This project contains a Lubuntu 16.04 virtual machine, with a copy of Emergent 7.0.1 built from source.

Why a VM? Emergent 7.0.1 is near impossible to build from source on modern platforms. These scripts automate the process and make it impervious to OS and dependency updates. It is also easy to modify the Emergent source code (just edit the code in /usr/local/src/emergent-7.0.1, and run make && make install to rebuild.)

You need to install VirtualBox. If you have a Mac and use the Homebrew package manager, this is as easy as executing

$ brew cask install virtualbox

Step 1: Download the VM image here. It doesn't matter where you put the file, and you can delete it once the VM is installed.

Step 2: Import the image into VirtualBox. From the VirtualBox home screen, select File > Import Appliance. Choose the VM image and accept the default options.

Step 3: Start the VM by double-clicking it on the VirtualBox home screen.

Step 4: Add a shared folder to access files on the host system.

With the VM running, click Devices > Shared Folders > Shared Folder Settings. Click the small plus sign to add a shared folder. Make sure to check the "Auto mount" and "Make permanent" checkboxes.

Once you've added the shared folder, reboot the VM. After it restarts, you will find your shared folder in the sidebar of the "Files" application, and at the path /media/sf_your_shared_folder_name.

Next steps

You can access Emergent by double-clicking the shortcut on the desktop.

If you want to modify and recompile the Emergent source code, you will find it in /usr/local/src.

If you need root access for installing software or other tasks, the credentials are

username: ubuntu
password: ubuntu

The underlying operating system is Lubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus, so you can follow any Lubuntu (or Ubuntu) documentation or tutorials on the internet.

This image should work into the near future. However, if the guest's VirtualBox Guest Additions become too old, or if it is necessary to move to another Ubuntu release, the image will need to be rebuilt. Here are the steps:

1. Install the latest Lubuntu LTS desktop edition into a VirtualBox VM. Be sure to make a dynamically-expanding hard drive (I set the cap to 64GB.) Set the username and password to be ubuntu and ubuntu, respectively. Enable automatic login.
2. Update the system packages: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade.
3. Install the VirtualBox Guest Additions from the provided ISO (see documentation here).
4. Clone this repository, and run the setup script: sudo ./setup_vm.sh. Then run the install script (sudo ./install_emergent.sh).
5. Create a desktop shortcut for emergent. For Lubuntu, run this in the terminal: lxshortcut -o ~/Desktop/emerent and set it to execute /usr/local/bin/emergent.
6. From VirtualBox, export the VM as an OVA archive.

You can file an issue on the Github repository, or email Daniel Greenidge. If you don't know his email, look on the Princeton Website.