Gilbert, Joseph wrote: > We are looking at now exporting our code and making it useful to a wider > client base. This obviously will mean that the software packages will have > to be built as .deb, .rpms, tarballs and whatever else will be needed. I > have been told that I will likely be responsible for the packaging, being > the Unix System Administrator and thus having the most tools and experience > available to determine the makeup of these packages. > > However, this is entering a realm where I have little knowledge or > experience. Does anyone know of good resources for basic data and concepts, > something like an O'Reilly book on the subject. Please let me know your > recomendations.
Hi Joe, I take it from your "exporting our code" statement that your software will be Free Software? (It makes a difference because your packaging strategy will be different depending on whether or not the software is compiled at the same time it is packaged.) For creating debs from source code, the standard tutorial is the Debian New Maintainer's Guide: http://www.nl.debian.org/doc/devel-manuals#maint-guide The nitty gritty of exactly what's supposed to be in a .deb is covered in excruciating detail by the Policy Manual. (Of course, if the software won't be in Debian, you don't have to abide by Debian Policy, but it's still a nice touch in getting your software to play nicely with other packages.) http://www.nl.debian.org/doc/devel-manuals#policy If your software includes shared libraries, you may want to read the Library Packaging Guide: http://www.netfort.gr.jp/~dancer/column/libpkg-guide/libpkg-guide.html Finally, even if you aren't going to be maintaining the .debs as official packages in Debian, the Debian Developer's Reference may be useful: http://www.nl.debian.org/doc/devel-manuals#devref Once you've finished reading all that ;-) any specific questions you have about building debs should be directed to the Debian Mentors mailing list: debian-mentors@lists.debian.org which has an FAQ here: http://people.debian.org/~mpalmer/debian-mentors_FAQ.html regards, -- Kevin B. McCarty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Physics Department WWW: http://www.princeton.edu/~kmccarty/ Princeton University GPG public key ID: 4F83C751 Princeton, NJ 08544 -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
