Arch Linux User Repository

I've updated this for Houdini 16 but because PySide2 currently doesn't install, I have a hacky setup where I've downloaded and unpacked python2-pyqt5, pyqt5-common, and python2-sip from here (https://archive.archlinux.org/repos/2016/06/15/extra/os/x86_64/). I've then edited /opt/houdini/houdini/python2.7libs/hutil/Qt.py line 318 from "if preferred:" to "if False:" to get houdini to try using PyQt5 instead of just PySide2. Finally I run houdini with `PYTHONPATH=</path/to/unpacked/pyqt/stuff>/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ /opt/houdini/bin/houdini`.

@lewis2e below is bout houdini 18.

I figured out a verry simple hack which i then forgot and remembered before deciding to find a better solution fix it properly and update the arch package.

/etc/init.d

seems the location houdni wants to not ask where to install Then I just launched sesinetd with restart option and houdini with a script.

I will try and fix the sesinetd.install script. And update the package if I'm allowed to.

Your advice will still be 70% of my predicted work amount. I thank you a very large amount.

Also, for anyone using Intel integrated graphics and who is also getting a repeated seg fault in Houdini, check out a possible solution here: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1905330#p1905330

Basically, Houdini doesn't play nice with the new default OpenGL driver, so you have to force it back to the old i965 driver. To do so, you can simply include this in your houdini.env file:

MESA_LOADER_DRIVER_OVERRIDE=i965

Presumably SideFX will fix this when the distros they officially support catch up to Arch, and the new default driver gives them the exact same problem... though they don't seem that great on Linux support so maybe don't hold your breath.

@Tanghe

This is what I did based on my level of Linux knowledge... sure it can be improved.

Download Houdini and run the install script. It will complain about not knowing where to install the licence server, but otherwise complete successfully and install Houdini to /opt

Copy all files in /opt/hfs18.0/houdini/sbin/ to /usr/lib/sesi.

Create some helper scripts (make sure to chmod+x)

=============================================== ~/scripts/houdini_lc_start ===============================================

#!/bin/bash
sudo /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd.startup start

while :
do
echo "Looping...";
sleep 30;
done

=============================================== ~/scripts/houdini_lc_stop ===============================================

#!/bin/bash
sudo /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd.startup stop

Create a systemd service. Start and enable it as usual.

================================================ /etc/systemd/system/houdini_lc.service ================================================

[Unit]
Description=Start the Houdini Licence Server

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/bin/bash /home/[USERNAME]/scripts/houdini_lc_start
ExecStop=/bin/bash /home/[USERNAME]/scripts/houdini_lc_stop

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

My permissions for all that look like this.

-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root  225 Jan  7 07:25 houdini_lc.service
-rwxr-xr-x 1 lewis lewis 100 Jan 21 10:12 houdini_lc_start
-rwxr-xr-x 1 lewis lewis  54 Jan 21 10:12 houdini_lc_stop

If someone could write a PKGBUILD script to do all that (or a better version), and maintain this, that would be awesome.

Quick'n'dirty solution (tested with apprentice License only, Houdini 18.0.460):

• Download the Houdini Launcher (https://www.sidefx.com/download/launcher/)
• Make it executable
• sudo mkdir /etc/init.d
• ./install_houdini_launcher.sh --> Install Houdini, Install License Manager.
• Launch Houdini
• After restart/whenever necessary start the License Server via sudo /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd.startup start

I have not yet tested more than basic functions (placing models, rendering), and also this is not the cleanest solution (I only tried this because I am reinstalling the system on a new FS, so potentially nuking stuff was no concern), but it seems to work fine.

@lewis2e

could u b more specific dude ? i have no idea where the licencing server is installed to (idk where it's installed 2)

also plz provide me with the files for the licencing server.

il make figure out hoz to make a package and upload it. and maynbe maintain it for updates.

Not sure how helpful this comment will be, however, just to note, I was able to download and run Houdini 18 with no real difficulty on my Arch install.

The only fiddling I had to do was to move the licensing server to the correct location (it will only run from /usr/lib/sesi) and write a simple Systemd service to start and stop the licencing server on boot.

I have not run into any Python related problems, or anything described in the comments below with Houdini 18. It just… works.

I’d write a PKGBUILD to do this, but it’s beyond my capability.

I managed to get Houdini 17.5 to install and run with a modified version of this PKGBUILD. It's not the prettiest, but you can find it here:

https://pastebin.com/wzVBp1aW

I also had to alter the PKGBUILD for python-rpyc to get this to work. You can find that here:

https://pastebin.com/6E07dYh4

I don't think I did a particularly great job on these alterations since I don't normally create and maintain packages, so use at your own risk.

@AWhetter -- that being said, I'd be happy to spin up more on package maintenance if you want to pass the package to me.

hi

how do i upgrade to verison 536? i just change the version to 536?

@dreamingincode, the libfontconfig incompatibility is caused by sidefx distributing their own precompiled version of libfreetype. you can move/delete libfreetype.so* from dsolib/ to resolve. someone had a similar problem with another package here: https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/57948

New build available: 3e2991c66a2f017149efc8f4837b3cb023d2f372 houdini-16.5.405-linux_x86_64_gcc4.8.tar.gz

And hope @prahalad 's patch can be merged :)

And also there's a new libfontconfig incompatibility, and you need to put the libfontconfig.so.1 binary from fontconfig-2.12.6+5+g665584a-1 to /opt/houdini/dsolib/