Dyalog on a Chromebook

[paulmansour]

Does Dyalog run on Chromebook? I assume these things are Linux of some sort. If so, is it simple to install? I have zero experience with Chromebooks, Linux, Ride et.

[paulmansour]

Isn't this a simple yes or no question? Or is it a really stupid question?

[Morten|Dyalog]

Hi Paul, sorry for the slow response. I believe the simple answer is "Yes", at least the TTY version starts and runs in the "Linux App". Geoff did the testing a while ago and I wanted to ask him about whether he got RIDE to work, but he alternated between being terribly busy and now having to take time off because he forgot to do so during the year (strange place, Europe, I know, managers can be fined or even go to jail if employees don't take enough time off). I would expect it to work but we have not done enough testing to declare that it is "supported".

P.S. I am not sure ALL Chromebook devices have the ability to run Linux apps, and I believe you need to do things like enable developer mode (which apparently deletes all local data) and install Linux yourself, see e.g. https://www.lifewire.com/install-linux-on-chromebook-4125253.

[paulmansour]

Thanks Morten.

Looks like a bit of a project...

[RichardP|Dyalog]

I have successfully:
1) Used RIDE on Chromebook to connect to APL on the same Chromebook
2) Used RIDE on Chromebook to connect to APL on separate laptop
3) Run the Jarvis sample JSON app on chromebook and used it from the chrome browser on the same Chromebook

Only a couple things I thought of that I haven't done:
1) Connect to Chromebook APL from other laptop (I think I need to do something to enable the connection, like open a port, couldn't get to the Jarvis either)
2) Create APL keyboard for Chromebook (you can use RIDE language bar, but a specific keyboard will be more work – link: https://www.reddit.com/r/chromeos/comme ... stomizing/)
3) Tried to install .NET Core 3.1 (supported by Dyalog version 18.0) and use bi-directional Link

The installation is a tiny bit of a fiddle, but here's what I did:

From the start menu, (bottom-left button), type "terminal" and click on the icon. From there, you will be prompted to download and install Linux. Click next. If the installation seems to be stuck, try restarting the computer and try again.

After Linux is installed, the "My files" drop-down within the Files explorer will have a "Linux files" shortcut. Download the .deb installation files for Dyalog (from the Dyalog website) and the RIDE (from GitHub) to that folder. Right click (or alt-click on some Chromebooks) and select "Install with Linux".

[paulmansour]

Richard, thanks. Very timely! Up until today, I thought I would not be teaching a proposed class (where the kids have chromebooks), but now it is on again. I will try your instructions and let you know how it goes. Thanks.

[paulmansour]

Whoa! I managed to do it! Thanks Richard!

[paulmansour]

So it seems like I need to start Dyalog APL first, and then a Ride, and bingo, I'm in. I assume that's how to start things up. However, when I exit ride, the APL session seems to still run, with a perpetual circle running around in the icon at the bottom of the screen, and then I cannot start up things again without rebooting. Obviously I have no idea what I am doing. Any pointers here would be appreciated...

[KimmoLinna]

I was able to install Dyalog on Chrome OS Flex. I just had to install Ride version 4.5 which I build by myself from GitHub. If someone else is wondering you can find desktop-files for shortcuts from the folder /usr/share/applications...

[RichardP|Dyalog]

A screen recording of me installing and starting RIDE on a Chromebook (there have been a couple of queries recently in other places about this)

https://www.loom.com/share/5d2fc82483d9 ... 7f42830fa0

Also a reminder that tryapl.org can get you pretty far with people just starting out in APL.