Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
I have been doing a fair amount of packaging lately. I have also been testing Hardy Heron and performing system upgrades/fresh installations. Every time I perform one of these fresh installs I lose my packaging/build environment. Attempting to remember, off the top of my head, which packages to install to reinstate my packaging/build environment causes severe brain pain; so, for future reference I decided to record the process and create a wiki page. By following the instructions on the wiki page I should be able to get my packaging/build environment up and running within minutes.
URL: http://www.crunchbang.org/wiki/PackagingSetupForUbuntu
Ubuntu packaging guide: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PackagingGuide
Ubuntu pbuilder howto: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PbuilderHowto
On the subject of packaging, I really need to try and get more involved with packaging for Ubuntu. It's all very well 'n' good having a personal repository, but I would really like to be able to contribute more back to the community. I think the reason why I've been holding back on getting more involved is due to the amount of time involved; it only takes minutes to create and upload packages to my own repository, whereas there are more hoops to jump through when packaging for Ubuntu, therefore it takes more time. Having said that, I think I need to learn to jump through said hoops before I pick-up too many self-taught bad habits :/
Monday, November 26th, 2007
From the Ubuntu developers list:
Personal Package Archives are now out of beta and available to all Launchpad users and teams. Find out more in our quick-start guide at https://help.launchpad.net/PPAQuickStart
This is great news. I love it when a service/software comes out of beta, it leaves me with a greater sense of confidence. I've been using my Launchpad PPA for a couple of months now and it's been a real help by introducing me to the process of uploading packages to a remote repository. I recommend PPAs to anyone wanting to experiment with packaging for Ubuntu. There's a PPA introduction class at 15.00 UTC on Wednesday 28th November in #ubuntu-classroom.
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007
I've been thinking about trying to get my PPA packages included in the Ubuntu Universe repositories. To this end, I've started researching the MOTU process. Daniel Holbach was kind enough to leave me a link to the correct page on the Ubuntu wiki [UbuntuDevelopment/NewPackages] for my new gimp-brushes package. Christer Edwards and Jorge O. Castro have also been supportive and encouraging over email — thank you :)
Inspired by the encouragement, I've managed to read through the information and yesterday I uploaded my first package to REVU. I'm now waiting for the fallout reviewers to comment and hopefully provide some guidance/constructive criticism.
So anyway, on the slim chance that any of the MOTU team read this, please take a look at my first REVU package. And remember, go easy on me, I'm a noob at this packaging lark.
