Oscar Installation on Chromebook Linux

[spmcg]

I am running Linux on a new ASUS Chromebook and have been able to get other Linux programs to run (such as Zotero). I have tried installing Oscar Deb 1.01 using the included installer and the OSCAR.desktop file appears in the directory but there is no file to run.

I am a newbie to Linux but I've tried all I can. Apologies if I've omitted needed information and missed the obvious.

--Steve

[Crimson Nape]

Hi spmcg -
Oscar may or may not operate properly on your Chromebook.  Did you follow the install instructions and use "dpkg -1" to install Oscar instead of the "apt install" command?

Here are some steps that may help . . .but I'm not holding my breath.
Preform the following steps in the order listed:

1. In a terminal window, type or copy: sudo apt-get install gtkhash libb2-1 libpcre16-3 libqt5opengl5 libqt5serialport5
   
2. Press <ENTER>
   
3. Type: sudo dpkg -i oscar the full filename.deb
   
4. Press <ENTER>
   
5. Optional: You will have to create a Quick Launch shortcut on your desktop.  If you are unfamiliar with this,
   
   1. Right-click anywhere on an open area of your desktop.
      
   2. The 5th option from the top is labeled, "+ Create a new launcher here. . .", select it.  
      
   3. In the Command box either enter or navigate to the /usr/bin/oscar link
      
   4. Provide a name for the Quick Launcher, like "OSCAR".
      

Good luck and keep us posted of any success or failure.

[mjphyi]

Oscar runs fine on a Chromebook or ChromeBox under Crouton aka Linux (Beta) which provides a Debian Stretch environment, going to a Debian Buster environment around or after Chrome OS Version 80. 

Probably what's happened is that you haven't found a way to run the Oscar binary, or found the Icon that could launch it. Finding those 2 things depends on how the .deb file was built.

Have you looked for the "Linux Apps" icon, one of the many that are accessed by clicking the Launcher button? Clicking on the Linux Apps button expands it to show several icons, all Linux applications. That would be the "standard place to look for it. If you find Oscar in there, then once you run it, you can pin it to your shelf if you want.

Most Chrome devices use x86  CPUs, and the .deb file built by the Oscar team will work on them. However some use ARM CPUs and the .deb file will not work on them. However the latest Oscar sources will compile and run happily on a Debian Buster Linux under Chrome OS, x86 and ARM.

[spmcg]

A long delay in trying your suggestions, but I'm back. It turns out that all I needed to do before was to type OSCAR in the Directory. I don't know how to set up the link yet, but at least I got OSCAR to run.

I have set up a profile and tried loading in from my SD card, but the data seems to load and then shows me the file directory below. I was wondering whether I was supposed to look for a folder on my USB card, but I can't find a way to get there from this directly.

Stupid questions, but I'm still new to Chromebooks. I have an ASUS if that helps.

Thanks for whatever patiences and answers anyone has.

[mjphyi]

Have you already used the Chrome OS Files App to share the SD card with Linux. If not, do this.