Doug works hard to help get Macs working with Lich and GemStone
Posted29 July 2016
Last Updated On20 September 2018
ByNewsby
Players who use Macs – Doug from the Forums has been SO helpful getting Luxie’s new Mac to work in GS. First, THANK YOU Doug. And for others, here’s a link with important Mac info for you:
Category: Software & Hardware Help Topic: Unsupported Third-party Software
Date: 02/24/2016 07:31 PM CST
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Before we head too far afield, let’s try a different version of Ruby. Since you’re using rvm, that should be fairly straightforward.
>rvm install 2.2.2
>rvm use 2.2.2
>ruby – v
This should give you back ruby version 2.2.2 (probably p95).
Then check your gem environment and be sure it’s now pointing to that ruby – I don’t have my docs or system set with rvm (I use rbenv), and it is unclear to me if it uses specific gem locations, or default (existing) locations.
If you still see the same gem environment and gem list, give that a shot! If the environment (and more importantly the list) doesn’t include gtk2 (3.0.7) and sqlite, then do
>gem update
>gem install sqlite
>gem install gtk2
And then test it!
Head’s up – if this is working for you, and you want to just run that environment, you’ll have to set that ruby to your default.
Okay, I did the instructions you suggested (rvm install 2.2.2; rvm use 2.2.2; ruby – v which returns 2.2.2). I then ran gem update; gem install sqlite; gem install gtk2. As a check I did…
Which Returned: The sqlite3 gem is not installed (or failed to load), you may need to: sudo gem install sqlite3
Which seems nonsensical to me given the prior response to grep.
Starting Avalon after the “sudo ruby lich/lich.rbw –gemstone –avalon” results in a blank Avalon window with no game data displayed at all.
Chuck
Date: 02/24/2016 11:15 PM CST
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Believe it or not, that makes me happy, I think.
>gem uninstall sqlite -v 1.3.9
You already have 1.3.11 installed, forcing an install over that isn’t going to work. Then you can test the scenario again, but I think you’re going to get exactly the same behavior.
If so, and you’re ambitious, let’s try installing ruby 2.0.0 the same way through rvm. Don’t worry about running the gem install commands afterwards, it looks like it uses the existing gem repositories.
>rmv install 2.0.0 >rvm use 2.0.0 >ruby -v
Validate it’s on 2.0.0 and test.
Doug
Date: 02/25/2016 09:52 AM CST
From: SAVVI1
Subj: Re: Narost help
$ rvm install 2.0.0 Searching for binary rubies, this might take some time. Found remote file https://rvm_io.global.ssl.fastly.net/binaries/osx/10.11/x86_64/ruby-2.0.0-p643.tar.bz2 Checking requirements for osx. Certificates in ‘/usr/local/etc/openssl/cert.pem’ are already up to date. Requirements installation successful. ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #configure ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #download % Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed 100 6109k 100 6109k 0 0 2353k 0 0:00:02 0:00:02 –:–:– 2352k No checksum for downloaded archive, recording checksum in user configuration. ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #validate archive ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #extract ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #validate binary ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #setup ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #gemset created /Users/Chuck/.rvm/gems/ruby-2.0.0-p643@global ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #importing gemset /Users/Chuck/.rvm/gemsets/global.gems………………………… ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #generating global wrappers…….. ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #gemset created /Users/Chuck/.rvm/gems/ruby-2.0.0-p643 ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #importing gemsetfile /Users/Chuck/.rvm/gemsets/default.gems evaluated to empty gem list ruby-2.0.0-p643 – #generating default wrappers……..
$ rvm use 2.0.0 Using /Users/Chuck/.rvm/gems/ruby-2.0.0-p643 Chuck:~ Chuck$ ruby -v ruby 2.0.0p643 (2015-02-25 revision 49749) [x86_64-darwin14.1.0]
$ sudo ruby lich/lich.rbw –gemstone –avalon Password: The sqlite3 gem is not installed (or failed to load), you may need to: sudo gem install sqlite3
That’s no good. So I did the sqlite3 install again (should I not have done this? But if not, how do I get lich to connect with Avalon?):
$ sudo gem install sqlite3 Fetching: sqlite3-1.3.11.gem (100%) Building native extensions. This could take a while… Successfully installed sqlite3-1.3.11 Parsing documentation for sqlite3-1.3.11 unable to convert “xCF” from ASCII-8BIT to UTF-8 for /Users/Chuck/.rvm/rubies/ruby-2.0.0-p643/lib/ruby/gems/2.0.0/extensions/x86_64-darwin-14/2.0.0-static/sqlite3-1.3.11/sqlite3/sqlite3_native.bundle, skipping unable to convert “xCF” from ASCII-8BIT to UTF-8 for lib/sqlite3/sqlite3_native.bundle, skipping Installing ri documentation for sqlite3-1.3.11 1 gem installed
Which allows the game connection to be made:
$ sudo ruby lich/lich.rbw –gemstone –avalon Pretending to be gs3.simutronics.net Listening on port 4900 Waiting for the client to connect… Connection with the local game client is open.
But the gtk binding still fails:
Lich: narost active.
error: ruby-gtk bindings are not installed or failed to load
— Lich: narost has exited.
By the way, I cannot wait until this problem is solved! Not only would I like to play again, but I want to understand it-what was happening…
Chuck
Date: 02/25/2016 01:00 PM CST
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Good stuff! I hate to ask such a simple seeming question – but it isn’t clear:
Did you also install the gtk2 gem?
And. . . I notice you used SUDO to install the sqlite. So let’s stay consistent and do the same for gtk2 – I normally wouldn’t encourage you to use SUDO for gems, but. . . let’s try it and see!
If you did install the gtk2 gem (but didn’t use sudo), then uninstall it, and sudo gem install gtk2.
If you didn’t install the gtk2 gem yet, then sudo gem install gtk2.
And test!
Doug
Date: 02/25/2016 01:41 PM CST
From: SAVVI1
Subj: Re: Narost help
I think I’ve got time this afternoon…any interest in doing a phone call so I can try things one-after-the-other and then we can report back to the forum what the result was? If so, text me first on (607) 227-5500.
Chuck
Date: 02/25/2016 02:01 PM CST
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
I’ll see what I can manage.
Doug
Date: 03/22/2016 12:05 AM CDT
From: SHIXON
Subj: Re: Narost help
I’m back!
It’s been a while, I know. I’ve been busy. And I tried to install another program (wine) using Terminal a few days ago and now all is messed up once again. 🙁
After I installed wine and found out it isn’t doing what I want it to, I tried to play Gemstone and none of the scripts worked. I couldn’t ;chat, or ;go2, or ;herb. Nothing.
When I try to run any script, I get one of these messages, or something similar:
>;chat testing Lich: could not find script ‘chat’ in directory /Users/Spencer/lich/scripts
>;go2 379 — Lich: go2 active. — Lich: error: $SAFE=2 to 4 are obsolete lich/lich.rbw:2503:in `block (3 levels) in <class:Script>’ lich/lich.rbw:2503:in `block (2 levels) in <class:Script>’ — Lich: go2 has exited.
>;herb — Lich: herbs active. — Lich: error: $SAFE=2 to 4 are obsolete lich/lich.rbw:2503:in `block (3 levels) in <class:Script>’ lich/lich.rbw:2503:in `block (2 levels) in <class:Script>’ — Lich: herbs has exited.
I want to say that’s a part of the problem. But I’m not sure, and I’m away from my systems.
When you went to install Wine, did you upgrade your ruby right then, do you recall?
Doug
Date: 03/22/2016 08:14 PM CDT
From: SHIXON
Subj: Re: Narost help
I didn’t have to touch ruby, but I did update homebrew. It may have automatically upgraded Ruby as well.
Date: 03/23/2016 11:48 AM CDT
From: SHIXON
Subj: Re: Narost help
Should I just do what I did before and reset my computre to before this happened? IT’s a pain, but it works… though I would still need to figure out how to get narost to work
Date: 03/23/2016 01:30 PM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
You can. I’m afraid no matter which path we walk at this point, because we’re changing Ruby, we’re going to be reinstalling the gems, too. Hopefully we won’t be changing pango, gtk+ or cairo along the way. We certainly shouldn’t need to, honestly. If you restore to a point too far back in the past, you’ll have to reinstall those with the specific El Capitan instructions to get it all to work.
For a first attempt (before restoring) I’d recommend you
– use Homebrew to uninstall Ruby 2.3.0
– check to see if the OEM (Apple) Ruby 2.0.0 is still installed.
– check your installed gems
– remove your gtk2 gem (sudo gem remove gtk2)
– install gtk2 again (sudo gem install gtk2)
That should bring you back hale and whole with the Ruby 2.0.0 base.
If you don’t have ruby 2.0.0 installed, then use Homebrew to install anything between 2.0.0 and 2.2.0 (favorites are 2.0.0 and 2.1.8). Then continue on with the installed gems instructions.
Shoot me a note if you hit a snag.
Doug
Date: 03/24/2016 04:34 PM CDT
From: SHIXON
Subj: Re: Narost help
I’m still not good on the forums or with Terminal. I managed to figure out how to uninstall ruby using homebrew, but I do not know how to check if the OEM (Apple) Ruby2.0.0 is installed… I’m not even sure what that means. I also don’t know what gems are or how to check them… Can you guide me through it a little more step-by-step?
Date: 03/24/2016 10:45 PM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Yep, my apologies – I was trying to respond from my mobile device and was taking shortcuts.
To check to see if you still have the OEM (Apple) version of Ruby, in the Terminal window type:
>ruby -v
It should respond with version 2.0.0p645 (I believe, the 2.0.0 is the key part). If you see this line, you’re probably safe. If you don’t, let me know.
To check your installed gems, in the Terminal window type:
>gem list
You should see probably 8 to 10 gems listed, including gtk2. If you’ve recently installed this gem, it will likely be version 3.0.7.
To remove it, in the Terminal window type:
>sudo gem remove gtk2
It will ask for your password. Type in the password, but you won’t see anything. When you press enter, the gem will be uninstalled.
Then to reinstall the gem, in the Terminal window type:
>sudo gem install gtk2
That should do it. Test the game at that point.
Doug
Date: 03/25/2016 09:00 AM CDT
From: DAID
Subj: Re: Narost help
>sudo gem install gtk2
Don’t forget the sqlite3 gem, though I assume that was covered already and/or not causing problems.
The deathbot will come back eventually.
>Daid: Pretty sure you have a whole big bucket as your penny jar. You never have only two cents. :p
Date: 03/25/2016 09:12 AM CDT
From: SHIXON
Subj: Re: Narost help
It seems to be working now. gtk2 was not installed at all so installing it has made it so lnet works. but if I type ;narost I get this: error: ruby-gtk bindings are not installed or failed to load
Date: 03/25/2016 09:40 AM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Ok, Shixon – let’s check out what’s going on here.
in Terminal type:
>ls -al /library/caches/homebrew
That should give you a list of 20 or so files that you’ve installed on your system. Don’t worry about it if it is more or less. One column will have your account name you use on your computer – if you want to delete that information, that’s fine. I’m much more interested in the dates / times and filenames than anything else.
Doug
Date: 03/25/2016 11:20 AM CDT
From: SHIXON
Subj: Re: Narost help
Spencers-MBP:~ Spencer$ ls -al /library/caches/homebrew total 22720 drwxrwxr-x 7 Spencer admin 238 Mar 22 00:44 . drwxrwxrwt 14 root admin 476 Mar 24 11:37 .. drwxr-xr-x 8 Spencer admin 272 Mar 22 00:43 Formula -rw-r–r– 1 Spencer admin 109330 Mar 22 00:43 libyaml-0.1.6_1.yosemite.bottle.tar.gz -rw-r–r– 1 Spencer admin 3772403 Mar 22 00:43 openssl-1.0.2g.yosemite.bottle.tar.gz -rw-r–r– 1 Spencer admin 759288 Mar 22 00:43 readline-6.3.8.yosemite.bottle.tar.gz -rw-r–r– 1 Spencer admin 6985405 Mar 22 00:44 ruby-2.3.0.yosemite.bottle.2.tar.gz
Date: 03/25/2016 12:17 PM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Ok, looks like we need to install a couple of files here.
In terminal type or copy the bold italics lines below. The #(text) lines are comments, so don’t enter those:
cd
brew install –build-from-source –with-x11 cairo
#(will take about 10 to 15 minutes)
#(for the next line, copy and paste the whole line including the URL – don’t just click on on the link)
Excellent! And yes, ;narost is probably in the top 5 utilities category, and in my view is one of the most visually impactful ones.
Now, before we call this done, let’s take one more step – to help prevent any future mishaps or changes.
In Terminal type:
brew pin cairo
brew pin pango
brew pin gtk+
That will make sure these formula don’t get updated if you should go to update anything else on the system.
Doug
Date: 03/25/2016 07:42 PM CDT
From: SHIXON
Subj: Re: Narost help
Thanks so much!
Date: 03/28/2016 09:07 AM CDT
From: GS4-IXIX
Subj: Re: Narost help
Yay!
Thanks for all your help with that Doug.
Ixix
Date: 03/29/2016 06:55 AM CDT
From: DAID
Subj: Re: Narost help
>THAT DID IT!! Hey, Narost is neat!!
Right click for tags (e.g. HERBS). There are some other good ones, too.
The deathbot will come back eventually.
>Daid: Pretty sure you have a whole big bucket as your penny jar. You never have only two cents. :p
Date: 07/27/2016 01:31 PM CDT
From: LUXELLE
Subj: Re: Narost help
All right, I’m the newest person in line here for help.
Using the instructions the your 4-part AWESOME set of instructions, I have successfully logged in with Lich (kinda) working with Avalon.
But … the gtk thing doesn’t install correctly, and I get a Narost error when I try it. (Hence I’m in this thread)
But also … the thoughts window just sits there while all my Lnet and thoughts appear on my main window. I completely cannot play like that at all!! I think it’s been since GS2 that I have had a thoughts window 🙂
I also don’t know where to access my server side SF scripts with it. Or maybe that’s wishful thinking. But first, these other things. 🙂
Thank you in advance for help.
**
Date: 07/27/2016 04:03 PM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Hi, Luxelle! Hmm. . . I’ve seen that name post infrequently before, so this isn’t a ‘welcome to the lands’ time, is it?
At any rate, let’s finish this! I’m sure you’d rather be in-game then out here posting with me. . .
What you’re describing sounds like (hopefully) something isn’t completely set up. So let’s get a bit of diagnostics.
In the Terminal window, type in these two commands, and post the results back here, please? Alternatively, if you wish to, you can send your information along in email to doug@play.net, and I’ll assist you there.
>gem list
>ls -al ~/Library/Caches/Homebrew
Doug
P.S. Yep, sent Tillmen an email, we’ll see what he says.
Date: 07/27/2016 04:19 PM CDT
From: LUXELLE
Subj: Re: Narost help
I don’t post a lot, I returned to GS almost 2 years ago after … a 19ish year absence. I’m still figuring it all out!
So, the gtk doesn’t show up as an installed gem because it keeps failing the install. 🙁
– – – – – – … oh, the other is long. I will spare everyone and email it.
Date: 07/27/2016 04:44 PM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
Just FYI – I have to step away for a few hours. But I’ll be back!
Doug
Date: 07/29/2016 11:18 AM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Narost help
As a brief note to Mac players – the open-source community has made a couple of impactful changes again. Thanks to Luxelle’s patience, we’ve won through, but there are a couple of changes you need to be aware of if you’re going to update your Mac Lich software.
1) Tillmen suggests Ruby 2.0. The maintainers of glib and gtk2 (beginning with version 3.0.8) and both critical to the proper functioning of Lich scripts like ;narost, have implemented features not compatible with Ruby 2.0 and have stopped supporting Ruby 2.0.
2) The Ruby maintainers, as of version 2.3.0, have stopped supporting a function Tillmen uses in lich to help limit the effects of poorly designed or maliciously designed data objects to help protect us in our use of lich.
3) And to make it a perfect trifecta of impact, the maintainers of Homebrew, a package installer we use to install supporting software (and even new Ruby versions!) has decided to drop support of their versions tap (a collection of older versions of software), and so only the most current version of Ruby is available through that avenue. And you guessed it, the current version of Ruby is 2.3.
For Mac users in particular, this impacts us because the Apple OS X installed Ruby is 2.0.0 (so now our gtk2 gems are failing to install). We have to install a newer version of Ruby (2.1 or higher) but Homebrew only supports installing Ruby 2.3, which isn’t supported yet by Tillmen in lich. Fortunately, we have a couple of avenues left to us – I’ve successfully used one, but am assessing the benefits of a second and a third potential path.
In the meantime:
For new players joining us: The instructions at lichproject.org for Mac installations are incorrect and will cause frustration. I’ve asked Tillmen to consider pointing to our wiki with instructions that I’ll keep updated for as long as I’m around. Those instructions are at this link: https://gswiki.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Mac_Installation_-_Lich_(software) . I’ll be updating these instructions today and tomorrow (July 29 / 30) to get lich working in the game on a Mac.
For existing players using lich happily right now: My sincerest recommendation, at this point, is to NOT update any gem or Ruby related software on your system via using Homebrew’s update command or Ruby’s gem update command. Either of these actions will immediately force you to have to update Ruby as well, right now.
For existing players who are caught again by these changes, and lich suddenly isn’t working: Check the link above. I will attempt to include a ‘troubleshooting’ section which will allow for some self-healing. And you can always feel free to email me – doug@play.net – and I’ll help as best I may.
