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|
+++
date = 2023-11-08
title = "Installing scli on Alpine Linux (musl)"
description = "Learn how to properly configure scli for musl-based systems."
+++
[scli](https://github.com/isamert/scli) is a command-line tool that
allows you to connect to your Signal messenger account. This program
utilizes a two-pane display that shows you chats on the left and the
focused conversation on the right.
This guide will show you how to install `scli` and its
dependencies on Alpine Linux, which requires some extra work due to
musl.
If you're using a non-musl system, you can likely following the
`scli` README and download the packaged binaries for an
easier installation process.
## Dependencies
In order to use `scli`, you need a few dependencies:
- `openjdk17-jre` - Used as a dependency for the
`signal-cli` tool. Version may vary.
- `signal-cli` - Used as the backbone of the
`scli` tool.
- `findutils` - Replaces the standard Busybox version of
`xargs`.
- `urwid` - A console user interface library for Python.
- `urwid-readline` - For GNU emacs-like keybinds on the
input line.
- `qrencode` - Displays a QR code in the terminal to link
the device using your phone. Not necessary if you're only linking
on desktop and can copy/paste the connection URL.
Let's start by installing the packages available via Alpine's
repositories. Be sure to install the latest version of
`openjdk`. If you run into Java-related issues, uninstall
`openjdk` and install an older version.
```sh
doas apk add openjdk17-jre findutils qrencode
```
Next, let's install `signal-cli`. Be sure to export the
version of `signal-cli` that you want. I use version
`0.12.4` below, but that may be outdated by the time you're
reading this.
```sh
export VERSION="0.12.4"
wget https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/releases/download/v"${VERSION}"/signal-cli-"${VERSION}".tar.gz
doas tar xf signal-cli-"${VERSION}".tar.gz -C /opt
doas ln -sf /opt/signal-cli-${VERSION}"/bin/signal/cli /usr/local/bin
```
Finally, install the `urwid` packages using the Python
packaging utility.
```sh
pip3 install urwid urwid-readline
```
## Installation
Now that we have all of the dependencies we need, we can install
`scli`. Start by simply cloning the repository.
```sh
git clone https://github.com/isamert/scli
```
When I cloned this repository on 2023-11-08, I found a bug in the logic
that required a fix. You must edit the `scli` file and
replace the one instance of `RLIMIT_OFILE` with
`RLIMIT_NOFILE`.
```sh
cd scli
nano scli
```
Once complete, you can move this program to anywhere on your
`$PATH`. I chose the following directory.
```sh
doas mv scli /usr/local/bin/scli
```
## Initial Setup
Now that everything is installed, we can login and configure the client.
Start by generating a connection link.
```sh
signal-cli link -n "YOUR-DEVICE-NICKNAME" | tee >(xargs -L 1 qrencode -t utf8)
```
This will generate a connection link and related QR code for you to use
to link the devices together. Once complete, **wait patiently** for the
connection process to finish.
Once it completes, it will exit and return you to the prompt. From here,
you need to perform an initial `receive` command to start
things off. The `USERNAME` variable should be your phone
number, such as `+15551237890`.
```sh
signal-cli -u USERNAME receive
```
Also be sure to test the daemon to ensure it works properly. If no
errors occur, it's working. If you run into errors because you're not
running a DBUS session, see my notes below.
```sh
signal-cli -u USERNAME daemon
```
Once the initial reception is complete, you are ready to use
`scli`.
This process will differ depending on your desktop environment (DE). If
you are running a DE, you likely have a DBUS session running already and
can simply launch the program.
However, if you're like me and running your computer straight on the
TTY without a DE, you'll need to start a DBUS session for this program.
```sh
# If you're not running a DBUS session yet, you need to start one for scli
dbus-run-session -- scli
# OR - If you're already running a DBUS session, simply run scli
scli
```
## Configuration
Lastly, there are a number of configuration options that you can pass
via the command or in the `~/.config/sclirc` file. See the
Github README for more information on configuration options.
```sh
nano ~/.config/sclirc
```
```conf
# ~/.config/sclirc
wrap-at = 80
enable-notifications = true
```
That's it! Following this guide, I have a functional `scli`
program that successfully sends messages to my contacts and myself!
|
