HowTo: Install gaim(NOT pidgin) in Gutsy

[leftyfb]

For anyone that is like me and dislikes the new Pidgin Philosohpy (http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/DesignGuidelines) of "While Pidgin is a multiprotocol IM client, the goal is to hide protocols from the user as much as possible.", this guide is for you. When I found out they removed the independent protocols from the buddy list, I thought it was a mistake. Unfortunately, it is not. And until they come up with a way to bring that back (which they refuse to do (http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/414)), I will be sticking with gaim.

Here is how to install gaim 2.00 beta 6 from the gaim source files in Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy gibbon as of Dec 07 2007.

sudo apt-get remove pidgin

sudo apt-get install build-essential libxml2-dev libglib2.0-dev libgtk2.0-dev

Download the source files here (http://files.filefront.com/Gaim+v20+Beta6+Tarball/;6610793;/fileinfo.html)

tar -jxvf gaim-2.0.0beta6.tar.bz2

cd gaim-2.0.0beta6

./configure

make

sudo make install

sudo ln -s /usr/local/lib/libgaim.so.0 /usr/lib/

Now you should have "Gaim Instant Messenger" under Applications -> Internet

[avel]

FYI, in pidgin 2.2.0 the protocol icons are back, and the information of which protocol is used is very nicely and unobtrusively displayed, in both the buddy list window and the chat window.

The feature can be enabled through Buddies -> Show -> Protocol Icons.

The .deb for pidgin 2.2.0 from getdeb.net worked perfectly for me.

HTH.

[leftyfb]

FYI, in pidgin 2.2.0 the protocol icons are back, and the information of which protocol is used is very nicely and unobtrusively displayed, in both the buddy list window and the chat window.

The feature can be enabled through Buddies -> Show -> Protocol Icons.

The .deb for pidgin 2.2.0 from getdeb.net worked perfectly for me.

HTH.

I did not know this. However, this is a half-assed compromise. Instead of replacing the pointless and unsightly green orbs on every buddy with the protocol icons like it used to be, they went ahead and kept the useless orbs and wasted most space and introduced more clutter by adding the protocol icons to the right. These icons are only labels for the protocols and do not show the buddy status like the orbs do in their place.

I'll stick with gaim until they start listening to their users a bit more.

[avel]

Instead of replacing the pointless and unsightly green orbs on every buddy with the protocol icons like it used to be, they went ahead and kept the useless orbs and wasted most space and introduced more clutter by adding the protocol icons to the right. These icons are only labels for the protocols and do not show the buddy status like the orbs do in their place.

Well, of course you are entitled to your opinion, as I am entitled to disagree. :)

IMHO the unified status icons are much better. I do not need to distinguish between the MSN occupied status and the Jabber busy status; they should look the same. The status icon is very user-friendly and informative.

But again, this is very much a personal preference. I have a colleague here who agrees with you and still does not like the way 2.2.0 displays it.

[AirRaven]

I have to say that the large section of the conversation window devoted to the User Info and Display Picture is a ridiculous amount of wasted space- what on Earth was wrong with the old system of having the display picture next to the message entry box?

Heck- is there any point whatsoever in devoting a hundred pixels of screen space to duplicating something written in the chat window's title full stop?

Thanks for the tutorial- that's much better. :)

[Izkata]

Finally! Someone with some sense!

I'm favorite-ing this tutorial for when I need it in the future.

[foureight84]

i wish you could use adium. but i actually like the new pidgin. but yes this is personal preference. good tutorial nonetheless. could be useful later on.

[michael37]

I just upgraded to Gutsy for two reasons: first, to get Pidgin instead of just outdated gaim and second, to get Thunderbird 2.0 instead of outdated Thunderbird 1.5.

I guess I am sticking to pidgin, even though I hate its avian purple head.

[GavinZac]

Finally! Someone with some sense!

I'm favorite-ing this tutorial for when I need it in the future.

While I consider this thread pointless pedantry, the 'tutorial' itself is just the normal procedure for installing via make.

[sstusick]

I have to say that the large section of the conversation window devoted to the User Info and Display Picture is a ridiculous amount of wasted space- what on Earth was wrong with the old system of having the display picture next to the message entry box?

Heck- is there any point whatsoever in devoting a hundred pixels of screen space to duplicating something written in the chat window's title full stop?
Thank you!!

[Izkata]

While I consider this thread pointless pedantry, the 'tutorial' itself is just the normal procedure for installing via make.

Yeah, but it includes a link to the Beta6 source files. They've been taken off the official websites.

[Andreesie]

here (http://files.filefront.com/Gaim+v20+Beta6+Tarball/;6610793;/fileinfo.html)

tar -jxvf gaim-2.0.0beta6.tar.bz2

hi,
i can download the files, then i saved it in sbin. but i can't execute
tar -jxvf gaim-2.0.0beta6.tar.bz2. it says:

andreas@andreas-desktop:~$ tar -jxvf gaim-2.0.0beta6.tar.bz2
tar: gaim-2.0.0beta6.tar.bz2: Cannot open: No such file or directory
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
tar: Child returned status 2
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

what should i do?:confused:

[leftyfb]

Who told you to save it to /sbin? NEVER save anything to /sbin. Save it to your home directory or your Desktop. Somewhere where you have access to work on it. Then go into that directory to untar it using my original instructions.

[Andreesie]

Well, i downloaded it, and the save-screen-thingy opened in sbin, so i saved it there:|

but thanks, i'l try it again;)

[leftyfb]

Well, I noticed recently that MSN has stopped working in gaim. I also have reinstalled my main workstation to Gutsy from Feisty. So I took it upon myself to ask some of the developers in the office IRC channel #pidgin on irc.freenode.net. I was shot down again, being told that my need for having protocol icons is not a valid request and has no concrete reason behind it. Apparently these developers don't know the meaning of preference. A simple non-default option would be nice.
I also asked if they are still supporting gaim for protocol service changes and/or security fixed. This was also shot down.

So I am basically forced to use pidgin until I can find a new solution. You have no idea how frustrating I get when looking at such a disgusting buddy list window. They say protocol icons are confusing, try looking at this mess.

Alternative suggestions are welcome.

[sstusick]

I agree. Although there is an option on Pidgin 2.2.1 (default with Gutsy) that displays the protocol icons.

Go to BUDDIES > SHOW > Protocol Icons.

Hope this helps.