Compiling Okular on Windows using MSYS2-mingw64: Solution for Pre-compiled Version Issues
Okular is a popular document viewer developed by KDE. While KDE offers pre-compiled binaries for Windows, users may encounter issues with performance, especially when using pen input to generate smooth lines. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to compile Okular on Windows using MSYS2-mingw64 to overcome these problems.
Why Compile Okular on Windows?
The pre-compiled binaries of Okular for Windows may sometimes be slow and buggy, particularly when using pen input, which can result in jagged and spiky lines. Compiling Okular on Windows using MSYS2-mingw64 can help solve these issues, providing a smoother and more responsive experience.
Prerequisites
Before starting the compilation process, make sure you have the following prerequisites:
- A 64-bit version of Windows 7 or later
- MSYS2-mingw64 (https://www.msys2.org/)
- Approximately 20 GB of free disk space
Installing MSYS2-mingw64
To install MSYS2-mingw64, follow these steps:
- Download the installer from the MSYS2 website (https://www.msys2.org/).
- Run the installer and select "Install now" to install the base system.
- After installation, open the MSYS2 MinGW 64-bit terminal and update the system packages by running the following commands:
pacman -Syu
Compiling Okular
To compile Okular, follow these steps:
- Install the required dependencies:
pacman -S base-devel git mingw-w64-x86_64-toolchain mingw-w64-x86_64-extra-cmake-modules mingw-w64-x86_64-kde-frameworks mingw-w64-x86_64-poppler mingw-w64-x86_64-qt5 mingw-w64-x86_64-texlive-bin mingw-w64-x86_64-poppler-data
- Clone the Okular repository:
git clone git://anongit.kde.org/okular.git
- Navigate to the Okular directory and create a build directory:
cd okular
mkdir build
cd build
- Generate the Makefiles using CMake:
cmake -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr/local ..
- Compile Okular:
make
- Install Okular:
sudo make install
Running Okular
To run Okular, open the MSYS2 MinGW 64-bit terminal and type:
/usr/local/bin/okular
This article provided a step-by-step guide on how to compile Okular on Windows using MSYS2-mingw64. By following these instructions, users can overcome issues with pre-compiled binaries, such as slow performance and buggy pen input. The compiled version of Okular should provide a smoother and more responsive experience.
References
- MSYS2: https://www.msys2.org/
- Okular on GitHub: https://invent.kde.org/graphics/okular
- KDE Okular Handbook: https://docs.kde.org/stable5/en/okular/okular/index.html
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute official support or endorsement from KDE or the Okular project.