I just wanted to touch a bit on it why were are updating our plugins to use CLang on Linux systems.

Over the years its always been a issue of which runtime libraries users have had on their Linux installation, getting it to match what Xojo uses and then what a plugin might use.

• Xojo uses CLang on Linux systems, so using same will reduce the issue of matching runtime libraries. Thus making it easier for you to deploy your applications successfully.
• Mysterious crashes on deep nested C++ exceptions and other runtime abnormalities all seem to go away. We had for example the new Barcode plugin for some months just waiting because of issues that could not be explained on some Linux systems, but going Clang to match Xojo the host of the plugin fixed that.

Now I want to update my review of the Orange PI and Banana PI since I have had them for some months now. And yes this is a warning to all potential buyers of such.

Orange PI:

DO NOT BUY !!! (Thats the short version of it)

Basically nothing works ! the images they provide crash a lot, it will not load USB stick, WIFI works sometimes, huge display detection issues, the maker does nothing to fix driver issues, but pushes out more and more hardware even if previous sets cannot be used due to broken or non existent drivers.

(Sadly Armbian does not seem to be ready for this CPU yet but I hope it will come soon, then the Orange PI will be salvageable – see bellow how it salvaged Banana PI M2)

Banana PI:

M2:  

I sort of loved the M2 for a while, but then the circuit under the power connector got loose. Then I read I could use the mini USB port to power it also which works…..but then 2 USB ports mysteriously die. I also found out at late stage that the Ethernet does not work on their system images.

Pretty much same situation here as with Orange PI software and drives seriously lacking.

Some updates on this one:

I found that side by the power connector there were two holes in the board marked CN2, using multimeter I was able to measure that those pins are same pins as in the broken power connector I had. With a little soldering I made a patch from the power connector to the CN2 pins and the power issue was solved making ALL USB ports work again by not having to use the USB OTG port to power it.

Then I got my self Armbian, from the www.armbian.com page, and after fiddling a bit with it then all the issues I had with the Banana PI M2 have vanished. This is far better than what the Banana PI team is supplying.

Network works decently both WIFI and Wired. USB sticks work. And I get display for first time at full resolution.

To get things up the way I wanted I had to:

First get up user interface:

apt-get -y install xorg lightdm xfce4 tango-icon-theme gnome-icon-theme

reboot

Add GUI to the network setup:

sudo apt-get install wicd

Make USB sticks mount and fix the trash can not showing on desktop:

sudo apt-get install thunar-volman
sudo apt-get install gvfs
sudo apt-get install policykit-1

Add a web browser:

sudo apt-get install epiphany-browser

M3:  

I waited on this one for months with great hopes as if I was waiting for the holy grail. There are only two normal USB ports, so if you have keyboard and a mouse then there is no place for USB stick. SATA port is more or less fake since it uses way slow USB bridge. It will only scan for Wifi if I have wired net connected also.

I have not given up on this one, I still hope they will post better system image where some things are fixed. But my hopes are low given their ability and track record to support their devices.

Why on earth they make loads of system Images with Various of Linux types is beyond me when they all are bad instead of focusing making one good at least.