Anyone out there still using the "Package Users" method with Linux From Scratch?

I'm building 7.7 with the package users method, and am now building xorg in BLFS.

It looks like the use of "Package Users" has waned over the years instead of increasing in use.

It seems like a great way to build packages, but I don't see much current content out there on the subject.

Anyone still using it?

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

I'm using pkgtools with my own in-house SlackBuilds with some customizations tailored for LFS anymore. I never liked some other the other methods. Most were too complex and brought too much complexity to an otherwise simple system.

1 members found this post helpful.

I'm using Robert Taylor's version of user based package management on an HLFS build. So far it's working perfectly. You can get his scripts at https://www.javacrypt.com/lfs/. If you grab the scripts, be sure to also get the shadow-4.1.5.1 patch that goes with it.

Regards,
James Rasmussen

I use pkgutils. You can add it in chapter 5 or after the toolchain.
It depends on libarchive. You can find lots of Pkgfiles and creating a Pkgfile from the book is quite straightforward.

So you are using it as a regular operating system?
Are you using it as your main operating system?

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

On thing that I like about the package users method is that when you are looking at files on the computer, you can see who installed them.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Hey Wayne;

I'm in the process of building HLFS now, I installed Rob Taylor's scripts at the beginning of Ch 6 and I'm using them to install the core system; user based package management tools will be the only path for future upgrades.

I'll be using HLFS as a Xen cloud platform template, rolling it out as a minimal OS and adding whatever additional source code I need for a given purpose. The Xen host system itself is Debian Wheezy. The main thing that sold me on the user based method is that it doesn't require set UID root to install packages.

Hope this helps you reach a decision.

Regards,
James Rasmussen

I'm considering after I get my system completed to my liking, to do a rebuild of all packages for dependency resolution, and see about uploading my tarballs to a repository. Maybe see about my own distribution, if I have time though.

The HLFS sounds interesting. Are you going to continue to use package users with that?

It's still a little to early for me to use HLFS; I'm still trying to get X to run without failing to even start.

My current system (Mandriva 2010.2) is so out of date that I can't do much more updating because core systems are too old. This Package Users LFS that I am building is going to replace that.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

You could try to update to Mageia 1 from Mandriva 2010.2 and go from 1 to 5 from there.
HLFS is outdated as well and compiling firefox will be a pain.
I recommend a more recent LFS with security patches. I am still using a once-was LFS 7.5 with a lot of upgraded packages.

Yes, I'll continue with the package users method after HLFS is finished. its very well suited to what I want to do.

For a system with an X server - plus all the bells, whistles, flashing lights and whiz bangs that usually accompany it - I don't think LFS & user based package management would be my first choice. I'm very happy with Debian in that capacity, or Raspbian on the Raspberry Pi.

Regards,
James Rasmussen

Wow! last update to HLFS was 2011. I did not realize it was that old.

As for firefox, it could probably still be utilized.

I'm using the latest firefox on my 2010.2 Mandriva. I never bothered to compile it, I just extracted and updated the firefox shortucts to point to the new folder. And it updates when there is a new update.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

My private builds for my own LFS based distribution, "Tornado Linux" (c)2015 James Powell, is going up on my git repo soon under a new project. It's pkgtools based with some edits specific to my own standards, but today I solidified the start of a few packages, and now I'm working on creating my set of BUILDPKG scripts (very similar to SlackBuilds), and hopefully I aim to incorporate sbotools eventually to allow for access to my private repo and easy updates using the repo as a base to update packages and maybe resolve dependencies.

If anyone wants on board with the project, hit me up at my email james4591 (at) hotmail (dot) com. I can supply a template for the BUILDPKG scripts, but there are some troublesome packages that will be needing addressing eventually.

I can also help you get pkgtools installed as well. Note, you will need the package "dialog" for the ncurses UI.

I don't know why you keep posting about your system when it has nothing to do with "Package Users Method".

Actually I do know why you keep posting, but that's the whole matter.


This thread is about the "Package Users Method".

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

steady Wayne, steady ....

About the biggest drawback with the user based package management system - in its present state - is the amount of Bash scripting required. Point and click, it most certainly is not. The basic philosophy behind it is very good however and its a shame more hasn't been done with it. Somebody with Python skills could make it a lot less dependent on user scripting; bring in the pre-1.0 0install injector to manage the wrapper scripts maybe, that was 100% written in Python.

Oh well, maybe one day as my skills improve...

Regards,
James Rasmussen