# Beta testing Gramps 6.0 on Raspberry Pi5 Bookworm

**URL:** https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985
**Category:** Beta Testing
**Created:** [February 9, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985 "2025-02-09T16:58:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/1 "2025-02-09T16:58:38Z")

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Hi

Just to say that I have tried to install Gramps 6 on my Pi5 [Bookworm](https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/bookworm-the-new-version-of-raspberry-pi-os/) which is supposedly compatible with orjson. I have done an install from the .zip but I cannot sort the dependency issue or orjson. Anybody know of a non programmers guide to installing orjson?

any tips gratefully  
received.

The install seems to have gone OK just gramps won’t run because of the missing dependency

phil

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### Author: ![Nick-Hall](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/nick-hall/32/95_2.png) [@Nick-Hall](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/Nick-Hall)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/2 "2025-02-09T17:20:20Z")

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> [@comeng](#):
>
> The install seems to have gone OK just gramps won’t run because of the missing dependency

Try:

```python
python -m pip install orjson

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/3 "2025-02-09T18:34:19Z")

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Hi Nick

That does not work get externally-managed-environment error

recommends using python3 - m venv (file path) in other words a virtual  
environment will get back to you once I have had a read up on that.  
phil

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### Author: ![SteveY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SteveY](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/SteveY)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2025, 10:16pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/4 "2025-02-09T22:16:57Z")

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If it helps, the Windows AIO build script does just that (the relevant part is not Windows specific)

See

> <https://github.com/gramps-project/gramps/blob/ef5512c4347a3303c31608a3382867cd4994a37d/aio/build.sh#L54>

You can use these 3 commands to create the python venv:

```python
pythonvenv=$TMP/grampspythonenv
python -m venv $pythonvenv --system-site-packages
source $pythonvenv/bin/activate

```

adjust `pythonenv` depending on where you would like the python venv to be stored

now run the pip command: `python -m pip install orjson`

If you want to go back to the system python, run the command `deactivate`

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/5 "2025-02-10T13:47:43Z")

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Some progress  
This is an issue for Pi5 running Bookworm all python programs must be in  
the venv virtual environment to “reduce conflicts” (Official Pi speak)  
To prove this I set one up and installed orjson with no issues.  
Looking further must now decide either to set up an environment purely  
for Gramps or whether it will be easier to go system wide for the user  
and as I largely only use the Pi for Gramps the system setup might be best.  
Will keep you updated  
phil

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/6 "2025-02-10T16:52:11Z")

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Progress

Pi5 [Bookworm](https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/bookworm-the-new-version-of-raspberry-pi-os/)  
using venv created a user environment into which I placed the extracted  
ver 6 .tar  
had to install gettext (using apt-get) as would not build without this  
also installed orjson (using pip) as a precaution  
Then sudo python3 setup.py build  
and finally sudo python3 setup.py install  
Seems to have got me a running copy with no missing dependencies reported.

Thanks for help  
phil

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### Author: ![GeorgeWilmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@GeorgeWilmes](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/GeorgeWilmes)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/7 "2025-02-10T17:29:43Z")

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Thanks for sharing that. I will try it. Did you do anything with the GRAMPSHOME environment variable?

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### Author: ![Nick-Hall](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/nick-hall/32/95_2.png) [@Nick-Hall](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/Nick-Hall)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/8 "2025-02-10T18:31:43Z")

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> [@GeorgeWilmes](#):
>
> Did you do anything with the GRAMPSHOME environment variable?

Possibly in the change to get safe mode working for Windows. See bug report [#13300](https://gramps-project.org/bugs/view.php?id=13300) and pull request [#1881](https://github.com/gramps-project/gramps/pull/1881).

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/9 "2025-02-10T19:04:15Z")

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Simple answer NO I have it working not worried about the how at this stage  
phil

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### Author: ![GeorgeWilmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@GeorgeWilmes](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/GeorgeWilmes)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/10 "2025-02-10T23:24:20Z")

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Thanks again. I did all that, and then (still within the venv):

$ python3 Gramps.py

and got:

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘gi’

Meanwhile, I think the act of building affected my normal Gramps, because now running “gramps” outside of the venv I get:

ResourcePath.ERROR: Unable to determine resource path

I still have my .gramps directory with everything in it (no subfolder for gramps60), and backups elsewhere.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 7:57am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/11 "2025-02-11T07:57:09Z")

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My Pi was totally clean so I cannot answer about an existing version of GRAMPS

I had the “gi” error once and I think (not sure) the issue is between setting up project env vs user env

At this stage I would say that 6 is not really suitable for Pi5 until someone with far more knowledge of GRAMPS and Bookworm can sort it.

I am running from a terminal window which if closed shuts down GRAMPS because the env becomes deactivated.

To some extent I am not bothered about this because only wanted a look see about 6 no reason to migrate from 5.2.3 at the minute

phil

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### Author: ![Nick-Hall](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/nick-hall/32/95_2.png) [@Nick-Hall](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/Nick-Hall)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/12 "2025-02-11T15:32:02Z")

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> [@comeng](#):
>
> At this stage I would say that 6 is not really suitable for Pi5 until someone with far more knowledge of GRAMPS and Bookworm can sort it.

You will need to backport orjson from [Trixie](https://www.debian.org/releases/trixie/).

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### Author: ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/13 "2025-02-11T15:59:17Z")

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> [@Nick-Hall](#):
>
> You will need to backport orjson from [Trixie](https://www.debian.org/releases/trixie/).

Is this (`packages.debian.org` page) the correct reference for finding [Python3 `orjson` in Trixie](https://packages.debian.org/trixie/python3-orjson) to do the backport?

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### Author: ![Nick-Hall](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/nick-hall/32/95_2.png) [@Nick-Hall](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/Nick-Hall)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/14 "2025-02-11T16:06:38Z")

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Yes, that is correct.

There is also a thread on the Raspberry Pi forums called [“How to install a package from testing apt repo in Bookworm?”](https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=371237) which may help.

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### Author: ![CameronD73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@CameronD73](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/CameronD73)
#### Post date: [February 13, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/15 "2025-02-13T03:33:39Z")

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Just to add a comment - this problem affects _all_ Debian systems based on bookworm (Debian 12), not just the raspberry flavour.

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### Author: ![comeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@comeng](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/comeng)
#### Post date: [February 13, 2025, 8:00am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/16 "2025-02-13T08:00:31Z")

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Yes I have been reading more about this I have already had to revert to X11 from Wayland due to issues on dual screens so maybe Bookworm on Pi5 is not the way to go for now.

Not sure if it is now becoming more niche than general purpose and therefore may not be suitable for GRAMPS developers to warrant somebody spending time and effort getting 6 to work seamlessly.

phil

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### Author: ![codefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@codefarmer](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/codefarmer)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/17 "2025-06-30T14:34:05Z")

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> [@GeorgeWilmes](#):
>
> $ python3 Gramps.py
> 
> and got:
> 
> ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘gi’

@GeorgeWilmes Did you ever resolve this? I’m having this issue in an Ubuntu 24.04 environment under WSL on Windows 11.  
If I try to pip install orjson outside of a virtual environment, I get the “externally managed environment” mentioned earlier, and after switching to a venv for gramps, I can install orjson, but then I get the gi error above.  
Any hints will be appreciated. Thanks!

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### Author: ![codefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@codefarmer](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/codefarmer)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/18 "2025-06-30T14:47:20Z")

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> [@codefarmer](#):
>
> I’m having this issue in an Ubuntu 24.04 environment under WSL on Windows 11.

Resolved the situation just a few minutes after posting (isn’t that how it always works?). Anyway, gi requires PyGObject, but pip installing that failed because of “ERROR: Dependency ‘girepository-2.0’ is required but not found.”

So I installed that first, and then PyGObject installed successfully, and now I am able to run Gramps 6.0.3 in my environment.

```python
sudo apt-get install girepository-2.0
python3 -m pip install PyGObject

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![GeorgeWilmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@GeorgeWilmes](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/GeorgeWilmes)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/19 "2025-06-30T15:35:25Z")

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> [@codefarmer](#):
>
> @GeorgeWilmes Did you ever resolve this?

No, but it sounds like you just did. Thanks for sharing. I will get around to trying it someday.

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### Author: ![stuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@stuck](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/stuck)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985/20 "2025-06-30T17:47:08Z")

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> [@codefarmer](#):
>
> Ubuntu 24.04 environment under WSL on Windows 11.

As an aside, I’m curious, why run Gramps under WSL on Windows? Why not just run the Gramps Windows AIO? Presumably, because you can do more and deeper geeky things to Gramps if it’s running in it’s native Linux environment compared to hacking the Windows version?

[Next page](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/beta-testing-gramps-6-0-on-raspberry-pi5-bookworm/6985.md?page=2)
