unixpkg

Linux/BSD package installation

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Linux/BSD packages for get_iplayer are NOT provided, endorsed, or maintained by the developers. Volunteers have packaged get_iplayer for several distros. If you have any problems installing a packaged version of get_iplayer, or you are left with an incomplete or broken installation, contact the packager via whatever channel is appropriate for your distro. If the version packaged for your system is older than the latest release (found here), you may either wait for the new release to be packaged or else remove the obsolete package and perform a manual installation.

Available Packages

• Arch (from AUR)

• Debian (from software.opensuse.org)

  • Note that the package name is "get-iplayer" (with hyphen), but you can still run the application as "get_iplayer" (with underscore).

• Fedora (from RPMFusion)

• FreeBSD (from "latest" snapshot repo)

• Mageia (from main repo)

• NetBSD (from "-current" snapshot repo)

• OpenBSD (from "-current" snapshot repo)

• openSUSE (from software.opensuse.org)

• PCLinuxOS (from main repo)

• Raspbian/Raspberry Pi OS (from software.opensuse.org)

  • IMPORTANT: Shortly after the release of v3.26, the repository previously at packages.hedgerows.org.uk was deleted by its maintainer. Before upgrading, purge the old package and repository from your system:

      # purge get-iplayer
      sudo apt purge get-iplayer
      # remove unneeded dependencies installed with get-iplayer
      sudo apt autoremove
      # remove the packages.hedgerows.org.uk repository
      sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/packages.hedgerows.org.uk*
      # remove the repository signing key used for packages.hedgerows.org.uk
      # - for [email protected]
      sudo apt-key del 0F5BFDFE
      # - for jon's build-bot
      sudo apt-key del 13924333
      # update the packages list
      sudo apt update
    

  • You now have three options:

    1. Install and use another third-party repository that is now available. Installation instructions are provided at the repository site. Note that the package name is "get-iplayer" (with hyphen), but you can still run the application as "get_iplayer" (with underscore).

    2. Install the snap version (if available) - see "Distros with snap support" below.

    3. Perform a manual installation, which is well-supported by Debian and derivative distros.

• Slackware (from Slackbuilds)

• Ubuntu/Mint (and other Ubuntu-based distros) (from Launchpad PPA)

  • IMPORTANT: Shortly after the release of v3.26, the PPA formerly at launchpad.net/~jon-hedgerows/+archive/ubuntu/get-iplayer was deleted by its maintainer. Before upgrading, purge the old package and repository from your system:

      # purge get-iplayer
      sudo apt purge get-iplayer
      # remove dependencies installed with get-iplayer
      sudo apt autoremove
      # remove the launchpad.net/~jon-hedgerows PPA and key
      sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jon-hedgerows-ubuntu-get-iplayer*
      sudo rm /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/jon-hedgerows_ubuntu_get-iplayer.gpg
      # update the packages list
      sudo apt update
    

  • You now have three options:

    1. Install and use another third-party PPA that is now available. Installation instructions are provided at the PPA site. Note that the package name is "get-iplayer" (with hyphen), but you can still run the application as "get_iplayer" (with underscore).

    2. Install the snap version (if available) - see "Distros with snap support" below.

    3. Perform a manual installation, which is well-supported by Ubuntu and derivative distros.

  • Android note: If you have been using UserLAnd + Ubuntu + PPA to run get_iplayer on Android, you will need to switch to a manual installation or to the alternate PPA since snap support is not available.

• Distros with snap support

  • IMPORTANT: Before upgrading from a PPA version to the snap version on Ubuntu, purge the old package and repository from your system:

      # purge get-iplayer
      sudo apt purge get-iplayer
      # remove unneeded dependencies installed with get-iplayer
      sudo apt autoremove
      # remove the launchpad.net/~jon-hedgerows PPA and key (if used)
      sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jon-hedgerows-ubuntu-get-iplayer*
      sudo rm /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/jon-hedgerows_ubuntu_get-iplayer.gpg
      # remove the launchpad.net/~m-grant-prg PPA and key (if used only for get_iplayer)
      sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/m-grant-prg-ubuntu-utils*
      sudo rm /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/m-grant-prg_ubuntu_utils.gpg
      # update the packages list
      sudo apt update
    

    For other distros, use whatever process is required to completely purge a previous release of get_iplayer from your system before installing the snap version.

  • Installation instructions for various distros can be found at the Snap Store. get_iplayer can also be installed from the Ubuntu Software/Snap Store desktop application (if available). Note that the snap name is "get-iplayer" (with hyphen), but you can still run the application as "get_iplayer" (with underscore).

  • IMPORTANT: The default get_iplayer profile directory will be $HOME/snap/get-iplayer/common/.get_iplayer rather than $HOME/.get_iplayer ($HOME is set to the value of $SNAP_USER_COMMON in the snap environment). Immediately after upgrading from a PPA version to the snap version, you must move or copy the contents of your profile directory to the location used by the snap version:

      # run once to ensure snap version initialises profile directory
      get_iplayer
      # move/copy contents of profile directory
      mv ~/.get_iplayer/* ~/snap/get-iplayer/common/.get_iplayer
      # OR
      cp -r ~/.get_iplayer/* ~/snap/get-iplayer/common/.get_iplayer
    

  • If an "ERROR: Cannot read options file: /etc/get_iplayer/options" message appears when you run the snap version, remove the indicated directory (it is not required by get_iplayer):

      sudo rm -fr /etc/get_iplayer
    

  • get_iplayer will not be able to create files on removable media under /media unless the snap's "removable-media" interface is connected:

      sudo snap connect get-iplayer:removable-media :removable-media
    

    You can also select "Read/write files on removable storage devices" in the permissions for get-iplayer in the Ubuntu Software/Snap Store desktop application (if available) after installation.

  • To launch the Web PVR Manager: run get-iplayer.cgi --port=1935 from a command prompt and open http://127.0.0.1:1935 in your browser.

ffmpeg and AtomicParsley for old or obsolete Linux distros

Old Linux distros or long-term support releases may not provide modern versions of ffmpeg (3.0+) and AtomicParsley (0.9.4+) required to support some get_iplayer functionality. You may be able to install alternate versions of those applications. See external programs.

Tutorials

Once get_iplayer is installed, check out some tutorials to help you get started.

Upgrading

The system package manager or snap system will handle upgrades to get_iplayer and its dependencies. If you have installed a separate version of ffmpeg or AtomicParsley on an old distro, you will need to update it manually if necessary.

Uninstalling

Use the system package manager to uninstall a packaged version of get_iplayer. Your settings will remain intact in $HOME/.get_iplayer. Use the snap utility to uninstall the get_iplayer snap version (sudo snap remove get-iplayer). Your settings will remain intact in $HOME/snap/get-iplayer/common/.get_iplayer. If you have installed a separate version of ffmpeg or AtomicParsley on an old distro, and you no longer need it, you will need to remove it manually.