C++ compiler?

[thomasl]

Not sure whether this is by design or by omission but the MX23 xfce I've installed has no C++ compiler on board (C is fine). It's not hard to install but I'd have thought this compiler comes as standard these days?!

[Adrian]

Just install build-essential if you need to build something. It's not on the ISO because it's not a dependency to any of the stuff that's there and not everybody compiles stuff and in general people who know how to compile stuff know how to install the compiler, it's really not hard, it takes a minute. If you really like it on the ISO, install it, take a snapshot and it will always be there.

[thomasl]

@Adrian That's right, it was just that a couple of things which under MX19 used to work OOTB didn't anymore and the last thing I'd looked for was a missing C++ compiler

I also find it somewhat ironic that MX23 as it's installed can't compile its own (or at least some of its own) tools... actually that was one reason why I didn't even think about the C++ compiler.

[Stevo]

You might report that as a bug, since we do want users to be able to build their own wi-fi driver from source if it comes down to that as a last resort to get a connection.

[thomasl]

@Stevo Hm... I don't know enough about those drivers to say whether a C++ compiler would ever be required to compile any of them.

(As an aside: I used to have to compile a driver for the Realtek rtl8821ce wifi for MX19. This very same driver is also still included in MX23... but it's not needed anymore as the MX23 kernel now has the required modules. I've removed it without probs.)

[Stevo]

The build-essential package does install C, C++, and whatever else gcc supports.

[WyCKyD]

You might report that as a bug, since we do want users to be able to build their own wi-fi driver from source if it comes down to that as a last resort to get a connection.

I am in that exact situation now. (Writing this from another computer with internet access) After having upgraded from MX 21.3 to MX 23 (and later 23.1) I started having issues with the system. I decided to do a fresh clean install from a MX23.1 bootable usb drive, knowing that I would have to reinstall the wifi device driver, it's an AC1200 (Techkey) and worked on all previous versions of MX that I have been using. However, when I try to install the driver I get an error that gcc isn't installed and therefore can't continue. I love the fact that this wifi adapter works well with linux.

Could somebody please tell me how to install build-essential offline, so that I can get this computer running with internet once again?
Thank you in advance, because I know we have a great community that someone might just know the solution.

[Stevo]

These are workarounds...the AC1200 rtl8822bu chipset is supposed to be supported by 6.2 and up kernels, along with a newer firmware-realtek in our AHS, so you may be able to download the deb and install one of our newer Liquorix kernels: https://mxrepo.com/mx/repo/pool/ahs/l/linux-liquorix/

and firmware-realtek: https://mxrepo.com/mx/repo/pool/ahs/f/firmware-nonfree/

Our AHS edition with a newer kernel should hopefully just work in a live session.

Or...a smartphone can be tethered to a MX install via a USB cable, and either access the repos via the cell network or having the phone sign on to your own wi-fi network.

[WyCKyD]

I will try that and let you know the results.
Thank you for the quick response.

P.S. Do I just download the 6.2 header and image file and run dpkg?

Downloaded the 6.2 header and image file and I ran dpkg. First, the image file...no issues. Next, the header file...linux-headers-6.2.14-1-liquorix-amd64 depends on gcc; however:
Package gcc is not installed.

Is there an image with a 6.2 kernel that I can download and write to a thumb drive?

[Stevo]

Just use the MX deb installer, not dpkg.. We have a custom action built into Thunar that should show this option if you right-click on a deb. If it's missing, I think we have a separate app that you can search for in the menu.

You only need the headers if you're going to compile something. Since the new internal kernel wi-fi driver is already compiled, you can install them later after wi-fi is working. Don't forget the updated firmware.

Is there an image with a 6.2 kernel that I can download and write to a thumb drive?

That would be the ISO of our AHS version I mentioned. You really don't need all the other updates on it, but they're supposed to also work fine on older hardware.