On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 7:03 PM, David C. Rankin <drankinatty@suddenlinkmail.com> wrote:
Hugo Palma wrote:
I was wondering if there's a process for requesting that a given package is updated to a more recent version on the openSUSE repos.
Thanks
Hugo,
Depending on the package, you can probably just build it yourself. Make sure you have the basic gcc compilier installed and rpmbuild. Download and install the latest .src.rpm you can find for your version of openSuSE. Then download the latest tarball to /usr/src/packages/SOURCES. Then edit the .spec file in /usr/src/packages/SPECS (usually in the first 15 or so lines) and replace the old source package + patches with the path to the new tarball you downloaded. Then just:
rpmbuild -bb /usr/src/packages/SPECS/filename.spec
If you were successful, then you will find your new rpms in /usr/src/packages/RPMS/<arch>
If you can't build the rpm, then just consider using the latest src package. You won't hurt anything. Generally, just download the latest source package.tar.gz or .tar.bz2 and unpack it to a temporary directory:
md ~/tmp cd ~/tmp
for .tar.gz files:
tar -xzf /path/to/source.tar.gz
for .tar.bz2 files:
tar -xjf /path/to/source.tar.bz2
Then read the INSTALL and README files! Take a look at the default ./configure options with:
./configure --help
Make any adjustments you like. By default most source packages will install in /usr/local to prevent a conflict with your install in /usr/bin, etc.. To configure the package, generally just type:
./configure
Wait until all the pretty text is done and confirm that there were no errors. Then compile the new package with:
make
Then install the package (as root), with:
make install
Stop the older version of the package with 'rcpackagename stop' Then simply read the README file again and start the package per the instructions.
Good luck. Compiling from source is a breeze generally and you can really benefit from being able to make it work yourself without having to wait on somebody else to build the rpm for you.
Last thought, check 'webpin packagename' first. In all likelihood, someone has already built the package you need.
-- David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E. Rankin Law Firm, PLLC 510 Ochiltree Street Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 Telephone: (936) 715-9333 Facsimile: (936) 715-9339 www.rankinlawfirm.com
Thanks for the excellent explanation. I'll give it a try. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org