src2pkg for the impatient

The following instructions presume at least a basic understanding of:

1. Linux (!)
2. Slackware packages & their installation
3. Building programs from source

Also, it is assumed you are running src2pkg on Slackware.

src2pkg has been developed to make it as easy as possible to go from a single source archive to a single installable package. It is not, however, a substitute for package-making experience and understanding.

For a more complete picture, try the tutorial.

Download the Slackware package here.

Install as root, with:

~# installpkg src2pkg-*.tgz

After installation, while still root:

~# src2pgk --setup

Put the kettle on.

It's advisable to set up a clean working area to keep your source if you don't have one already, and doubly advisable to do so as a user, not root.

~$ mkdir src

Next, take a look at the configuration file just installed.

~$ less /etc/src2pkg/src2pkg.conf

The important part we need to know is on line 185:

## Working Directories
# The default settings for these are like for Slackware SlackBuilds:
#
# The tarball, or link to it, is in the current directory 
# SOURCES_DIR="$CWD"
# Sources are unpacked and built in /tmp
# SRC_BUILDS_DIR="/tmp"
# The package build tree is also in /tmp
# PKG_BUILDS_DIR="/tmp"
# Finished packages are left in /tmp
# PKG_DEST_DIR="/tmp"

Read the rest of the file for details. Now we know most of what's going to happen is going to happen in /tmp .

Make tea.

Push the button, make the noise:

~/src$ src2pkg http://example.com/sources/a_configure_make_makeinstall.tar.gz

Pay attention to the output.

You should now find a package in /tmp called:

/tmp/a_configure_make_makeinstall-1.0.0-i486-1.tgz

Drink you tea.

Install the package you've just created, and do the washing up.

Some ideas:

• Check the Tutorial for a more detailed description on package building.
• Verify the packages you've built by untarring them before installing. Make sure all the binaries you think should be there are.
• Pay attention to the output of the package build. Check the FAQ for ideas on solutions to build failures.
• Configure your global build settings in /etc/src2pkg/src2pkg.conf, and tweak your user settings in ~/.src2pkg/src2pkg.conf. The latter is especially useful for not overriding the main configuration file.
• Generate a script with the -N option, then run the build from the script with -X.
• Tweak the script as required, reading about the processes in the file.
• Convert a file from an RPM to a Slackware package.
• Build a package from the internet!
• Build something exotic, like a cmake package.
• Set up any pre- and post-hooks to these processes by adding commands to the ~/.src2pkg/extensions/<process_number>.<type>, where type is pre or post and process_number is the number found from the process index - the two digit number prefixed on the files in /usr/libexec/src2pkg/.
• Make more tea.