pkgtool is a front end for Slackware packages. I think, if I am right,(and I have read about Slackware packages), that Slackware packages are tar files that end with tgz? Of course I know the files ends with tgz but I could be wrong that its a tar file. (I have in fact, been wrong about thing I just read or learned about so it would not be a shocker!) Any how, what keeps track of all the files on the system? Is it pkgtool that keeps track? or is just a front end to what keeps track of the files installed on the system?

In other words what I think I am asking is: that if pkgtool is nothing more then a front end... what is it a front end of to, exactly?

BTW I am checking our the link on Bash scripting you sent me. I am very interested in Bash scripting.. I have studied it on and off and the more I learn about the command line the more I love it. I am almost tempted to switch over to something like black box.. I sort of picture it like a text based environment that can work with all the GUI tools as well. The advantage being for video and video games etc.

A Slackware package ends on .tgz yes, and it is no more than a gzip-ed tarball with a specific layout of directories and files. But keep in mind that .tgz is a common extension, identical to .tar.gz and this means that not every .tgz file you'll find on the Internet is a Slackware package.

You! There is no other tracking information than the logs in /var/log/packages and /var/log/scripts and all of that is plain ascii text, which you can examine without requiring more than the "less" command.

"man pkgtool" anyone?

Eric

Of course I have read the "man pkgtool" Yet that is besides the point... or at least it is now I think.

Lets see if I am finally starting to get it.

pkgtool is nothing more then a front end for:
"makepkg", "explodepkg", "installpkg", "removepkg",and "upgradepkg" each of which is its own program? (Sorry if I am listing the obverse... because believe it or not I am not entirely sure so please bare with me) In addition to that it is also a front end to some various other scripts. In other words besides being a front end to all of those programs it is nothing more then a glue of sorts. And to be sure, it is not a front end to no single program?

(Of course now that all this is coming to mind I will indeed continue to research, independently of this post.)


If all of that is correct am I right in assuming "makepkg", "explodepkg", "installpkg", "removepkg",and "upgradepkg" are them selves nothing more then shell scripts?

Okay update:

I wanted to post the reply so it would show how I was thinking about things. So looking back some posts I decided to do some looking around and I ran. This script (one I learned from a person a few posts back):

`whereis -b installpkg | awk '{print $2}'`


And I got this returned:

/sbin/installpkg: Bourne shell script text executable

So now I know that they are indeed shell scripts of there own. I am now simple amazed at the power of Bash. However I am also puzzled because ultimately I am not sure what it all means.

Thanks every one I really feel I am gaining now.

You have to be aware that the "Slackware management tools" (as far as they exist) are all written as shell scripts. Slackware tries to be a thin layer between you, the end user, and the programs that are installed on your system.

You do not really need the pkgtool program because you can do all of it's functionality by running the scripts directly yourself that pkgtool would call otherwise. But using pkgtool, you do not have to know the location of those scripts. It is nothing more than a convenience tool.

For instance, take a look at the scripts that boot your computer - everything in the /etc/rc.d directory - and you will find that the boot process of Slackware is straight-forward, and well-commented.
Similar for the scripts you can use on a running Slackware system. Look at the installpkg/upgradepkg/removepkg/makepkg scripts and those in /var/log/setup and you will find that with a decent knowledge of Bash scripting, you can become the master of your Slackware box.

Eric

Thank you so much ------> Alien Bob <---------

I am simple amazed at how the light just clicked on. Thank you so much.. for now I do not have any thing else to ask... I'll keep at and I think I'll put other things off (on hold) and keep at the command line. I just had a very strong renewed interest in Bash.