applying software patches
 

i've downloaded all the source for the various patches that must be applied to make slackware current, but i don't know how to actually install them.

in each directory there is a script (say, arts.SlackBuild) that will builds the desired package (e.g. arts-1.1.1-i386-1.tgz), but i don't know where this package ends up (so i can't use any pkgtools on it). this is frustrating and i've considered resorting to just doing the ./configure-make-make install business myself, but then what's the utility of having already supplied a script for that purpose?

somebody just needs to kick me in the nuts and tell me how to do this while outlining the steps.

If you reall can't find it, but know that the script
worked and have a fair idea of it's name, why
don't just use find? :)


Cheers,
Tink

ok, i got that. just as a question of time, how long should it take to compile and install all the patches for KDE 3.1.1?

is my suspicion that this is an overnight (or longer) task about right? and further, could i use cron to initialize the scripts at some point tonight? i just figured i'd ask b/c i haven't tried effectively using cron and my failing short-term memory is a bitch...

thx tink

How long is a piece of string? ... :}
That heavily depends on CPU, RAM,
hd-I/O ...

You could use cron, sure .... but why would you?
You can just start whatever you are doing before
you hop into bed :} ...

Good luck, anyway!

Cheers,
Tink

I don't know exactly what comprises the full of patches you are trying to apply, but specifically for KDE, I'd recommend you upgrade to 3.1.2. The upgrade process itself was a piece of cake - really all you need to do is download about a dozen or so packages from the KDE site, then install them using KPackage. I think altogether it took about 15 minutes to do the upgrade, and it's just a matter of installing each package one by one. As far as building a cron job to schedule it, dude I don't know but it seems to me that it would be making it more complicated than it needs to be. It would probably be a good academic exercise but if your goal is just to bring your system up to date with the minimum of fuss, I'd say to just install the packages manually.

On different but related topic, have you looked into Dropline? Personally I am a big fan of it, and it definitely streamlined a lot of my housekeeping chores that's for sure. Good luck with it either way -- J.W.