[Ubuntu] Re: [osgeo4w-dev] Binaries Packaging - A Strategic Investment

[Johan Van de Wauw]

>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_dev at wildintellect.com>wrote:

> 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, cavallini at 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" <warmerdam at pobox.com>
> > A: "OSGeo-Board" <board at lists.osgeo.org>
> > Cc: "Alan Boudreault" <aboudreault at mapgears.com>, "Brian Hamlin" <
> maplabs at light42.com>, "osgeo4w-dev" <osgeo4w-dev at lists.osgeo.org>, <
> ubuntu at lists.osgeo.org>
> > 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,
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > osgeo4w-dev mailing list
> > osgeo4w-dev at lists.osgeo.org
> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/osgeo4w-dev
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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