Building Distributable Linux Binaries?

Grubby Games asks: "I make games for a living, and I want to ensure that my games will run on as many Linux distros as possible. However, since I distribute binary game executables, the programs often fail to run on certain distros because of missing dependencies, and so forth. So, how do the Slashdot Linux gurus handle this situation? I've heard a number of theories on the subject, but have yet to find one that results in 100% cross-distro compatibility. Is it even possible, short of distributing source code?"

Comments

Re:Distribute source

[PunkOfLinux]

I would just write a script that checked for everything it needed, and, if something isn't there, informs the user and (if possible) installs the dependency for the user (with their permission, of course,)

Open Source Engine, Proprietary Data

[RAMMS EIN]

If you're making games, it's usually a good solution to make the game engine open source, and charge for the data. The game engine can get ported to dog knows what platforms without any effort from you, and you can still get compensated by charging for the data files. The real value of a game tends to be in the data files, as they control the story line, the graphics, the sound effects, basically everything. The game engine is just like a library used to play the datafiles. Of course, not all games work like this.

klick

[astrashe]

You might want to take a look at klik:

http://klik.atekon.de/

Re:It's not possible.

[Spudley]

*shrug* Of course, any respectable Linux user won't use your software unless they can see the code anyway. How else do we know it's not chock full of security holes and spyware?

Ah. So that's why Loki went bust.

But you know what... I'm respectable, and I bought their games. And no, I didn't get any source code.

There are legitimate reasons not to release source code, and the original poster didn't give any details of his licence, so I think you're being excessively harsh to call it obnoxious.

The decision to distribute source code or not does not affect the quality of the software. It may make it harder for you to look inside, but remember - Sony didn't release their DRM source code either.

How to kill Linux (as per Unix)

[davecb]

If you can't run the same binaries on all the distributions, then you're on the way to suffering from the same thing that made Windows so much more popular than Unix.

Distributors who want to make it hard for you to run your binaries are every bit as wise as the Unix vendors who tried to avoid standardization and the risk of mutual success...

--dave