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qqX will generally run straight 'out of the box' on the vast majority of Linux distributions.
- Users of non-standard OS's such as NixOS, should view the installer script, plus read issue #1 and details on Filesystem Hierarchy Standards here
Installation on Windows hardware has now been partly implemented via the WSL Linux Subsystem with support being hopefully in an upcoming release.
Running on physical MacOS Hosts is unfortunately not supported at present, due to BSD variances.
- Installer includes an easy un-installer, if you don't like it .....
Start from scratch:
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From version 1.8 onwards, the installation of quickemu is not essential.
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Most users need only install
qemuandspice-gtkSome distro versions may requirecurl wget jq bc -
Follow up with 'qqX'. The latest release will have been carefully tested. Click on the 'code' button and 'download zip'.
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Newer branches, if present, may have the latest tweaks or features, and may possibly have bug fixes. Branches with a single third number element of '0' are auto designated as beta when loaded.
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No further software, support structures or dependencies should be needed.
Qemu may be listed with various names:
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Arch users should install 'qemu-desktop' not qemu-base.
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Other users may see the listing as 'qemu-system-x86_64' with 'qemu-system-aarch64' only needed if you wish to emulate Arm etc ...
Spice gtk may be listed as spice-client-gtk
Or test out the qqX difference on your existing VM's:
- qqX has been designed to work happily alongside quickgui or any quickemu shortcuts, if you already have them.
The standard Quickemu instructions may be found on the quickemu-project pages
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Note that Quickemu has no dedicated folders (yet) for the manual installation to 'PATH'. The usual method is to place all the files loose in
/usr/bin -
qqX will install on Solus but currently quickemu won't run in UEFI mode, so no Windows 11 for now. See repo issue here
For most usage cases, simply right clicking in a file manager and selecting extract or extract with ....
At the Cmd Line, create a folder of similar name to the tar.gz file eg qqX-1.11.0.02 and extract as so:
mkdir qqX-1.11.0.02
mv qqX-1.11.0.02.tar*.* ./qqX-1.11.0.02/
cd qqX-1.11.0.02
sha256sum -c qqX-1.11.0.02.tar.gz.sha256
qqX-1.11.0.02.tar.gz: OK
tar xvfz qqX-1.11.0.02.tar.gzRun the installer:
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In many file managers you can usually right click, then run as program, or similar.
With Cinnamon and Mate, double click and 'run in terminal'
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In other environments it may be necessary to start the installer script by opening a terminal first.
In the file-manager folder > right click > open in terminal > type
./qqX_setup_and_install<< note prefix./ -
In KDE, use 'run in konsole' or as above.
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From version 1.11, with both Dolphin & Thunar the installer may be double clicked and executed.
Further notes are in the installer script itself.
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If you have existing quickemu virtual machines, start qqX and edit the settings file to point to where they are.
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'VMQs' is the standard default, in your Home folder, next to Downloads & Videos.
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Moving or renaming the default folder can be easily done using your file manager. Start qqX and edit the settings to point to it.
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If this is a new setup, installing a basic Linux distro, one that you are familiar with perhaps, will tell you if your setup is okay.
When you know that everything is working correctly, you can start exploring ...
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An auto-detector will tell you when new qqX releases are available.
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The qqX installer can be used to update, reinstall, uninstall or reconfigure.
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TO MANUALLY SPECIFY the terminal name, the installer script's 'UserTerm' variable may be used.
From qqX version 1.10.02 onwards, a 'CustomTerminalProfile' will now be stored in the qqX settings folder. This file will be checked and auto-read when carrying out updates.
For first installs or profile re-imposition this installer script may be directly edited. Open the script in a standard text editor at around line 240.
If updating, the file '$HOME/.qqX/qqX_term.conf' may also be edited (hidden) MAKE SURE to SELECT option [r] reconfigure desktop launcher, as this where the terminal command is finally used.
It is quite common for different distros to rename or tweak a standard terminal. Typing the terminal name, followed by '--help' should give you a list of the parameters that you can use. Note that options can vary slightly and can also be subject to theming or desktop environment overides.
For actual 'XTERM' itself, also edit the installer script's 'CustomTerminalProfile' eg xterm -geometry 145x50 -fa truetype -fs 12
For CUSTOM PROFILES, only one profile line is required and the actual sizes are best stated. Auto-updating size variable lines are difficult to set, due to 'escaping' routines, but may be initially be copied, if wished. Size variables will eventually become overwritten as numerics.
eg. CustomTerminalProfile=" --geometry=145x50 --hide-menubar --title=qqX "
Remember that width and height are column/row units which are based on the size of your terminal font and that the window size will alter when the font size is changed.
All folders can be easily moved around, but make sure that they have their .conf file next to them. And make sure the config internals point correctly. From version 1.7 onwards, there is now a handy move and rename tool to make this even easier still.
Multiple folders can help organise your distros. You can edit which VMs to show first in the general settings.
If you you are finding the interface a bit cramped, re-run the installer making sure to run the desktop part. This will allow you to tweak the terminal size.
The qqX downloader script will have done this. But you can manually check the download integrity by opening a terminal in the release's download folder and typing sha256sum -c qqX- "tab-key" .s "tab-key", if you have downloaded both of the named files from the release tab.
Please report any unnoticed errors. Also any difficulties you may have encountered. By using this software you become a valued member of the community and can help make this software better for others.