[GNC] Backporting Gnucash 3.7 to Ubuntu "Bionic" (or Mint, etc.)

[Jon Schewe]

Note that you can also use flatpak to get it.

sudo apt install flatpak
flatpak install flathub org.gnucash.GnuCash


On 10/18/19 10:47 AM, Tommy Trussell wrote:
> I requested an "official" backport of GnuCash 3.7. If it gets a sponsor it
> should quickly become available to Bionic as well as all the distros that
> use it (such as Mint).
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bionic-backports/+bug/1847547
>
> If you're registered on Launchpad and want to have an official backport,
> please click the "pencil" below the bug number at the top and indicate
> "This bug affects me" to vote for it.
>
> IN THE MEANTIME, if you urgently want 3.7 on your system, here's a
> procedure that worked for me. I apologize if I've omitted any steps.
> (Likely! Please let me know.)
>
> REQUIREMENTS
> An Ubuntu Bionic (or derived) installation with bionic-backports activated
> and the source code lines activated. To verify, open the Software and
> Updates tool, and look in the Ubuntu Software tab to activate "Source code"
> and the Updates tab to verify "bionic-backports" is active. Close the
> Software & Updates window and let it update the cache.
>
> PROCEDURE
>
> 1) Install the needed development files.
>
>    $ sudo apt install build-essentials devscripts
>    $ sudo apt build-dep gnucash
>    $ sudo apt install debhelper/bionic-backports
>
> (The first command should pull in lots of packages needed for building
> sortware. The second should bring in lots more specific packages for
> building GnuCash. The last command pulls an upgraded version of debhelper
> from the backports repository.)
>
> 2) Create a source directory
>
>    $ mkdir bionic37
>    $ cd bionic37
>
> 3) Get the latest Ubuntu package.
>
>    $ dget
> http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/universe/g/gnucash/gnucash_3.7-1ubuntu1.dsc
>
> If the link above "breaks" in this email, get the correct link from the
> "Download Gnucash" section here:
> https://packages.ubuntu.com/source/eoan/gnucash
>
> 3b) Move into the directory created by dget from the source package
>
>    $ cd gnucash-3.7
>
> 4) Comment out a build flag line in debian/rules so the package will build
> in Bionic.
>
>    $ sed -i 's/export DEB_CXXFLAGS/#export DEB_CXXFLAGS/' debian/rules
>
> 5) Make this your custom version (so any "official" release should
> supersede it).
>
>    $ dch --nmu
>
> 5b) Edit the version at the top so it reads something like:
>
>    gnucash (1:3.7-1ubuntu18.04~1)
>
> 5c) Add a comment under your name and email in the first comment saying
> something like:
>
>    "Commented out DEB_CXXFLAGS instruction in debian/rules"
>
> 5d) Save and exit the editor.
>
> 6) Build the package.
>
>    $ dpkg-buildpackage
>
> (NOTE: this takes many minutes. At the end there should be a line saying
> the build "completed.")
>
> 7) Once the build has completed, you will see the package files in the
> bionic37 directory, ready to install.
>
>    $ cd ..
>    [to the directory you created in step 2]
>
>    $ sudo dpkg -i *.deb *.ddeb
>
>    $ sudo apt install -f
>
> The dpkg -i command above attempts to install gnucash .deb files (and the
> optional .ddeb debugging files). In a fresh installation, "dpkg -i" may
> fail because of missing dependencies, so the "apt install -f" command will
> install the missing dependencies and finish installing gnucash.
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-- 
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