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Cinebot (Linux Controllers) — Flair 7 on Linux: Overview & Updates

CONFIRMED CINEBOT MINI/MAX/NANO FLAIR 7

Flair 7 running on a Linux (Ubuntu) controller is currently used on the Cinebot family. This guide covers how the Linux install differs day-to-day from the familiar Windows one, and how to back up settings and update the software. The core Flair interface itself is unchanged — only file locations and the update mechanism differ.

Key Differences from Windows

  • The Flair shortcut lives both on the desktop favourites bar and, if removed, under the general applications menu — right-click it there to re-add it to favourites.
  • Flair on Linux runs as an AppImage file, found in a Flair folder alongside the usual Desktop/Documents/Downloads folders — not installed into a Program Files-style location.
  • Config files are not stored next to the application the way they can be on Windows. This is deliberate: it means updating Flair (replacing the AppImage) does not risk overwriting your configs.
  • To find your configs from inside Flair: Tools > Open Configuration Folder. This opens the folder containing your jobs/ folder and the Flair engine config files (flair.ini and similar).
  • Opening flair.ini on a Linux install, the lines that would normally be active on Windows (the INtime line, the root program line) are commented out, and a xot linux line is present instead — a quick way to identify a Linux .ini file at a glance if you're comparing configs between machines.
  • Many settings that used to require editing flair.ini directly can now also be changed from the UI: System > Configuration exposes displayed axes, Network Direct, target tracking, rig/robot selection, default FPS, and more.
  • USB drives: when opening a job/move file via the normal file browser, a plugged-in USB stick does not show up under the default Home/Documents view. To find it, navigate to the media folder at the top of the filesystem, then into a folder named for the system (e.g. mrmc), then the auto-generated folder for the drive itself.

Backing Up Settings (via Profiles)

Linux uses the same System Profiles feature as Windows/macOS to back up and move configs between machines — see Flair System Profiles for the full mechanics (creating, exporting, and importing a profile). In short: System > Profiles, duplicate the active profile, give it a name (e.g. a dated backup), then use the download button to export it as a zip you can store safely or move to another machine.

Updating Flair on Linux

Unlike Windows, updating is not an installer run — it's a straight file swap:

  1. Download or copy the new Flair AppImage file (e.g. from a USB stick) into the same Flair folder as the existing one.
  2. Launch the new AppImage directly.
  3. The first time you launch a new AppImage, it needs to install FlairRoot — enter your PC/laptop password when prompted, confirm Install Root. Flair then opens immediately on the new version.
  4. Update your desktop/favourites shortcut to point at the new AppImage if needed: find it under the applications menu, right-click, Add to Favourites.
  5. Old AppImage files aren't automatically removed — you can keep several around (e.g. to roll back if needed) or delete old ones to keep the folder tidy. Just be careful not to lose track of which version is which.
YouTube 46A - Flair on Linux - An Overview Flair 7

▶ Desktop layout, AppImage location, config folder, flair.ini differences, USB drive access

YouTube 46B - Flair 7 on Linux - Overview Part 2 Flair 7

▶ Backing up settings via Profiles, and the full AppImage update procedure

Source: MRMC video tutorials "46A - Flair on Linux - An Overview" and "46B - Flair 7 on Linux - Overview Part 2" (Cinebot Mini/Max & Flair 7 Training playlist)