From my own packaging experience (saga gis, some attempts at mapguide) I
don't think the major hurdles are in the specific packaging for debian or
ubuntu, but rather in the build procedures. Creating a package is easy if:
1) the package builds automatically from source without special
interventions. Completely. So no binary dependencies (problem for many java
packages). This is the only way security updates can be made in time.
2) the package does not depend on specific versions of libraries (or
compilers), and especially not on unreleased versions of these libraries
(problem for many java packages, also for mapguide). This is also a call to
library maintainers to release your libraries if everyone starts using
unreleased versions (eg libtiff 4 was not in debian prior to being
released, causing problems and unnecessary workarounds if a release would
have been made earlier).
Last but not least, to be included in debian main or ubuntu universe
packages should be free software and use only free software. As far as I
know this excludes almost all java-based gis projects, many of which
require JAI, which is not even remotely free software.
Johan
PS: anyone interested in packaging mapguide, I'm going to try to package it
for the next osgeo live dvd, so let's join efforts if you are also
interested!
On Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 5:32 PM, Alex Mandel tech_...@wildintellect.comwrote:
I spy a GSOC project idea: Packaging automation a guide to train new
packagers based on the automated system.
Maybe with Frank and Alan as mentors?
Should we also consider doing a packaging session at the sprint at
Foss4gNA? Alan will you be there to teach packaging for debian/ubuntu?
Thanks,
Alex
On 03/20/2012 11:35 PM, cavall...@faunalia.it wrote:
Good point, agreed fully.
Thanks for raising this out.
Ready to help of necessary.
---
http://faunalia.it/pc
Sent from mobile, sorry for being short
- Reply message -
Da: Frank Warmerdam warmer...@pobox.com
A: OSGeo-Board bo...@lists.osgeo.org
Cc: Alan Boudreault aboudrea...@mapgears.com, Brian Hamlin
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Oggetto: [osgeo4w-dev] Binaries Packaging - A Strategic Investment
Data: mer, mar 21, 2012 07:04
Folks,
I've mentioned this before, and I don't have anything surprising to add
now.
I just wanted to bump this topic.
I believe that producing good quality integrated distributions of OSGeo
binary software for a major user platforms is strategically important for
OSGeo and would be worth an investment of moderate amounts of money to
promote.
For me two packaging efforts stick out, though I might be biased.
1) OSGeo4W - I think the Windows environment is (still?) very important
and
OSGeo4W is a credible community effort to satisfy it that could benefit
from more involvement, polish and a broader package set.
2) Debian/Ubuntu/LiveDVD - I believe that Ubuntu is today the dominant
desktop/server linux system and that the packaging efforts of the
DebianGIS,
UbuntuGIS and LiveDVD groups build on one another and provide high
impact.
If board members or community members see high impact and reasonably
priced opportunities to extend these efforts with OSGeo money I hope
they will come forward with them. I'd also like to see us do more on the
OSGeo web site, with case studies, etc to promote these package suites
in a manner appropriate to their level of readiness.
I also think the MacOS environment is very important but I'm not entirely
clear on the best way of addressing that. Good ideas on this aspect are
also welcome.
Best regards,
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