I was also under impression that using Raspbian as a base is the best approach but the problem is that Debian, which it is based on, does not have its own PPA and using Ubunty PPA may work but may also not work. So probably the only reliable way of having latest astro software is to build it from source which in my mind is too much hassle for most people.
@rlancaste How do you install latest astro software in your script - from PPA or build it from source?

Alex

Yes, you are correct in that the PPA on ubuntu is wonderful and installs things very quickly. That is one of the reasons I like using Ubuntu MATE better for my PIs.

But, while my script was originally designed to make it easier for me to set up a Raspberry Pi3 running Ubuntu-MATE for use in AstroPhotography, the thing that sets it apart from some of the other options is that you can run the script (or the other versions I made of it) on numerous different computers to get them set up as well. So it can get a Rock64, an ODroid C2, a standard ubuntu system, or a virtual machine all setup. (I have used it on all of these). One thing I haven't done is made a version of the script that can be run on a non-ubuntu system. Some people might like Raspbian and want to use that instead. A friend also complained awhile back that he couldn't run my script on his system because there wasn't an Ubuntu MATE image for a Tinkerboard and he wanted to use that. So I think having at least a Raspbian version would be good.

To answer your last question, my script for Raspbian builds INDI, KStars, PHD2, and INIDWebManagerApp from source. This doesn't take as long as you might think because the Raspberry Pi 4 is much faster than is predecessors. I think it probably takes about an hour to get all set up, but I didn't time it.

Lol, it runs perfectly fine over Remote Desktop, have you ever run just HD on a 4K monitor, it looks bloody awful, besides when you have Kstars, Ekos, INdI control panel, Phd2, all open the 4K monitor holds it all great so you can see it all without having overlapping windows or having to minimise any..
Did you get the personal message I sent regards conky....?

No, I don't have a 4k monitor. And yes the extra screen space could make sense.

Yes, I responded to your private message. Did you get it?

Yes thanks, i have replied...as still not sure what to do..

IMHO - the bottom line ,at this moment in time, is to have a "script" to enable "normal" users to easily build a fully working Kstars/Indilib etc system on a RPI4 and not worry about 4k monitors used with Remote working. Nobody really knows how long a stable and fully working Ubuntu Mate on RPI4 will be .

Astronerd has this working on his system anyway

So thank you,on behalf of "normal" users, Rlancaste for your efforts.

Must admit for now I have gone with a straight forward 4gb Gigabyte Brix dual core 2807 which is about the same size as RPI but has a Sata interface (so I use SSD's) and Ubuntu Mate 19.04 works (together with Kstars/Indi/Ekos) out of the box AND can be updated simply. And not a real difference in price or performance after adding case,cooling system power supply.

I developed my script a couple of years ago. It currently should work on an ubuntu-mate system, whether on Raspberry Pi 3b, 3b+, Rock64, or Odroid C2 (and probably numerous others). When the new ubuntu-mate image is released for raspberry pi 4b, it should work for that too. So that work is already basically done. Mainly what I have been doing this week is revising it so a version should work on Raspbian as well. (I also have been going back and made some revisions to the original script as well based on new things I learned.)

My script should certainly be good out of the box for "normal" users as you describe them because they can just run the script and set it all up. But one of the key points of the script is that it can be adapted to different systems and different people's setups. I commented everything and explained in the code how you can change it to add or remove certain features. So there is nothing wrong with adapting it to work for 4k monitors for certain users. I'm not currently focused on that because I'm working on the raspbian script and revisions, but I wouldn't try to discourage people from trying to do something new or make changes. I can see how a 4k monitor option could be really great for people who have big monitors.

Jasem has a working Stellarmate on the rpi4 now, so should not be to long...before at least a beta release...spoke to him yesterday...

www.facebook.com/326770384445539/posts/7...019492905989&sfns=mo

Thats good to hear. We work together all the time on KStars/INDI stuff. We aren't competing

Do you know what distro it is based on?

Yes still on Ubuntu mate as before... can’t wait for this