How to Run The Rainbow Machine on Linux (64-bit Systems)

The Rainbow Machine for Linux is a 32-bit application. Most modern Linux systems are 64-bit and often don’t have the necessary 32-bit libraries installed by default. Follow these steps to get it running:

Step 1: Enable 32-bit Architecture Support

First, you need to enable your system to install 32-bit packages. Open a terminal and run:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Essential Libraries

Install the core 32-bit libraries required for the application to start:

sudo apt install libc6:i386 libstdc++6:i386

Step 3: Install Graphics and UI Dependencies

After the core libraries, The Rainbow Machine needs specific libraries for its graphical interface (Java AWT). Install them with:

sudo apt install libxtst6:i386 libx11-6:i386 libxext6:i386 libxi6:i386 libxrender1:i386 libxrandr2:i386

Step 4: Install Game Library Dependencies (OpenGL, etc.)

The game engine requires additional libraries for hardware acceleration and input:

sudo apt install libxcursor1:i386 libxxf86vm1:i386

Step 5: Install OpenGL Drivers

If you encounter an error that OpenGL is not supported, you need the proper graphics drivers. If you are running Linux inside VMware or VirtualBox, try:

bash sudo apt install mesa-utils:i386 libgl1-mesa-dri:i386

Step 6: Install Audio Support

For sound to work, install the 32-bit OpenAL library:

sudo apt install libopenal1:i386

Troubleshooting

If the game still fails to start, it might be missing another 32-bit library. You can track it down:

Run ./TheRainbowMachine from the terminal. It will usually name the library it can’t load.
To see all missing dependencies for a specific library (e.g., libmawt.so), use the ldd command:
bash ldd path/to/the/library.so
Look for any lines that say “not found”. Install the corresponding :i386 package for that library via apt.

After completing these steps, The Rainbow Machine should run correctly. Enjoy!