Skype fo Linux in Slackware

theodore.s · 05-14-2024, 12:12 PM

Hi,

It looks that since November, Skype for Linux comes only as a Snap package. As Snap needs systemd, that means that it will not be possible to use Skype in Slackware anymore? I already got a message in Skype that the version I'm using (8.110.76.107) will soon be obsolete.

LuckyCyborg · 05-14-2024, 12:18 PM

Yep, unfortunately no more Skype for Slackers.

I admit however that the hard-cores may succeed to run it on Wine.

kgha · 05-14-2024, 12:24 PM

I don't skype, but there seems to be an (unofficial?) flatpak available that might (or might not) run on slackware:

https://flathub.org/apps/com.skype.Client

Plus the skype webclient.

henca · 05-14-2024, 01:07 PM

The skype installation that I have on my laptop is still working but might become obsolete. However, the last year I have used skype less frequently, most people that I used to call by Skype I now instead call by facebook to get video chats.

A few years ago something happened to html standards and web browsers making it easy to have video chat just using a browser. Jitsi, google meet, teams, and if I remember right also zoom works fine. And of course also facebook.

I think that there is no longer any need for an application like skype.

regards Henrik

theodore.s · 05-14-2024, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgha

I don't skype, but there seems to be an (unofficial?) flatpak available that might (or might not) run on slackware:

https://flathub.org/apps/com.skype.Client

Plus the skype webclient.

What a nightmare...

Installed flatpak (+ dependencies) from slackbuilds. Installed Skype (+ dependencies, as user) from flathub. Running skype:

Code:

flatpak run --user com.skype.Client

... exits immediately without message, exit code 134 (abort).

Tried to debug:

Code:

bash-5.1$ flatpak run --user --command=sh --devel com.skype.Client
[📦 com.skype.Client ~]$ skype
Aborted

Saw an error message about zypak-wrapper in skype-startup.log, tried that too:

Code:

[📦 com.skype.Client ~]$ zypak-wrapper
[9 zypak-helper] Failed to connect to session bus: [org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Spawn.ExecFailed] /usr/bin/dbus-launch terminated abnormally without any error message
[9 zypak-helper] src/helper/main.cc:42(DetermineZygoteStrategy): Assertion failed: bus
Aborted
[📦 com.skype.Client ~]$

I will not spend any more time with this monstrosity. ~/.local/share/flatpak is already 3.5GB, just for skype and org.freedesktop.Sdk needed to run the --devel session. Bye-bye flatpak.

As for the web client, it is not working correctly with firefox (but there was a warning about that). Looks better in Vivaldi, that's my last hope for Skype in Slackware.

Bindestreck · 05-14-2024, 02:08 PM

I have no issue running Skype through flatpak.

theodore.s · 05-14-2024, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindestreck

I have no issue running Skype through flatpak.

I suspect that the flatpak skype needs some DE services to work correctly. I'm using fluxbox, so no KDE services running here. But I will not spend more time testing, as I don't plan to use KDE in my day-to-day use. Are you running KDE?

As for flatpak, after removing all flatpaks and flatpak itself, checked .local/share/flatpak and it was still using 2GB. Guess what, there is a .removed directory under .local/share/flatpak, taking up this space...

Bindestreck · 05-14-2024, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theodore.s

I suspect that the flatpak skype needs some DE services to work correctly. I'm using fluxbox, so no KDE services running here. But I will not spend more time testing, as I don't plan to use KDE in my day-to-day use. Are you running KDE?

As for flatpak, after removing all flatpaks and flatpak itself, checked .local/share/flatpak and it was still using 2GB. Guess what, there is a .removed directory under .local/share/flatpak, taking up this space...

Yes, I am running KDE.

rizitis · 05-14-2024, 04:34 PM

This SlackBuild build skypeforlinux from snap

you can test it i dont use skype.

EDIT:UPDATE ATTACHMENT

theodore.s · 05-14-2024, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizitis

This SlackBuild build skypeforlinux from snap

you can test it i dont use skype.

Yes, it works! Not fully tested yet (no calls made yet), but loging in, sound and camera seem to work.

You should consider informing the skypeforlinux slackbuild maintainer about it.

But there is a weak point: how did you found the ID for the .snap download? This will change in next version and looking around in snapcraft.io couldn't find a way to directly download the .snap file.

Thanks a lot!

Paulo2 · 05-14-2024, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizitis

This SlackBuild build skypeforlinux from snap

you can test it i dont use skype.

EDIT:UPDATE ATTACHMENT

Thank you very much

just downloaded your slackbuild and it runs OK and the old version gets updated, and skype runs OK.
I didn't test it with actual chats, but it seems to work.

How did you figure out the initial variables? VERSION, ID, SNAP_VERSION, etc.

rizitis · 05-15-2024, 12:30 AM

About VERSION, ID, SNAP_VERSION, etc...
save it as snap-find.py

Code:

import sys
import requests

# Slackware snap-find.py command :D
# Run python3 snap-find <package>
# First line is what you need:
# {'aliases': None, 'anon_download_url': 'https://api.snapcraft.io/api/v1/snaps/download/QRDEfjn4WJYnm0FzDKwqqRZZI77awQEV_348.snap', 'apps':
# If you see "Error: 404" means package has different name. 
# και τώρα ξέρεις ;) 

if len(sys.argv) != 2:
    print("Usage: python snap-find.py <package>")
    sys.exit(1)

snap_name = sys.argv[1]

url = f"https://api.snapcraft.io/api/v1/snaps/details/{snap_name}"

# hm...
headers = {
    "X-Ubuntu-Series": "16"  
}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)


if response.status_code == 200:
    snap_details = response.json()
    print(snap_details)
else:
    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

rizitis · 05-15-2024, 12:42 AM

About VERSION, ID, SNAP_VERSION, etc...
save it as snap-find.py

Code:

import sys
import requests

# Slackware snap-find command :D
# Run python3 snap-find.py <package>
# First line is what you need:
# {'aliases': None, 'anon_download_url': 'https://api.snapcraft.io/api/v1/snaps/download/QRDEfjn4WJYnm0FzDKwqqRZZI77awQEV_348.snap', 'apps':
# If you see "Error: 404" means package has different name. 
# και τώρα ξέρεις ;) 

if len(sys.argv) != 2:
    print("Usage: python snap-find.py <package>")
    sys.exit(1)

snap_name = sys.argv[1]

url = f"https://api.snapcraft.io/api/v1/snaps/details/{snap_name}"

# hm...
headers = {
    "X-Ubuntu-Series": "16"  
}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)


if response.status_code == 200:
    snap_details = response.json()
    print(snap_details)
else:
    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

Mark Pettit · 05-15-2024, 02:49 AM

Skype ???? In 2024 ? Seriously ?

theodore.s · 05-15-2024, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Pettit

Skype ???? In 2024 ? Seriously ?

Well, yes, many people still using it. In some cases people that is not very easy for them to use something different, for example old people. Sometimes it's easier to find a way to install Skype in Slackware than teach somebody to use something else...

Using only new, shiny software is not always the best solution, otherwise we wouldn't using Slackware.