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Install Adobe Flex Builder Linux(alpha) in Ubuntu

Mar 26th, 2009 by KBala

Yesterday, i found the Flex Builder for Linux on Adobe Labs. Since i am a Flex Developer i would like to install Adobe Flex Builder Linux(alpha) in my Ubuntu OS. I have noticed here that the Flex Builder Linux is a plugin-only version of the Flex Builder, the desktop version for Linux not yet released. So i need to install Flex Builder as plug-in on the Eclipse IDE.

This Flex Builder Linux is not installed properly in the other version of the Eclipse(lower or upper than 3.3.x). Specifically, Eclipse 3.3.x is only supports to install this Flex Builder. The following prerequisites must be installed before that.

  • Java Runtime Engine(JRE) latest
  • Eclipse 3.3.x

Install Java Runtime in Ubuntu

To install the latest JRE, go to Add/Remove… Applications, select ‘Sun Java 6 Runtime‘ and click Apply changes. it installs latest JRE.

add-remove-applications

Install Eclipse 3.3.x

Since the Flex Builder Linux supports Eclipse 3.3.x, we need to download from eclipse.org, Click here to download Eclipse 3.3.x. The Ubuntu synoptics will download latest Eclipse which is mostly not supported. After completing the download, do the following steps to install Eclipse.

Extract the tar.gz file and move to a folder where you want to install.

tar xzf eclipse-jee-europa-winter-linux-gtk.tar.gz
sudo mv eclipse /opt/eclipse
cd /opt
sudo chown -R root:root eclipse
sudo chmod -R +r eclipse
sudo chmod +x `sudo find eclipse -type d`


Create a executable file to launch Eclipse

sudo touch /usr/bin/eclipse
sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/eclipse
sudoedit /usr/bin/eclipse
#!/bin/sh
#export MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME=”/usr/lib/mozilla/”
export ECLIPSE_HOME=”/opt/eclipse”

$ECLIPSE_HOME/eclipse $*

Create Menu for Eclipse

sudoedit /usr/share/applications/eclipse.desktop

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Eclipse
Comment=Eclipse IDE
Exec=eclipse
Icon=/opt/eclipse/icon.xpm
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=GNOME;Application;Development;
StartupNotify=true

Initialize the setup

/opt/eclipse/eclipse -clean

Thats all, eclipse installed, lets do the Flex Builder installation.

Download the Adobe Flex Builder Linux(alpha) here

Change the downloaded file as executable (chmod +x)

Execute the file using shell (sh flexbuilder_linux_install_a4_081408.bin). Now proceed with the installation wizard and we need to give the path of the Eclipse where its installed. In my case its /opt/eclipse and make sure the folder having write permission if you not installed from root user.

adobe_flex_builder_linux

Once the installation complete, you just go to Applications –> Programming –> Eclipse. Create a new workspace for Flex and get in to the Eclipse. Change the Flex development perspective and enjoy the coding with Flex on Linux (Ubuntu) :)

Creative Commons LicenseThe Install Adobe Flex Builder Linux(alpha) in Ubuntu by K Balasubramanian, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 India License.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 26th, 2009 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Flex, Ubuntu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

50 Responses to “Install Adobe Flex Builder Linux(alpha) in Ubuntu”

  1. Fernando
    April 1, 2009 at 3:38 pm

    I am getting the following error. I googled but I found nothing. I saw other same kind of problems for some scripts in Ubuntu. Actually, it is a script. Any help, please! Ubuntu 8.04

    Preparing to install…
    Extracting the installation resources from the installer archive…
    The size of the extracted files to be installed are corrupted. Please
    try to download the installer again and make sure that you download
    using ‘binary’ mode.

    Reply
  2. babu
    April 17, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    hi
    i am getting the following error while installing flex builder on ubuntu 8.10

    Stack Trace:
    java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Could not initialize class java.awt.Toolkit
    at java.awt.Component.(Component.java:568)
    at com.zerog.ia.installer.LifeCycleManager.g(DashoA8113)
    at com.zerog.ia.installer.LifeCycleManager.h(DashoA8113)
    at com.zerog.ia.installer.LifeCycleManager.a(DashoA8113)
    at com.zerog.ia.installer.Main.main(DashoA8113)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:57)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:616)
    at com.zerog.lax.LAX.launch(DashoA8113)
    at com.zerog.lax.LAX.main(DashoA8113)
    This Application has Unexpectedly Quit: Invocation of this Java Application has caused an InvocationTargetException. This application will now exit. (LAX)

    Reply
  3. deepak rk
    April 19, 2009 at 11:24 am

    I have installed flex in ubuntu successfully but it is not showing in eclipse .I didn’t get any error log while installation .
    please help me .

    Reply
    • KBala
      April 19, 2009 at 1:40 pm

      Great!..just open the Flex Development Perspective and start your work. OR go to File –> New –> others and the select Flex Builder, and create flex project then it will ask you to change to Flex Perspective, click yes. And go ahead.

      Reply
  4. vtam
    April 26, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    I followed your instructions step by step and install flex builder with a few non fatal errors. But when I open eclipse, flex builder is no where to be found. Can you help me with that ?

    Reply
    • KBala
      April 27, 2009 at 9:08 am

      Can i know whats the errors you got. Anyway, go to File –> New –> others and the select Flex Builder, and create flex project then it will ask you to change to Flex Perspective, click yes, and go ahead.

      Reply
  5. DT
    April 28, 2009 at 4:46 am

    Bala,
    Thx 4 coming up with detailed instructions.
    FYI: I am using Ubuntu 8.10
    Couple comments & questions:
    1. Comment: I was able to download JRE 6 using Synaptic Manager.

    2. Question Eclipse 3.3.x: When I clicked on the ‘here’ link that u have provided in your document, it downloaded a tar file which had a DIFFERENT name that the one u have mentioned in your doc, i.e. the name of the tar ball was eclipse-jee-europe-winter-linux-gtk.tar.gz (NOT xzf wtp-all-in-one-sdk-1.0-linux-gtk.tar.gz)

    Question: do u know if the tarball still contains the bits for 3.3.x version (or has been upgraded to 3.4)?

    3. I will let u know how the rest of the process goes.

    Regards,
    DT

    Reply
    • KBala
      April 28, 2009 at 7:59 am

      DT,

      Thanks for your comments. sorry it was misspelled, it should be eclipse-jee-europe-winter-linux-gtk.tar.gz. I have updated the post now.
      Right now Flex Builder Linux is built for 3.3.x not for 3.4. so i hope it will not support 3.4.

      Reply
  6. DT
    April 28, 2009 at 5:09 am

    More comments:
    Bala,
    When running /opt/eclipse/eclipse -clean, i got the following errors:
    zubin:/usr/share/applications$ /opt/eclipse/eclipse -clean
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgiogconf.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgiogconf.so
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgioremote-volume-monitor.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgioremote-volume-monitor.so
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so

    Any idea what is causing this & how to fix this?
    Danesh

    Reply
    • KBala
      April 28, 2009 at 8:10 am

      Hi,

      I have experienced my installation process with 32bit. but the above error u mentioned, its due to 64bit system. I don’t have 64bit system right now to do a workaround to fix this. Please study the help about clean command and make sure any special notation for 64bit. If you have done successfully, please let me know.

      Reply
  7. DT
    April 28, 2009 at 5:24 am

    Addendum to the previous comment:
    Bala, my Ubuntu box is a 64-bit Intel Dual Core box and seems to be running 64bit version of Ub 8.10, i.e.,
    % uname -a
    Linux zubin 2.6.27-11-generic #1 SMP Wed Apr 1 20:53:41 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux

    Question: Could it be that eclipse bits are 32-bit version and my box expects the 64-bit version of libs? This raises two questions:
    1. Is there a 64-bit version of eclipse 3.3.x that I should use?
    2. Is there any work around this?

    Thx
    DT

    Reply
    • KBala
      April 28, 2009 at 8:15 am

      Hi,

      Yes, you should install 64bit version of Eclipse. But, the Flex Builder Linux installation is tested with 32bit by Adobe, not with 64bit still. But i hope it will work on 64bit as well.

      Reply
  8. DT
    April 28, 2009 at 10:21 pm

    Bala,
    Thx 4 the feedback. I am going to follow up Adobe’s release notes for installing the stuff (jre, eclipse, firefoc, fb…) on 64-bit linux. It will be still 32-bit version running on 64-bit linux, but that is ok with me.
    Danesh

    Reply
  9. venkateshkumar
    April 28, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    HI, I have installed the Eclipse, Flex, JRE as per info from this page, but I am not able to see the flex builder at File –> New –> others, What should I do next?

    Reply
  10. James Ward
    April 29, 2009 at 4:43 am

    Please go vote for full Flex Builder on Linux:
    http://bugs.adobe.com/jira/browse/FB-19053

    Thanks!

    -James

    Reply
    • KBala
      April 29, 2009 at 8:59 am

      Hi James,

      I did already, anyway thanks.

      All visitors!, Please sign in and vote for full Flex Builder on Linux: http://bugs.adobe.com/jira/browse/FB-19053. Since Flex Builder Linux is still in alpha, Adobe will start the further development on this if more numbers of people wanted to using this Flex Builder Linux. So please vote and we can show strength to Adobe.

      Reply
  11. Venkateshkumar
    April 30, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    I have installed the Flex on Ubuntu 9.04 as per the comments, I got them (ecllipse and flex)installed with error, still I am not able to find “File –> New –> others and the select Flex Builder”, any possible work around??

    Dying to start work with flex on Ubuntu

    Reply
    • KBala
      April 30, 2009 at 8:49 pm

      Hi Venkateshkumar,

      yes i will give you the solution. before that please let me know following things.

      Whats your installed Eclipse version? Where you installed(Path)? whats the installed path of FlexBuilderLinux?

      Please let me know i will guide you.

      Reply
  12. Heiko
    May 1, 2009 at 6:00 am

    I installed the linux binary on Ubuntu 8.10 and Eclipse 3.3 without having problems. It is still not working with Eclipse 3.4. Before I tried out many workarounds, installing the FlexBuilder Pro version in Wine, calling startup.jar, starting in VMWare… It’s working now but I still miss the graphical builder. In my Eclipse Ganymed I used a small plugin for code formatting and imported the mxml schema file into Eclipse to have code-completion. I kicked the mxmlc as an “External builder”. Everything works fine, I don’t see an advantage with running the linux alpha version on now….It’s working but I still miss the designer! (BTW: There is a small plugin from Amateras with a visual designer) … cheers heiko

    Reply
  13. DT
    May 3, 2009 at 8:48 am

    I finally managed to install & bring up FB (32-bit FF, eclipse 3.3, …) on 64-bit Ub 8.10.

    The instructions that made it possible are @ http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=947728.

    However when I try to run Adobe’s HelloWorld AIR app (under Flex Builder, I get the following error msgs:

    Process terminated without establishing connection to debugger.

    Command:

    /usr/lib32/Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/sdks/3.0.0/bin/adl_lin -runtime /usr/lib32/Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/sdks/3.0.0/runtimes/air/linux /home/danesh/tmp/AIRHelloWorld/bin-debug/AIRHelloWorld-app.xml /home/danesh/tmp/AIRHelloWorld/bin-debug

    Output from command:

    This application requires a version of the Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) which is no longer supported. Please contact the application author for an updated version.
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgiogconf.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgiogconf.so
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgioremote-volume-monitor.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgioremote-volume-monitor.so
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so

    Any idea what is going on?
    Thx
    DT

    Reply
  14. DT
    May 4, 2009 at 5:42 am

    Thx Bala. I followed Ash’s instructions and was able to get the problem fixed.

    The only problem (which seems to be benigh, since it seems everythingis working OK) that i encountered was when I brought up eclipse, I got the following error msgs. Any idea why

    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgiogconf.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgiogconf.so
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgioremote-volume-monitor.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgioremote-volume-monitor.so
    /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
    Failed to load module: /usr/lib/gio/modules/libgvfsdbus.so

    ThanksDanesh

    Reply
  15. Eugene
    May 9, 2009 at 2:00 am

    Hi Bala, during the step for Initialize the setup, after typing in the command:

    /opt/eclipse/eclipse -clean

    I received an output which goes:
    bash: /opt/eclipse/eclipse: is a directory

    I have followed all your steps prior the initialization step.
    Any idea how i can fix it?

    Best Regards,
    Eugene

    Reply
  16. KBala
    May 10, 2009 at 9:51 am

    Hi Eugene,

    Make sure the eclipse executable file should be /opt/eclipse/eclipse. I think, in your case it might be /opt/eclipse/eclipse/eclipse. Please check and let me know if you have still some issue.

    Reply
  17. Venkateshkumar
    May 20, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Hi,

    Sorry been on leave,

    Initially I had Eclipse 3.2 installed on my machine, later download Eclipse 3.3 and installed it as per the instruction from above article.

    Flex builder too installed according to the instruction as per above article.

    I am using Ubuntu 9.04

    Reply
  18. KBala
    May 20, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    So, it works now. right?

    Reply
  19. Venkateshkumar
    June 2, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Sadly, it is not working. And worst I am not able to fix the problem. Can you let me know what should I do next.

    Reply
  20. Punit
    June 3, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    I was also not able to see the flex builder options in Projects.
    It seems that Links method of plugin wasnt working for me.
    The installer puts a link file as
    /links/com.adobe.flexbuilder.feature.core.linux.link pointing to plugin directory at /Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/eclipse.

    What i basically did was copy the files and folders under /Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/eclipse/plugins
    /Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/eclipse/features
    /Adobe_Flex_Builder_Linux/eclipse/.eclipseextension
    to their corresponding paths in /opt/eclipse (which was my eclipse root)

    This did it for me, and i got it working.

    Reply
  21. Daniel
    June 10, 2009 at 6:35 am

    This acctually worked out just fine (ubuntu 8.10), and today i wrote my first actionscript 3.0 file and flex hello-world app! Im excited, and are looking forward to learn a full set of skills with my newly borrowed as3 bible :)

    Thanks alot for making my day easier, and happy! You are the hero of my day!

    Reply
  22. Niel Bryant
    June 29, 2009 at 7:41 am

    Hi Bala,

    Followed your instructs. Installed, but failed to open a Flex Project. I get the options for going into Flex Dev Perspective or Flex Debug Perspective, but i get errors when going into the Perspective. In the perspective tree panel, i get the following error-stack…

    java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: com/adobe/flexbuilder/editors/derived/ui/navigator/FlexAbstractResourceNavigator
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:637)
    at org.eclipse.osgi.internal.baseadaptor.DefaultClassLoader.defineClass(DefaultClassLoader.java:161)
    at org.eclipse.osgi.baseadaptor.loader.ClasspathManager.defineClass(ClasspathManager.java:501)
    etc….

    When trying to create a Flex Project i keep getting the following error:

    Plug-in com.adobe.flexbuilder.apollo.ui was unable to load class com.adobe.flexbuilder.apollo.ui.wizards.flex.FlexApolloProjectWizard.
    com/adobe/flexbuilder/editors/common/ui/wizards/INewFlexFileWizard

    So it seems mostly set up but not working.

    Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Would surely love to use FB on Ubuntu.

    Thanks much,

    Niel

    Reply
  23. gifran
    July 1, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    Hi Bala.
    Installing the flex builder plugin I got the following error:

    No Java virtual machine could be found from your PATH
    environment variable. You must install a VM prior to
    running this program.

    …which is not true: I have the virtual machine installed, and it’s on the PATH.

    can you help?

    thanks
    gigi

    Reply
  24. KBala
    July 1, 2009 at 10:21 pm

    Hi Niel Bryant,

    It seems Flex Builder Plug-in not installed properly… make sure you have completely downloaded the plug-in package. Just re-inatll again and try.

    good luck!

    Reply
  25. KBala
    July 1, 2009 at 10:36 pm

    Hi Gifran,

    Its really strange, since without JRE you could not install Eclipse as well. So my suggestion is, install the JRE as i mentioned though its installed already or try re-install the whole thing and follow the steps as it is…

    Reply
  26. Jaison
    August 20, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    bala , im a student .. i need to learn something from you. can you help me

    Reply
  27. Satheesh Mayandi
    November 4, 2009 at 11:59 am

    Hello Bala,

    I have installed Eclipse Europa SDK Version: 3.3.2 and Flex Builder 3.0.1, then Java JRE 1.5 also installed.

    But I open eclipse that is asking for your trial version of Flex Linux has expired activate Linux Flex to continue enter the serial number.

    I have to run PHP and J2EE code for my project. Currently I am using Ubuntu 9.04(jaunty) Kernel Linux 2.6.28.16 GNome 2.26.1

    Please help for fix this issue.

    thanks

    Reply
  28. KBala
    November 5, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Hi Satheesh,

    Here you should enter the valid serial number to continue. Get the serial number by googling or purchase the Linux Flex.

    For PHP, you have to install PDT plugin in your eclipse.

    Reply
  29. jmiguel77
    December 1, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    hi, i have a problem with the serial number

    i enter the number, but the message that Flex Builder has expired continues and no code is displayed in the mxml editor

    please help

    Reply
  30. Paige
    December 1, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    I’m having the same problem as Jmiguel; uninstalling and reinstalling doesn’t help at all. This is rather unfortunate because I’m doing my undergrad thesis project in Flex… and I’m graduating at the end of this term :(

    Reply
  31. Paige
    December 1, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    Aha! Installing alpha 5 (came out on 11/24) solved my problem. Win!

    Reply
  32. Sparky
    December 12, 2009 at 6:30 am

    I’m using Eclipse 3.5.1 and FB for Linux 3.0.257568 on Ubuntu 9.10 and I am still getting the editor assertion failure. I’ve tried the patches but then Flex disappears from Eclipse… Any ideas?

    Reply
  33. revilorb
    January 15, 2010 at 11:56 am

    Hi All,

    I have just gone thru the installation of Flex Builder Alpha 5.112409 as a plugin on Eclipse 3.5.1 / Ubuntu 9.1 and I have the same problem; “Could not open the editor: Assertion failed.” I have attempted to follow a few step by step installation guides that refer to Eclipse 3.3 but I have had trouble using them because Synaptics gives me 3.5 by default. Regardless, I would be very interested in finding out whether or not you or anyone else has found a solution to this issue or if we can knock heads to figure it out. I want to develop in the LAMP environment with FLEX. The MS world is workig but I want out! PLEASE help!

    Reply
  34. Install Adobe Flex Builder Linux in Ubuntu
    January 30, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    [...] I found a great tutorial for installing Flex Linux alpha. I copied and pasted the article here but you can view the original at http://kbala.com/2009/03/install-adobe-flex-builder-linux-alpha-in-ubuntu/. [...]

    Reply
  35. Fernando
    January 31, 2010 at 2:12 am

    This article works perfect to me.

    But, in terminal I had to use root user for all steps and delete all eclipse folders preview installed ( Galileo).

    Thank you very much.

    Reply
  36. Trying to get flex builder installed on Fedora « Random
    February 7, 2010 at 12:44 am

    [...] found this nice little blog on how to do it http://kbala.com/2009/03/install-adobe-flex-builder-linux-alpha-in-ubuntu/ but it turns out that flex needs a 32 bit version of [...]

    Reply
  37. Pranay
    February 28, 2010 at 5:17 am

    Hi Bala,
    Thanks for this step by step tutorial.
    Ok, here is the prblm..
    The flex builder is not showing the design view.
    It is only showing the source view in editor.
    i checked under Window->Show View..it only shows following options
    Flex Navigator ,Outline, Problems,Other.

    It is difficult to work without design view.
    How to fix this ?? Any ideas?

    Reply
  38. KBala
    March 1, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    Hi Pranay,

    In the source view editor, see at bottom left corner, another tab is available for design view.

    Thanks

    KBala

    Reply
  39. Pranay
    March 3, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    Thank you for the reply Bala.
    But I am still unable to find the design view.
    I’ve uploaded screenshots..plz take a look at them.

    http://picasaweb.google.co.in/105061270960651465098/FlexDesignViewMissing?feat=directlink

    Reply

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