Download CruxPorts4Slack

Version: 20061113

What is it?
===========
In the BSD Unix World a ports system means a directory hierarchy (ususally under /usr/ports)
where you can automatically build your own binary packages from source.

The advantage of a ports system is, that the built packages are optimized for your
computer. Second advantage is: ports are faster available then binary packages.

In the last years ports systems became popular on Linux, too.
A well-known Linux distro with a ports system is Gentoo, another one is 
Crux (www.crux.nu).

Being a Slackware fan, I decided to switch to Crux, because
Slackware hadn't alls the packages I wanted and using
./configure && make && make install (or even checkinstall) wasn't the optimum for me.

At first I was impressed with the ports system of Crux. But building every single 
package, even the most basic software (e.g. util-linux), was getting on my nerves.
And I didn't like the  system layout of Crux (they are using devfs) as much as I liked
Slackware's.

I thought "Why don't use a mix of the two". Slackware with the Crux ports system 
- that would be it. Crux binary packages are based on tar.gz, so are Slackware packages. 
So I switched back to Slack and ported the Crux port system to Slackware. Another reason 
for making  this is, that I will use this system in the next version of DeLi Linux 
(www.delilinux.de).

Here is the result: With cruxports4slack you can use the crux ports system
with Slackware.

Installing
==========

Depends on: curl (slackware/n/curl-7.12.2-i486-1.tgz in Slackware 10.2)

Installation with:  installpkg cruxports4slack-20060822-i486-1.tgz


Running
=======

pkginfo
-------
usage: pkginfo [-i|-i package]
options:
    -i, --installed        list installed packages and their version.
    -l, --list package     list  files  owned  by  the  specified package
    -h                     print help and exit



ports
-----
usage: ports [options] [collection ...]
options:
    -u, --update    update ports
    -l, --list      list available ports
    -d, --diff      list differences between installed packages and availabe ports
    -v, --version   print version and exit
    -h, --help      print help and exit


pkgmk
-----
usage: pkgmk [options]
options:
    -i,   --install             build and install package
    -u,   --upgrade             build and install package (as upgrade)
    -r,   --recursive           search for and build packages recursively
    -d,   --download            download missing source file(s)
    -do,  --download-only       do not build, only download missing source file(s)
    -utd, --up-to-date          do not build, only check if package is up to date
    -um,  --update-md5sum       update md5sum
    -im,  --ignore-md5sum       build package without checking md5sum
    -cm,  --check-md5sum        do not build, only check md5sum
    -ns,  --no-strip            do not strip executable binaries or libraries
    -f,   --force               build package even if it appears to be up to date
    -c,   --clean               remove package and downloaded files
    -p,   --pkgfile       use alternative Pkgfile
    -kw,  --keep-work           keep temporary working directory
    -cf,  --config-file   use alternative configuration file
    -v,   --version             print version and exit 
    -h,   --help                print help and exit
				

Example for building and installing a package 
    
    cd /usr/ports/contrib/antiword 
    pkgmk -i

Enjoy!


How it worked
=============
With cruxports4slack (and installed curl from Slackware)
you will be able to use httpup files from http://crux.nu/portdb/ . The ports command
uses the httpup system to checkout ports from port repositories. The pkgmk command 
is a modified pkgmk from Crux's pkgutils which uses Slackware tools 
(e.g. "makepkg") to build a Slackware package. 


Where can I get ports?
======================
httpup files from the Crux contrib and opt "series" 
are in the package. 

At http://crux.nu/portdb/ is a huge collection
of other port repositories. With this you can easily build
Slackware packages for almost every Open Source Software
available.


BUGS
====
.footprint files aren't supported in this version of pkgmk, they are
simply ignored.


WARNING
=======
Not every Crux port is 100% compatible with Slackware, especially
where it has influence on the system layout. For example don't install 
Crux's port of "core/filesystem", "core/rc" or "core/pkgutils" on Slackware. 
You have been warned.