Jolla MUST provide a linux flash tool for SailfishX [subjective]

asked 2017-09-30 13:15:01 +0200

phklrz

815 ●12 ●20 ●26

updated 2017-10-10 23:15:46 +0200

olf
10393 ●104 ●201 ●158

Jolla MUST provide a linux flash tool for SailfishX

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The question has been closed for the following reason "too subjective and argumentative" by phklrz
close date 2017-10-02 21:52:48.922348

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11

Is this really such a massive issue? End users will flash once and then get updates OTA. Advanced users who flash devices constantly can always use fastboot regardless of what Sony wishes for the Xperia X.

gabriel ( 2017-09-30 19:44:48 +0200 )edit

9

i also can't understand why its so importand on which system the Xperia X is flashed. For me it doesn't matter. I'm a alltime Linux-User, but every geek can find a way to use Windows PC for 10min flashing.

ExPLIT ( 2017-09-30 20:08:05 +0200 )edit

9

We should keep in mind that many users of Jolla aren't WINDOWS OS users. The fact that some of us are mastering GNU/LINUX OS is not a valid argument to give up basic users. That's common sense.

sirrol ( 2017-09-30 21:15:36 +0200 )edit

11

It's a Sony device, so you should ask Sony for device-related software.

Giacomo Di Giacomo ( 2017-09-30 22:54:54 +0200 )edit

6

I love this one simply because I recall the huge amount of butthurt about having to use Linux to flash Xperia X with SFOS.

pisarz1958 ( 2017-10-01 13:01:52 +0200 )edit

37

answered 2017-09-30 20:21:10 +0200

olf
10393 ●104 ●201 ●158

updated 2017-10-10 23:05:18 +0200

Hey folks, please don't freak out over the fact, that the official way of flashing phones from Sony's Open Device Program (e.g. the F5121 aka Xperia X) is Emma. This is Sony's decision and not Jolla's.

There is no technical reason (or any indication) to assume that flashing under Linux with FlashTool and fastboot, as e.g. described here, will not work for the SailfishOS image (rather the opposite).

Edit: There is Jolla's HowTo for flashing SailfishX under Linux for CLI lovers. Please note, that this does not constitute Jolla's officially supported way of flashing SailfishX for end users, as it is command line only.

Edit 2: Note that there is also Xperifirm (runs under Linux, Windows and MacOS) for downloading appropriate firmware images for your device, which integrates into Flashtool (download); together they provide a similar set of functions (and more) at the GUI as Emma. And if one is dissatisfied with Flashtool, there is Xflasher as a (bit more hackish) alternative.

Side note: IMO the statement "Jolla MUST provide a linux flash tool" is arrogant (ignoring all legal and support issues this would imply), ignorant (as the "FlashTool and fastboot" way has been working well for years with recent Sony phones, including the F5121) and simply idiotic (as you bought hardware from Sony, hence it is up to them to determine the officially supported way of flashing it).

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@olf so am kinda lost here, i want to do it the Linux way and have an unlocked bootloader with an older android build:
What do i do with all this...

cd $ANDROID_ROOT/flashing/SailfishOS-/ MATCH='You have too old Sony Android version ($VMAJOR.$VMINOR) on your device,' LINE=$(grep -n "$MATCH" flash.sh | sed 's/:.//') if [ -n $LINE ]; then sed -i "$(($LINE+1)),$(($LINE+3)) d" flash.sh sed -i "s/$MATCH/Your Sony Android version is too old, but we'll workaround that via Linux cmdline/" flash.sh else echo 'Ensure you are using droid-configs from the build instructions above (same branch/up-to-date), then:' echo 'cp $ANDROID_ROOT/hybris/droid-configs/sparse/boot/flash.sh .' echo 'And restart this section from its beginning above ^ (cd $ANDROID_ROOT/flashing etc)' fi sed -i 's/echo "Flashing oem partition.."/echo "oem partition is populated manually through recovery"/' flash.sh sed -i 's/$FLASHCMD oem $BLOBS/#$FLASHCMD oem $BLOBS/' flash.sh fastboot flash system *_loire.img
Is that a batch file i need to create? how do i do that. For the given commands how do i point linux and fastboot to the folder with my hybris and other image files? what do i do with the sony image file? am i supposed to first flash the sony image, then the sailfish image..

DarkTuring ( 2017-10-12 08:01:38 +0200 )edit

Great, there is a wiki by @Edir already: https://together.jolla.com/question/169025/sailfish-x-install-flash-on-linux/

JoHe ( 2017-10-13 12:03:27 +0200 )edit

11

answered 2017-09-30 20:04:27 +0200

ScumCoder

2080 ●26 ●42 ●44

I am an architypical Microsoft-hating Linux maniac and even I disagree that this is an issue.

Just download a free trial of Windows 7 from MSDN, install it on a virtual machine, flash your phone, then delete the virtual machine.

This non-problem is discussed like it's a life changing event, while it's not.

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5

The point isn’t that this can’t be done - there are plenty of ways to get access to windows but the point is that this shouldn’t be needed. When the Sailfish X was advertised first it was clearly stated, that it will be a Linux only flashing solution (not good either of course - there should be at best a solution for every desktop OS) but people bought (quite expensive) devices based on that information - they now have every right to be disappointed - imagine how it would be the other way round ... advertised with a windows flashing tool and a week before start - sorry now Linux only or macOS only or only BSD, Amiga, OS2 ...

I can’t blame Jolla for a decision made by Sony but I can blame them for again advertising things before they are really ready ... - has been the same with SFOS on the the Fairphone - it will happen, it will happen, oh wait a moment ... now ... no ... unfortunately ... it won’t ... sorry .... Don’t get me wrong I’m backing Jolla and SFOS but they are always to enthusiastic to publish news that sound really brilliant just to announce some time later it will only happen a bit smaller (community port) or a bit different and a bit less brilliant or not at all - that’s ok for a startup at its first product, but Jolla isn’t a startup any more ...

elastic ( 2017-09-30 21:18:50 +0200 )edit

9

answered 2017-09-30 21:36:53 +0200

coderus

22985 ●253 ●337 ●370

https://coderus.openrepos...

the main way to flash is linux since beginnig. windows way was just added 26 september.

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1

Does the Linux method come with the same ease of use, the same robustness and same support in case something goes wrong as the Windows solution?

Fuzzillogic ( 2017-09-30 22:34:09 +0200 )edit

5

flashing is always straightforward. you do not need to control values e.g. pressure, voltage, current during process. just click and run into vault, in case of explosion. happy flashing!

coderus ( 2017-10-01 11:39:29 +0200 )edit

4

The words Windows and robustness used in such close manner are quite a stimulus for my sympaticus. I wonder why it made me laugh spontaneously.

lakutalo ( 2017-10-07 14:48:54 +0200 )edit

@lakutalo funny, but usually the tools like Emma are meant to be used by relative novices, and can perform some basic verification and sanity checking before allowing the user to do something stupid. CLI tools usually are more comprehensive and powerful, and are more likely to unintentionally poke an eye out. I.e. it was not Windows I was referring to, but the tooling to perform this task.

Fuzzillogic ( 2017-10-07 18:15:37 +0200 )edit

1

There will be but quite a few novices using Linux and being eager to flash a new phone and wanting SailfishOS who are not used to wearing safety glasses or living in occasional pain. No further objections, I rest my case. :)

lakutalo ( 2017-10-08 00:51:35 +0200 )edit

5

answered 2017-09-30 13:19:28 +0200

ApB
27604 ●302 ●421 ●409

If they are obliged from sony to use specific tools its not much jolla can do except provide an unofficial way to circumvent it (which is possible afai understand).

Sony is the one that should provide the tool.

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2

Jolla will sell the software. They have to negociate with Sony.

phklrz ( 2017-09-30 13:30:58 +0200 )edit

2

Emma is a general purpose flashing tool and not something specific for SFOS. Most people are on win machines and using a win tool to flash android on sony phones makes more sense. Linux is a minority.

ApB ( 2017-09-30 14:11:07 +0200 )edit

6

Jolla should've negotiated with Sony already at the beginning of the cooperation. If they don't have a contract with Sony which covers the way on how to flash the Image they can just ignore what Sony says and release anyways. If they have a contract which dictates them to use whatever Sony says they have done a very bad deal here and deserve to be destroyed by the media.

leszek ( 2017-09-30 15:12:21 +0200 )edit

2

@leszek "destroyed by the media" ??? For what. For allowing a bigger audience (win people) to experiment with the SW while they also maintain a way for linux people (minority) to install SFOS on Xperia???

ApB ( 2017-09-30 15:39:45 +0200 )edit

3

@ApB: Linux is the minority. With the same argument, SailfishOS is less than a minority in front of Android and iOS, so it shouldn't exist!

phklrz ( 2017-09-30 15:45:36 +0200 )edit

4

answered 2017-09-30 20:42:43 +0200

RodSeq
336 ●7 ●13 ●12

Surely good to have Linux support but Windows support is sufficient to start

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6

if you've got a windows computer. I've not.

phklrz ( 2017-09-30 20:48:22 +0200 )edit

7

i have no linux and.did not.freak out while.linux.was needed..

pawel ( 2017-10-01 09:32:56 +0200 )edit

1

@phklrz What's the point? You can flash via linux easily. Other ways to get sailfish on it already stated above. For which crowd you're speaking? It looks like jolla can't never do it right for some folks. First they shout we need a windows tool. Now it's there and then we need a linux tool? Sorry, build youre own gui for fastboot. When you're a linux user is it really that hard for you to get it on or only want to open a topic?

carepack ( 2017-10-04 19:35:39 +0200 )edit

1

@carepack I'm a linux user, not a hacker or a developper. Having read forums on xda or maemo, it doesn't seem to me so straightforward to flash a firmware on xperia devices. More, I want a supported way, not a hack.

phklrz ( 2017-10-04 20:39:51 +0200 )edit

4

answered 2017-10-04 21:58:47 +0200

carepack
893 ●13 ●31 ●30

@phklrz here's youre guide: http://sailfishmods.de/2017/10/howto-sony-xperia-x-teil-2-sailfish-os-community-installieren/ hint: use google translator. theres no hack. all done with official tools. Only thing missing is one all in one wonder tool. hope it helps.

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@carepack Danke schön.

phklrz ( 2017-10-05 11:31:57 +0200 )edit

gerne :-) first backup the drm keys - part 1 of the tutorial. ahoy

carepack ( 2017-10-06 17:08:03 +0200 )edit

Jolla MUST provide a linux flash tool for SailfishX [subjective]

The question has been closed for the following reason "too subjective and argumentative" by phklrz
close date 2017-10-02 21:52:48.922348

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Jolla MUST provide a linux flash tool for SailfishX [subjective]

The question has been closed for the following reason "too subjective and argumentative" by phklrz close date 2017-10-02 21:52:48.922348

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The question has been closed for the following reason "too subjective and argumentative" by phklrz
close date 2017-10-02 21:52:48.922348