How to get latest osmium packages onto the Ubuntu package manager

General talk
1

You’ll have to forgive my absolute ignorance as Ubuntu isn’t my native land. :slight_smile:

I was trying to migrate the tile generation workflow for TIGERMap to a new piece of hardware and have hit a snag. The version of osmium currently available in my package manager is 1.16 (libosmium 2.20) which seems to have issues exporting json file (dies unexpectedly with return 137). The previous machine has a happily working version, (osmium 1.14 libosmium 2.18). Looking at the release notes, 1.18 may set me back on my way.

I am somewhat loathe to build it all from source when I suspect other folks would also benefit from a refreshed package.

Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks!

2

(as an aside)

I’m guessing you’re using Ubuntu 24.04 LTS?

Package search for Debian seems to be down at the moment, but for info Debian 13 (the latest stable release there) does have osmium version 1.18.0 in it. If you just need an “Ubuntu-like” OS and haven’t committed for other reasons than that might be an option. I can’t comment on how easy it’d be to build from source beyond that (given how easy to build its friends and relations are) I’d expect it to be easy.

3

Please note that Debian package should be installed into container, otherwise your system likely will be broken.

4

I was thinking more “choosing a VPS with an entirely different operating system” (which obviously may not be an option for any number of reasons).

5

I suspect both of these suggestions could get me unblocked but wouldn’t help our other Ubuntu running pals. I appreciate the responses and will investigate but I am happy to wait to see if there’s a better more “global” solution.

6

You can switch to Debian (which is mostly compatible to Ubuntu, especially if you are using only server-type stuff) and then use Debian Backports repo which usually has new releases of Osmium within a week or so. You can also try to just copy over the osmium binary from the other system, chances are that it will work if the systems are similar enough. And compiling your own isn’t that complicated either.

1 Like
7

If you mean the package that’s available in the ubuntu repos for an old ubuntu release should be updated, that’s not going to happen, especially not for an LTS release. New package versions are only shipped with new ubuntu releases.

If you need a recent osmium on ubuntu, you’re stuck with compiling it on your own or trying a pre-built binary from somewhere else that’s likely compatible (i.e. debian).

2 Likes
8

Just to expand a bit on that; some of the library differences between Ubuntu 24 and Debian 13 can be seen on the switch2osm pages here and here. The main one (which won’t affect you but may affect other people) is the Mapnik version and library location change.

For you, if you’re tied to Ubuntu 24.04, I’d definitely suggest that you build the latest osmium from source.

1 Like
9

Got it. I’m learning so much. I will fumble around with some combination of things and I’m sure I can get something sorted now.

Thanks everyone for the replies.