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User guide / Getting started

SKOTIQ 8.1 · GUIDE

Install on Linux

The desktop bundle, system libraries and device permissions.

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Requirements

Use x86-64 Linux with glibc 2.35 or newer, an OpenGL 3.3-capable GPU, and at least 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended). Required runtime libraries include GTK 3, libsecret, libusb, libudev and OpenSSL.

The official Linux desktop download is x64, not an ARM Raspberry Pi package. There is no macOS desktop download in this release.

Download and launch

Save the tar archive and its .sha256 file from the download center in the same directory, then:

sha256sum -c skotiq-8.1.0-linux-x64.tar.gz.sha256
tar -xzf skotiq-8.1.0-linux-x64.tar.gz
cd skotiq-8.1.0-linux-x64
./skotiq

Use the ./skotiq launcher rather than starting skotiq.bin directly. It sets up the packaged native library paths. Keep the bundle together when moving it.

Equipment on Linux

ASCOM COM is Windows-only. Use a reachable INDI server, an Alpaca device or bridge, or a supported native path with the appropriate vendor libraries installed. The official archive does not bundle INDI or vendor SDK libraries.

Install the INDI drivers appropriate to your equipment using your distribution’s supported packages. Enter the server address in Skotiq; the usual INDI port is 7624. See the hardware guide for connection options.

Permissions and missing libraries

If USB or serial equipment appears only when running as root, fix the device permissions instead of using the application as root. Your vendor’s udev rules and relevant group membership may be needed; log out and back in after changing groups.

For a startup library error, run ldd ./skotiq.bin from the extracted directory and check for missing libraries. Record the exact missing name in a support report.

Before updating

Back up through Settings → Backup & Restore, retain the previous bundle, then verify the new version opens your saved profile. Backup and migration details.

Need help? Contact Sean →

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