# SimpleX Installation Notes

## ⚠️ Known Issues

### .deb Package Compatibility Problems

The official .deb packages (both Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04) have library compatibility issues:

**Confirmed broken on:**
- ✗ Debian Trixie (crash: `SIGSEGV in libHSzstd`)
- ✗ Pop!_OS (various library issues)

**Root cause:**
- Complex dependency chain (Java, Haskell runtime, zstd, VLC libraries)
- Ubuntu-specific library versions
- Native library linking issues

## ✅ Recommended: AppImage

**Use the AppImage for ALL installations:**

```bash
cd ~/github/privacy-toolkit/tools/simplex
./install-appimage.sh
```

**Why AppImage works:**
- ✅ Bundles all dependencies
- ✅ No library conflicts
- ✅ Works on all distros
- ✅ Tested on Debian Trixie and Pop!_OS

## 📦 File Locations

After AppImage installation:
- **Binary**: `~/.local/bin/SimpleX.AppImage`
- **Desktop Entry**: `~/.local/share/applications/simplex.desktop`
- **Data** (unchanged): `~/.local/share/simplex/`
- **Config** (unchanged): `~/.config/simplex/`

## 🔄 Migrating from .deb to AppImage

If you tried the .deb first:

```bash
# Remove broken .deb
sudo apt remove simplex
sudo rm -rf /opt/simplex

# Install AppImage
./install-appimage.sh

# Your data is preserved (lives in ~/.local/share/simplex/)
```

## 📝 Testing Notes

| System | .deb Package | AppImage |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| Debian Trixie (glibc 2.41) | ✗ Crashes | ✅ Works |
| Pop!_OS 22.04 | ✗ Issues | ✅ Works |
| Ubuntu 24.04 native | ? Unknown | ✅ Works |

**Conclusion**: Always use AppImage for SimpleX.

---

**Last Updated**: 2025-11-12
**Tested On**: Debian Trixie, Pop!_OS
**Recommendation**: AppImage only