This page aims to present how to work with two different versions of OpenFLUID on the same computer. Warning: it can not be done directly by installing both versions in the same fashion, this would break both installations.

Solution below relies on virtualization of one of the versions, we will consider in this example that we want to keep OpenFLUID 2.1.x on system and use a container to run OpenFLUID 2.2.x.

Pros and cons¶

Interest¶

This approach will allow to use both versions without interaction. Every app should work, CLI and UI. Daily use should be transparent if setup is done correctly.

Limits¶

Cohabitation requires to be careful to strict compartimentation of installations.

This solution will become less suitable if the host system is different than the docker system (Ubuntu 22.04 for our docker image): the day you want to stop using OpenFLUID 2.1 on your system to work solely with OpenFLUID 2.2, the code of your wares will be available but the compiled objects will not be compatible with the system, meaning you will have to rebuild them all.

Other issue: the interaction with external tools will not work (opening a pdf or a file explorer), you will have to open them directly from the host OS

Setup¶

Here we will use Docker, which requires root access to be run. If not applicable, you can use singularity container system (cf this page)

Install Docker¶

If you don't have docker on your system, follow these steps, and post-install instructions to give non-root rights

Install OpenFLUID Docker image¶

Run following command to install OpenFLUID 2.2.0 image

docker pull openfluid/openfluid:2.2.0

Run¶

Before doing following step, copy your .openfluid folder in an other location to back-up it and avoid any data loss.

Once installed you can run it with (can be put in a shell script to use it easier):

xhost +local: # to redirect X11 display for Builder and DevStudio

docker run --net=host -i --rm \
    -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix:rw \
    -e DISPLAY=$DISPLAY \
    -v $HOME/.openfluid_2-2:/home/openfluid/.openfluid \
    -t openfluid/openfluid:2.2.0

The line -v $HOME/.openfluid_2-2:$HOME/.openfluid means that projects and ware development done in the container will be visible and saved on host in a .openfluid_2-2 folder.