Creating Packages for the Repositories for Vector Linux

OpenSourceBistro

There are lots of sites for Linux gurus. This is not one of them.

Creating Packages for the VL repositories
All the software packages that are so easily accecable via the Gslapt package manager are there because of the contibution of members of the VectorLinux community. The instructions on this page should help you become one of those members.

(This page is currently undergoing a re-write. Please be patient as it takes form.)

Return to OSB Main

Don't just install from source, Create a package. Follow the tutorials below to learn how to create packages for the Gslapt Package Management System.

In most cases it is just as easy as installing from source.

You can uninstall/re-install a .tlz package with ease.

After a fresh install of Vector, your programs can easily be reinstalled from the repository.

Submitting your .tlz to the repository benefits the community.

Others in turn will upload packages you will then not have to build.

Part 1.
Working with other peoples SlackBuilds.

A SlackBuild is a script which contains all the steps necessary to turn a programs source code into a package that can be used by the Package Management system.

Once a SlackBuild is written it can be used again and again usually with only minor tweeking.

The tutorials below will explore how to find and use existing SlackBuilds to make your packaging easier.

Newest Build example.

K9copy. K9copy, is a dvd backup utility for Linux. Create backups of your DVD collection or
even author a dvd yourself.

Video Tutorial. How to build the .tlz package for k9copy

Just in case you do not know what KeePassX is, here is a short description… KeePassX is an application for people with extremly high demands on secure personal data management.
Video Tutorial. How to build the .tlz package for KeePassX

wxGTK, is a library, necessary for many applications to be able to put up a graphical interface. This tutorial is a pre-requisite for completing the Audacity tutorial.

Video tutorial. How to build wxGTK for the Vectorlinux repositories.

Audacity. A highly advanced sound recorder, editor, for Linux and other OS's.
To complete this tutorial you must have completed the wxGTK tut above.

Video tutorial. How to build Audacity for the Vectorlinux repositories.

5 part series. Installing Kdenlive on Vectorlinux 6.0

Part 1. Upgrading and packaging ffmpeg from a 3rd party SlackBuild.
Part 2. How to build Openjpg for the Vectorlinux Repositories.
Part 3. How to build frie0r for the Vectorlinux Repositories.
Part 4. How to build mlt for the Vectorlinux Repositories.
Part 5. How to build kdenlive for the Vectorlinux Repositories.

Using Slackbuilds that have already been created for Vectorlinux.

VectorLinux already has ton's of packages in it's repositories. That means it has ton's of SlackBuilds already made for you when you want to build the latest version of an already installed package. You can even use the builds from previous Vector's like version 5.9, in most cases.
Video tutorial. How to upgrade Dillo using the pre-existing SlackBuild.

Configure, Make, Make-install type builds.
Many applications you download will be designed to be compiled using this method. Applications which use this method will have a 'configure' and a 'Makefile' script in the top directory or 'src' directory. The tutorials below will walk you through several different cases, and introduce you to SBbuilder a specialized script which will create SlackBuild files with directory structure.

Video tutorial: Making a .tlz for Grisbi manual build of an application step by step.

Video tutorial: SBbuilder Packaging. Making a .tlz for Grisbi using SBbuilder, step by step.
Video tutorial: SBbuilder Example using PDFedit.(Use of '--with-root-dir', and 'create .desktop file')
Video tutorial: SBbuilder. Building packages with dependencies. Super Mario Chronicals.
Video tutorial: SBbuilder. The 6 things to look for with any SBbuilder build.

Python type builds.
Applications which have been written in Python will have there own build method. Luckily, SBbuilder is easily adaptable to this task. The tutorials below will walk you through some examples. Pygame and Psyco have to be built and installed first as they are required (dependencies) of PyspaceWar.

Video tutorial: Building packages for VL...Python application Pygame.
Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Python application Psyco.
Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Python application PySpaceWar.

Fotoxx and it's dependencies. (4 different build scenarios)
Covers what to do when a no configure script is present (FreeImage, Fotoxx). What to do when the Makefile is written in perl (Image-ExifTool). UFRaw provides another example of a normal type build.

Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Understanding Dependencies.
Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...No configure script, example...FreeImage (dep. for fotoxx)
Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...--type=perl, example...Image-ExifTool (dep. for fotoxx)
Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Conf, make, make-install, example...ufraw (dep. for fotoxx)
Video tutorial: Bulding VL Packages...Printoxx, similar build to FreeImage but with .desktop and .png
Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...No configure script, example... Fotoxx.
Video tutorial: Adding and subtracting required packages from the slack-required file.

Some examples of Tricky builds and how to make them work.

Video tutorial: BillardGL's 'Makefile' does not accept the $DESTDIR variable, how to make it work.
Video tutorial: Cups-PDF has no Makefile, see how to do it on your own.
Video tutorial:

Building a package from a 'cmake' Source

How to video tutorial:
How to video tutorial:
How to video tutorial:

Building a package using SBbuilders 'noarch' option

How to video tutorial:
How to video tutorial:
How to video tutorial:

How to submit your package to the VL repositories.

Video tutorial: Making the request, getting access and uploading.
Video tutorial: Posting requirements. How to post that you have uploaded a package.

Let us know if a video is out of date, needs a tweak, or more info.
contact@opensourcebistro.com
Have a tutorial idea you think will benefit others?
tutorial@opensourcebistro.com

OpenSourceBistro There are lots of sites for Linux gurus. This is not one of them.
Creating Packages for the VL repositories All the software packages that are so easily accecable via the Gslapt package manager are there because of the contibution of members of the VectorLinux community. The instructions on this page should help you become one of those members. (This page is currently undergoing a re-write. Please be patient as it takes form.) Return to OSB Main

*Don't just install from source, Create a package. Follow the tutorials below to learn how to create packages for the Gslapt Package Management System.* In most cases it is just as easy as installing from source. You can uninstall/re-install a .tlz package with ease. After a fresh install of Vector, your programs can easily be reinstalled from the repository. Submitting your .tlz to the repository benefits the community. Others in turn will upload packages you will then not have to build.
Part 1. Working with other peoples SlackBuilds. A SlackBuild is a script which contains all the steps necessary to turn a programs source code into a package that can be used by the Package Management system. Once a SlackBuild is written it can be used again and again usually with only minor tweeking. The tutorials below will explore how to find and use existing SlackBuilds to make your packaging easier.
Newest Build example. K9copy. K9copy, is a dvd backup utility for Linux. Create backups of your DVD collection or even author a dvd yourself. Video Tutorial. How to build the .tlz package for k9copy
Just in case you do not know what KeePassX is, here is a short description… KeePassX is an application for people with extremly high demands on secure personal data management. Video Tutorial. How to build the .tlz package for KeePassX
wxGTK, is a library, necessary for many applications to be able to put up a graphical interface. This tutorial is a pre-requisite for completing the Audacity tutorial. Video tutorial. How to build wxGTK for the Vectorlinux repositories.
Audacity. A highly advanced sound recorder, editor, for Linux and other OS's. To complete this tutorial you must have completed the wxGTK tut above. Video tutorial. How to build Audacity for the Vectorlinux repositories.
5 part series. Installing Kdenlive on Vectorlinux 6.0 Part 1. Upgrading and packaging ffmpeg from a 3rd party SlackBuild. Part 2. How to build Openjpg for the Vectorlinux Repositories. Part 3. How to build frie0r for the Vectorlinux Repositories. Part 4. How to build mlt for the Vectorlinux Repositories. Part 5. How to build kdenlive for the Vectorlinux Repositories.
Using Slackbuilds that have already been created for Vectorlinux.
VectorLinux already has ton's of packages in it's repositories. That means it has ton's of SlackBuilds already made for you when you want to build the latest version of an already installed package. You can even use the builds from previous Vector's like version 5.9, in most cases. Video tutorial. How to upgrade Dillo using the pre-existing SlackBuild.
Configure, Make, Make-install type builds. Many applications you download will be designed to be compiled using this method. Applications which use this method will have a 'configure' and a 'Makefile' script in the top directory or 'src' directory. The tutorials below will walk you through several different cases, and introduce you to SBbuilder a specialized script which will create SlackBuild files with directory structure. Video tutorial: Making a .tlz for Grisbi manual build of an application step by step. Video tutorial: SBbuilder Packaging. Making a .tlz for Grisbi using SBbuilder, step by step. Video tutorial: SBbuilder Example using PDFedit.(Use of '--with-root-dir', and 'create .desktop file') Video tutorial: SBbuilder. Building packages with dependencies. Super Mario Chronicals. Video tutorial: SBbuilder. The 6 things to look for with any SBbuilder build. Python type builds. Applications which have been written in Python will have there own build method. Luckily, SBbuilder is easily adaptable to this task. The tutorials below will walk you through some examples. Pygame and Psyco have to be built and installed first as they are required (dependencies) of PyspaceWar. Video tutorial: Building packages for VL...Python application Pygame. Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Python application Psyco. Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Python application PySpaceWar. Fotoxx and it's dependencies. (4 different build scenarios) Covers what to do when a no configure script is present (FreeImage, Fotoxx). What to do when the Makefile is written in perl (Image-ExifTool). UFRaw provides another example of a normal type build. Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Understanding Dependencies. Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...No configure script, example...FreeImage (dep. for fotoxx) Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...--type=perl, example...Image-ExifTool (dep. for fotoxx) Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...Conf, make, make-install, example...ufraw (dep. for fotoxx) Video tutorial: Bulding VL Packages...Printoxx, similar build to FreeImage but with .desktop and .png Video tutorial: Building VL Packages...No configure script, example... Fotoxx. Video tutorial: Adding and subtracting required packages from the slack-required file. Some examples of Tricky builds and how to make them work. Video tutorial: BillardGL's 'Makefile' does not accept the $DESTDIR variable, how to make it work. Video tutorial: Cups-PDF has no Makefile, see how to do it on your own. Video tutorial: Building a package from a 'cmake' Source How to video tutorial: How to video tutorial: How to video tutorial: Building a package using SBbuilders 'noarch' option How to video tutorial: How to video tutorial: How to video tutorial: How to submit your package to the VL repositories. Video tutorial: Making the request, getting access and uploading. Video tutorial: Posting requirements. How to post that you have uploaded a package.
Let us know if a video is out of date, needs a tweak, or more info. contact@opensourcebistro.com Have a tutorial idea you think will benefit others? tutorial@opensourcebistro.com