.

Outline:
Installation via GetIt Package Manager
Linux, PAServer, SDK, & Package Installation
FMXLinux usage and Samples
FireDAC Database Access on Linux
Migrating from Windows VCL to FMXLinux
3rd Party FMXLinux Support
Deploying rich web apps via Broadway

https://embt.co/FMXLinuxIntro

1. Slides, replay and more
https://embt.co/FMXLinuxIntro
Introduction to FMXLinux
Delphi’s FireMonkey for Linux Solution
Jim McKeeth
Embarcadero Technologies
[email protected]
Chief Developer Advocate & Engineer

2. Your Presenter:
Jim McKeeth
Embarcadero Technologies
[email protected] | @JimMcKeeth
Chief Developer Advocate & Engineer

3. Agenda
•Overview
•Installation
•Supported platforms
•PAServer
•SDK & Packages
•Usage
•UI Elements
•Samples
•Database Access FireDAC
•Migrating from Windows VCL
•midaconverter.com
•3rd Party Support
•Broadway Web

4. Why FMX on Linux?
•Education - Save money on Windows licenses
•Kiosk or Point of Sale - Single purpose
computers with locked down user interfaces
•Security - Linux offers more security options
•IoT & Industrial Automation - Add user
interfaces for integrated systems
•Federal Government - Many govt systems
require Linux support
•Choice - Now you can, so might as well!

5. Delphi for Linux History
•1999Kylix: aka Delphi for Linux, introduced
•It was a port of the IDE to Linux
•Linux x86 32-bit compiler
•Used the Trolltech QT widget library
•2002 Kylix 3 was the last update to Kylix
•2017Delphi 10.2 “Tokyo” introduced Delphi for x86 64-bit Linux
•IDE runs on Windows, cross compiles to Linux via the PAServer
•Designed for server side development - no desktop widget GUI library
•2017Eugene Kryukov of KSDev release FMXLinux
•Eugene was one of the original architects of FireMonkey
•A modification of FireMonkey, bringing FMX to Linux
•2019Embarcadero includes FMXLinux with Delphi 10.3.2 “Rio”
Terracotta kylix (drinking cup) - public domain image
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/255939

6. FMXLinux Overview
•Eugene Kryukov of KSDev created FMXLinux
•Eugene was one of the original architects of FireMonkey
•The installation modifies FireMonkey and adds additional libraries
•FMXLinux still uses the same Delphi compiler for x86 64-bit Linux
•It does not support ARM Linux like the Raspberry Pi
•The IDE runs on Windows and connects to Linux via PAServer
•Uses the same FireMonkey framework and components from
Windows, macOS, Android and iOS
•Works with the RTL, FireDAC, Live Bindings, and other Delphi libraries
•Included with RAD Studio & Delphi 10.3.1 “Rio” and newer under
Update Subscription
•docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/FireMonkey_for_Linux

7. FireMonkey & VCL - FMXLinux vs. CrossVCL
•KSDev also makes CrossVCL which allows VCL on Linux and macOS
•Embarcadero includes FMXLinux with Delphi & RAD Studio 10.3.1+
•Why?
•FireMonkey is designed to be cross platform
•FMXLinux mades more sense as a Linux GUI solution
•You are still able to purchase CrossVCL from KSDev at crossvcl.com
•If you have an existing VCL application you want to bring to Linux try
midaconverter.com to first convert it to FireMonkey

8. FMXLinux Installation

9. FMXLinux Installation Overview
•Available via GetIt
•For Delphi or RAD Studio Rio 10.3.1+ with active Update Subscription
•Supported Platforms
•Must be x86 64-bit Linux Desktop (or server with Desktop installed)
•Officially: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and RedHat
Enterprise Linux (version 7)
•docwiki.embarcadero.com/PlatformStatus/en/Main_Page
•docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/Supported_Target_Platforms
•Unofficially: Most any Linux if you install the right packages in the right place
•List of 134 successfully test distros (YMMV)
bitbucket.org/crossvcl/fmxlinux/issues/130/controlsdemo-test-on-different-linux
•Known to fail on 4: KNOPPIX 8.1, 4MLinux 27.0, elementary OS 5.0, & GALPon MiniNo
Queiles 3.1
•Still uses PAServer & requires SDK & Packages installed and setup

10. 134 Successfully Tested Linux Distros
ALT Linux 8.2; Antergos 17.11.; antiX 17.2; ArchBang Linux Winter 0112; Archman KDE Plasma 2019.02; ArcoLinux v18.11.2; Argent
KDE Plasma 1.5.2; Artix Linux LXQT 2018.10.13; AryaLinux 1.0 XFCE; Asril OS 7.0 Lare; AUSTRUMI 3.9.0; AV Linux (2018.06.25);
B2D Desktop 2019 V1.0.5 XFCE; BackBox Linux 5.2; Berry Linux 1.30; BigLinux 7.10; Bionicpup64 8.0 CE; BlackArch Linux
2018.12.01; Black Lab Enterprise Linux 8; blackPanther OS v18.1; BlackWeb 1.2; BlankOn 11.0.1; Bluestar Linux 4.19.2; Bodhi Linux
5.0.0; BunsenLabs Linux Helium; CAELinux 2018; CAINE 10.0; Calculate Linux 18; CentOS 7; ChaletOS 16.04.2; Chakra
GNU/Linux 2019.01; Condres OS 2019.03 Gnome Edition; Debian 9.1; Deepin 15.4.1; Devuan 2.0.0 ASCII; DuZeru; EasyOS 1.0.8;
Endless OS 3.5; ExTiX 19.0; EducatuX 9.8; Enso 0.3.1; ETi-pup 5.1.6; Fatdog64 Linux 800; Fedora 26; Feren OS (July 2018);
Freespire 4.5.; GeckoLinux Static Plasma; Gentoo Linux 2016.07.04; Greenie Linux 18.04.0.2; Grml 2018.12; GoboLinux 016.01;
Hamara Sugam 2.1; Kali Linux 2017.2; Kanotix Steelfire KDE; KaOS 2018.01; KDE neon; Kubuntu 18.10; KXStudio 14.04.5;
Linspire 8.0 RC1; Linux Kodachi 5.2; Linux Lite 4.2; Linux Mint 18.1; Lubuntu 17.10; LuninuX OS 17.04; LXLE Linux 16.04.4; Mageia
6.1; MakuluLinux 15 Flash Edition; Manjaro Linux 17.0; Maui Linux 17.06; MAX: Madrid_Linux 10.0; MAZON OS 1.4.3.l;
MorpheusArch Linux 2018.4; MX Linux 17.1; Namib GNU/Linux Budgie 18.08; Neptune 5.6; Nova 6.0; NuTyX MATE 10.4;
OpenMandriva Lx 3.0; openSUSE Leap 42.2; Oracle Linux 7.6; OSGeoLive 12.0; Pardus 17.4 XFCE; Parrot Studio 3.8; PCLinuxOS
2017.07; Peach OSI 16.04 TW; Pearl Linux MATE 7.0; PelicanHPC GNU Linux 4.1 XFCE; Pentoo 2018.0; Peppermint 9; Pinguy OS
18.04.1; Pisi Linux 2.1 ATA; Plop Linux 4.3.9; Pop!_OS 18.10; Porteus 4.0 MATE; Poseidon Linux 9 MB2315; Q4OS 2.6 Scorpion;
Rebellin Linux 3.5 Gnome; Redcore Linux Hardened 1806; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; Refracta 8.3; Resilient Linux 1.0;
Robolinux Cinnamon 10.3; ROSA Fresh KDE R10; Runtu LITE 18.04; Sabayon Linux 18.05 GNOME Edition; SalentOS 2.0; Salix
Xfce 14.2; Scientific Linux 7.4; SELKS 4.0; Septor-2019; SharkLinux 4.15.0-39; siduction 18.3.0 XFCE; Slax 9.8.0; Slackel 7.1;
Slontoo 18.07.1 MATE; Solus 3 GNOME; SolydXK 201902; SparkyLinux 4.9; SuliX Professional 8; SuperX 5.0; SwagArch
GNU/Linux 18.12; Tails 3.10.1; Trisquel 8.0 LTS Flidas; Tsurugi Linux Lab 2018.1; Ubuntu 16.10; Ubuntu Budgie 18.04.1; Ubuntu
MATE 18.04.1; Ubuntu Studio 18.10; Ultimate Edition 5.0; Uruk GNU/Linux 2.0 XFCE; Void Linux MATE (2018.11.11.); Voyager
18.04 LTS; Xubuntu 18.04; Zorin OS 12.1 Core

11. Working Platforms Personally Tested
•elementary OS 5.0 “Juno”
•Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
•Mint 19.1
•Bionic Puppy Linux 8
•Deepin 15
•Debian 9
•Manjaro 18
•Zorin 12.4
•MX Linux 18.3
•openSUSE Leap 15.1
•CentOS 7
•Fedora 30
•Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS

12. Installation
●Available via GetIt
●Delphi or RAD
Studio
●Rio 10.3.1+
●Update Subscription
required
Samples installs to
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Embarcadero\Studio
\
20.0\Samples\Object Pascal\ FMX Linux Samples
Cursors
CustomFont
CustomIcon
EventSim
FontList
GetFileIcon
GtkWindow
Screenshot
ShellApi
WebScript
FMXLinux installs to
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Embarcadero\Studio
\20.0\CatalogRepository\ FMXLinux-1.41

13. Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS
“Bionic Beaver”
Download Link
ubuntu.com/download/desktop
Update
sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get full-upgrade -y
Install Dev Packages
sudo apt-get install build-essential wget p7zip-full
Clean-up
sudo apt-get autoremove && sudo apt-get autoclean

14. Download & Install (Requires creating an account)
•developers.redhat.com/rhel8/
•developers.redhat.com/rhel8/install-rhel8/
Update (Requires Red Hat account)
sudo subscription-manager register --auto-attach
sudo yum repolist
sudo yum update
Install Dev Packages
sudo yum groupinstall 'Development Tools'
Firewall for PAServer
sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=64211/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

15. •PAServer connects the IDE to Linux
•Copy from your install, or download
•Full instructions
docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/en/Installing_the_Platform_Assistant_on_Linux
To install from the web . . ..
cd ~
wget http://altd.embarcadero.com/releases/studio/20.0/PAServer/Release1/LinuxPAServer20.0.tar.gz
tar -xvf LinuxPAServer20.0.tar.gz
rm LinuxPAServer20.0.tar.gz
mv PAServer-20.0/ PAServer/
PAServer/paserver
PAServer Install

16. Using FMXLinux

17. Using FMXLinux
•Open new or existing FireMonkey application
•New projects need to be saved
•Right click on the Project in the Project
Manager
•Choose “Add Linux Platform”
•Linux is now included as a platform
•Make sure the Linux Platform and SDK are
setup correctly
•Once the SDK is imported, a Linux platform is no
longer needed to build (unlike iOS)
•You could manually copy SDK from another computer

18. Connection Profile Manager - 1
•Tools -> Options -> Deployment -> Connection Profile Manager
•Click [Add]
•Provide
•Profile name
•Platform
•Host Address
•Port number
•Password (optional)

19. Connection Profile Manager - 2
•Tools -> Options -> Deployment -> Connection Profile Manager
•Click [Add]
•Provide
•Profile name
•Platform
•Host Address
•Port number
•Password (optional)
1
2

20. SDK Manager - 1
•Tools -> Options -> Deployment -> SDK Manager
•Click [Add]
•Select
•Platform
•Connection
•SDK Version
•Wait while the SDK
imports

21. SDK Manager - 2
•Typically need only one Linux SDK to
support multiple Linux distros
•You can typically replace existing files
during import (I always click “Yes to all”)
•Pay attention if you get missing folder in
the log file. It might indicate you didn’t
install the dev packages on Linux

22. Troubleshooting SDK Import
•The import is based on defaultsdkpaths files found in the bin folder
•C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\20.0\bin
•In 10.3.1 Linux has 3 different definitions (in XML format)
•Linux64.defaultsdkpaths
•rhel7.2.defaultsdkpaths
•ubuntu14.4.defaultsdkpaths
•If a file is missing during build or there is an error in the log
•Figure out how to install it on Linux
•Use the Linux find command to figure out where it is installed
•Modify your defaultsdkpaths files to point to the correct locations
•Use [Update Local File Cache] button once changes are made
•If the update still doesn’t work, manually delete the folder
•C:\Users\[user]\Documents\Embarcadero\Studio\SDKs\[platform]
•Then delete the SDK entry and import it again

23. FMXLinux Demos

24. Samples
•Cursors - Capturing the desktop cursor image
•CustomFont - Using a custom font
•CustomIcon - Changing the main window font icon
•EventSim - Simulate keyboard and mouse events
•FontList - List installed fonts
•GetFileIcon - Display the icon for a file
•GtkWindow - Use GTK directly to manipulate a window
•Screenshot - Take a screenshot of the desktop
•ShellApi - Open URLs and Files with associated programs
•FmxWebScript - Use FireMonkey to draw graphics in a web CGI-BIN
Samples installed to
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Embarcadero\Studio\
20.0\Samples\Object Pascal\ FMX Linux Samples

25. Note About CustomFont Sample
•The font file passed to the FmuxAddCustomFont call must exist locally
•You can use the Deployment manager to deploy it to Linux
•Side note about libfmux.so
•You might see libfmux.so in some of the deployment manager for some samples,
or a warning about it while building
•It is an artifact from when the library was dynamically linked
•It is statically linked now, and no longer needed

26. Note About GtkWindow Sample
•The GtkWindow Sample has early bound dynamic linking
procedure gtk_window_set_title(window: Pointer; title: PUtf8Char);
cdecl; external 'libgtk-3.so.0';
•You might get an error on linking (something like)
ld-linux.exe: error: cannot find -lgtk-3
undefined reference to 'gtk_window_set_title'
•The solution: Install libgtk-3-dev and update the SDK’s Local File Cache
sudo apt-get install libgtk-3-dev

27. Note About CustomIcon Sample
•The new icon is loaded as a resource
•Project -> Resources & Images
•PNG File
•Identifier MAINICON
•Resource type RCDATA
•Include the dres in the dpr file
• {$R *.dres}

28. Creating an Icon Launcher aka [Desktop Entry]
•Create a .desktop file to customize the icon (like a Windows shortcut)
•Used by both Gnome, KDE, etc.
•The .desktop file must have execute permissions
•To show up in the Application list, copy to either
•~/.local/share/applications
•/usr/share/applications
•Sample:
#!/usr/bin/env xdg-open
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=My FMXLinux Program
Comment=I made this program with Delphi and FMXLinux!
Exec=/home/jim/PAServer/scratch-dir/jim-Ubuntu/CoolApp/ CoolApp
Path=/home/jim/PAServer/scratch-dir/jim-Ubuntu/CoolApp/
Icon=/home/jim/PAServer/scratch-dir/jim-Ubuntu/CoolApp/ MainIcon.svg
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Utility;Development;
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Desktop_entries
https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/latest/
*.png
*.svg

29. Media Player
•Requires the free VLC installed on Linux
•Fedora 30/29/28
•sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E
%fedora).noarch.rpm
•sudo dnf install vlc
•C

•sudo rpm -Uvh
http://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/7/x86_64/Packages/e/epel-release-7-11.noarch.rpm
•sudo rpm -Uvh
http://li.nux.ro/download/nux/dextop/el7/x86_64/nux-dextop-release-0-5.el7.nux.noarch.rpm
•yum install vlc
•U

•sudo apt-get install vlc

30. Using FMX to Generate Web Server Graphics
•This is different than the Broadway server that serves the entire UI
•Allows you to use FMX to generate graphics and effects via CGI-BIN
•Create a standard Apache module
•Linux dependencies
•sudo apt install libgl1-mesa-glx libglu1-mesa libgtk-3-common
libgstreamer1.0 libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0
•More information
ksdev.blogspot.com/2017/12/using-firemonkey-graphics-in-cgi-script.html

31. HTML5 Web Deployment
●Install Required Libs:
sudo apt install xorg libgl1-mesa-dev
libosmesa-dev libgtk-3-bin
●Start broadway server: broadwayd
●Run application with:
GDK_BACKEND=broadway ./ myapp
●Load [ip]:8080 in the browser
●Note: Only supports a single user
instance at a time
●Broadway is a feature of GTK+
●For more information
developer.gnome.org/gtk3/stable/gtk-broadway.html

32. Current Select 3
rd
Party Support
•TScene - github.com/eugenekryukov/TScene - Isolated buffered container control
•TMS FMX UI Pack - tmssoftware.com/site/tmsfmxpack.asp - Set of highly configurable and
styleable components
•Steema TeeChart - steema.com - Hundreds of Graph styles in 2D and 3D for data visualization,
56 mathematical, statistical and financial Functions, with an unlimited number of axes
•Steema TeeGrid - www.steema.com - Lightweight and fully-featured grid control (not derived
from TCustomGrid or TGrid)
•Woll2Woll FirePower - woll2woll.com/firepower - The most critical components for building
professional desktop and mobile user-interfaces
•HTML Component Library - delphihtmlcomponents.com - HTML Component Library is a
cross-platform and 100% native HTML/CSS rendering library
• TatukGIS Developer Kernel 11 - tatukgis.com - Professional grade geographic information
system (GIS) SDK for desktop and mobile

33. QUESTIONS!
: @embarcaderotech
: Embarcadero Technologies
FREE 30 Day Trial Architect
Edition on our website!
Slides, replay and more
https://embt.co/FMXLinuxIntro