Bpkg simplifies trying out new source programs via utility.
I recently tried out the bpkg project and found that it is an excellent utility for simplifying the process of testing new programs from source. The tool can handle a range of tasks, including downloading, extracting, configuring, compiling, installing, generating a package in your system's native format, and integrating the package into your system's packaging system. This integration ensures that you can easily remove the package when you are done with it.
One of the standout features of bpkg is its auto-detection functionality. The software can detect the packaging system for various platforms, including Arch Linux, Slackware, Red Hat, Gentoo, and SuSE. Although it's worth noting that not all of the packaging back-ends are complete.
It's important to mention that while bpkg is a great tool, it is not intended to replace your existing packaging utilities. Instead, it provides an alternative that can help simplify certain tasks. However, be warned that bpkg is not heavily tested, and using it could potentially cause issues with your system. As such, it is necessary to use it at your own risk.
When it comes to installation, it's a relatively straightforward process. If everything goes according to plan, typing "#make" and "#make install" should suffice. The tool should be able to detect your packaging system and generate a package without any additional input. For those who need extra control, it's possible to use the "make DESTDIR=/tmp/pkg install" command to install to a package root. If the auto-packaging function fails, the "make install-raw" command can be used to perform a standard, unmanaged installation.
In terms of the latest update, this release includes several notable changes. The build section has been refactored to make it cleaner, self-packaging has been fixed to ensure it works even if you don't already have installwatch installed, and the "--build-with" option has been added. Additionally, users can now use the "--skip-build" and "--install-with" options to utilize bpkg as a substitute for checkinstall.
Overall, I would recommend anyone looking for a useful utility to handle source-code downloading, package generation, and integration into the local packaging system to give bpkg a try. Although it's essential to exercise caution and use at your own risk, I believe that it could be an invaluable tool for many users.
One of the standout features of bpkg is its auto-detection functionality. The software can detect the packaging system for various platforms, including Arch Linux, Slackware, Red Hat, Gentoo, and SuSE. Although it's worth noting that not all of the packaging back-ends are complete.
It's important to mention that while bpkg is a great tool, it is not intended to replace your existing packaging utilities. Instead, it provides an alternative that can help simplify certain tasks. However, be warned that bpkg is not heavily tested, and using it could potentially cause issues with your system. As such, it is necessary to use it at your own risk.
When it comes to installation, it's a relatively straightforward process. If everything goes according to plan, typing "#make" and "#make install" should suffice. The tool should be able to detect your packaging system and generate a package without any additional input. For those who need extra control, it's possible to use the "make DESTDIR=/tmp/pkg install" command to install to a package root. If the auto-packaging function fails, the "make install-raw" command can be used to perform a standard, unmanaged installation.
In terms of the latest update, this release includes several notable changes. The build section has been refactored to make it cleaner, self-packaging has been fixed to ensure it works even if you don't already have installwatch installed, and the "--build-with" option has been added. Additionally, users can now use the "--skip-build" and "--install-with" options to utilize bpkg as a substitute for checkinstall.
Overall, I would recommend anyone looking for a useful utility to handle source-code downloading, package generation, and integration into the local packaging system to give bpkg a try. Although it's essential to exercise caution and use at your own risk, I believe that it could be an invaluable tool for many users.
What's New
Version 0.5: N/A