Reply To: antiX-25-full-beta2 for public testing

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December 23, 2025 at 4:08 am #192296
Wallon
Member

    **Subject: Request for Including the « libsane » Library in the antiX ISO for Scanner Compatibility**

    Dear antiX community,

    I would like to share a significant finding regarding the installation of scanner drivers and tools in antiX. Many older scanner drivers and installation tools, including those from Brother, depend on the **libsane** library to work correctly. I encountered this issue when trying to install a Brother scanner driver, and after extensive troubleshooting, I realized that **libsane** is a required dependency that is not currently included in the antiX ISO by default.

    ### Issue:

    When attempting to install scanner drivers (such as those from Brother), the installation tool or scanning software will often fail or produce errors if the **libsane** library is missing. This is a common issue that new users of antiX may face when they attempt to install older hardware or use tools that require compatibility with older libraries.

    ### Test Case:

    * **Device Tested**: Brother MFC-J5740DW (via Brother’s Linux driver installation tool).
    * **Problem Encountered**: The installation of the Brother scanner software (« brscan5 », « brscan-skey ») was successful, but the scanner did not function properly. The issue was traced to the missing **libsane** library.
    * **Resolution**: After installing the **libsane** library manually (« apt-get install libsane »), the scanner began working correctly.

    This indicates that **libsane** is essential for the correct functionality of many older scanner drivers.

    ### Why This Is Important:

    Many older hardware drivers, especially for scanners, assume the presence of the **libsane** library. Without it, users may struggle to get their scanners working, and they may end up wasting time troubleshooting installation issues. This could lead to confusion among antiX users, especially those who are not familiar with this dependency.

    ### Proposal:

    To improve user experience and avoid unnecessary troubleshooting, I recommend that the **libsane** library be included in the antiX ISO image by default. This will save the community time in resolving common installation issues and allow users to install and use scanner hardware without having to manually install additional dependencies.

    ### Benefits of Including « libsane »:

    1. **Better Compatibility**: Many legacy scanner drivers require **libsane** to function, and including this library will improve compatibility with a wider range of scanners.
    2. **Improved User Experience**: Users will not need to manually install the library, reducing the learning curve and making antiX more user-friendly, especially for those who are not familiar with Linux package management.
    3. **Time Savings**: The antiX community will spend less time helping users troubleshoot scanner installation issues, leading to faster resolution times and more efficient support.

    ### Conclusion:

    Including **libsane** in the antiX ISO image will significantly improve compatibility with older scanners and provide a better experience for users. I believe this is an important update that will benefit many users, and I hope this request will be considered for future releases.

    Thanks to @Xunzi_23 for testing the Brother equipment with me.

    Best,
    Wallon