Gp2x Package Manager

[Orkie]

I've just uploaded the first release of my package manager for the GP2X based around dpkg.

GP2X Package Manager is a small program which sits on your SD card and
can be used to install packages for your favourite programs with no
user intervention.
Currently, you can only install individual packages (*.deb files),
however future versions will hopefully include a more sophisticated
GUI for removal of packages and an online download system, like apt.
Upgrading existing packages *is* supported.

Installing the package manager is copying the 'installer' directory
included in the zip file to the root of your SD card.

To run the package manager, run 'installer.gpe' from the 'Games' menu
and select the package you wish to install from the menu. The screen will
go black for a while (this will be made more exciting in the future) then
you'll be dropped back to the main menu and your installation will be
complete (assuming there were no problems).

In the readme, there is some information for developers (or anybody else for that matter, it isn't hard) who wants to make packages.

Download: http://archive.gp2x.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,8,1915
Source: https://opensvn.csie.org/viewcvs.cgi/?root=...XPackageManager
PicoDrive package: http://x11.gp2x.de/filemanager/picodrive_0.963_gp2x.deb
gnuboy2x package: http://x11.gp2x.de/filemanager/gnuboy2x_0.69_gp2x.deb
More packages: http://gp2x.projectinfinity.org.uk/downloads/debs/

Please post any feedback and start creating debs (though the archive doesn't allow them to be uploaded, can this be fixed?)!

UPDATE:
The next version of the software will use the extension '.gpi' instead of '.deb', so be prepared to rename your files.
I've also written a script to help with making the packages:
http://x11.gp2x.de/filemanager/makedeb.zip

 

[k3nn]

This is awesome. I've always dreamed of seeing a good package manager for the '2x, and this looks like a nice start thank you.

 

[Trip]

Good luck with this Orkie..
Hopefully this will help to lower the level of howto posts on the forum from new users

 

[Tony Hoyle]

Hmm.. isn't dpkg a bit unwieldy for a little system like the gp32? ipkg is much simpler and has fewer dependencies (and should compile out of the box since it runs on just about anything). You've got the whole startup script mess to deal with.. dpkg is hard enough to handle on a debian box..

 

[PSyMastR]

Wait, why would we need this? Isn't copying files to an SD card easy enough, or am I missing something?

 

[Lint]

ain't it quite weird from someone who has written in it's signature "GP2X Standards" saying that a debian-specific package is something good in any matter of way?

 

[peetabix]

Wait, why would we need this? Isn't copying files to an SD card easy enough, or am I missing something?

This is also my question.

Although i welcome new software on our little hand held, i'm still left wondering my we need this. I'm probably missing the point altogether though.

 

[gohmifune]

I third feel that I am missing something. Though the more software the better.

 

[aapje89]

Wait, why would we need this? Isn't copying files to an SD card easy enough, or am I missing something?

yeah, im wondering that too...

 

[Trip]

Automatic updates of programs would be pretty good & leave more time for play
I love testing new software, but things like the Mame emulator can have about 3 updates per week (not a bad thing ) & having to unzip & update everytime is still a pain.

You add a couple of free roms to the mix (from somewhere like here) & you can say good bye to all the noob posts that seem to crop up constantly, asking why the emulators etc. won't work.

A system like this will also make it easier for the devs to fix bugs, as they can be sure that any bugs cropping up will be down to the program being wrong & not that the users cocked up the install.

 

[Orkie]

This is awesome. I've always dreamed of seeing a good package manager for the '2x, and this looks like a nice start thank you.

Good luck with this Orkie..
Hopefully this will help to lower the level of howto posts on the forum from new users

Thanks

Hmm.. isn't dpkg a bit unwieldy for a little system like the gp32? ipkg is much simpler and has fewer dependencies (and should compile out of the box since it runs on just about anything). You've got the whole startup script mess to deal with.. dpkg is hard enough to handle on a debian box..

I'm not using the official dpkg, which would indeed be silly. I'm using the dpkg compatible program included in busybox, which is very small (and no dependancies) and doesn't have any fancy features - just install and remove really. So no, there is no messing around I will probably add ipkg support in at a later date along side dpkg, because there are a lot of arm-linux packages in both formats (from Debian and from Familiar).

debian-specific package

What is Debian specific about dpkg? It originated from Debian, but you can install it virtually anywhere (even more so if you use the BusyBox version like I have).

Wait, why would we need this? Isn't copying files to an SD card easy enough, or am I missing something?

It isn't hard, but it isn't exactly obvious how to install each program, since they all work in different ways:
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=30484
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=29303
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=27789
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=23919
http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=22023

With a proper package manager, these problems would never have been problems - they would've just copied the package over and let it be installed automatically. As Tripmonkey_uk said, for emulators, a few public domain ROMs could be included to test the emulator, and it would be obvious where to add your own from there.

Also, this could help to add some constancy to the filesystem and of course, the program I posted yesterday is only the beginning. From here, I intend to write a proper GUI with remove feature and hopefully, some kind of install/upgrade direct from the Internet feature (the package manager in its current state can already upgrade programs that you've previously installed so long of you download a new package). Maybe an online service could also allow you to download other things, like podcasts or reviews or game guides too? The possibilities are endless

Automatic updates of programs would be pretty good & leave more time for play
I love testing new software, but things like the Mame emulator can have about 3 updates per week (not a bad thing ) & having to unzip & update everytime is still a pain.

You add a couple of free roms to the mix (from somewhere like here) & you can say good bye to all the noob posts that seem to crop up constantly, asking why the emulators etc. won't work.

A system like this will also make it easier for the devs to fix bugs, as they can be sure that any bugs cropping up will be down to the program being wrong & not that the users cocked up the install.

Exactly

 

[PokeParadox]

Yeah I don't see how this concepts contradicts with tripmonkey's standards site...

I think it's a good idea.

 

[Yod4z]

Great project, it would be realy great if it can be interated in gmenu like creating automaticaly link ^^ after package installation.

 

[sam fisher]

I like this idea. I.E. WIth USB networking on my gp2x being able to browse a package database and select what I want to download and install, and then have it happen

 

[Lint]

What is Debian specific about dpkg? It originated from Debian, but you can install it virtually anywhere (even more so if you use the BusyBox version like I have).

Why not use rpm then?
Or pkgtools from slackware?
both you can install it anywhere too.. perhaps we could use that YAST from SuSE too! it have a nice front-end to install rpms... (at least the last time I've checked that, which is years ago..)

pretty much I think that .zip files are ok and not distro-specific, but hey, that's your gp2x, do what you want, GPH will not enforce you to do anything against your will h34r:

 

[nickspoon]

Lint: You obviously know nothing at all about this.

A .deb file is a .tar containing .tar.gz files. It contains both the files and instructions on where they should go. They can be handled by a basic, dependency-free version of dpkg from BusyBox - the .deb format is just a handy container, because the specification and application are both there already. It has nearly nothing to do with Debian at all.

Next time, try thinking before you spout rubbish.

 

[justthisguy]

What is Debian specific about dpkg? It originated from Debian, but you can install it virtually anywhere (even more so if you use the BusyBox version like I have).

Why not use rpm then?
Or pkgtools from slackware?

because it is generally agreed ( as far as I know ) that dpkg is the ( in whatever sense of the word ) best package management system.

both you can install it anywhere too.. perhaps we could use that YAST from SuSE too! it have a nice front-end to install rpms... (at least the last time I've checked that, which is years ago..)

You can also install .debs in any place specified in the .deb, but a lot of programs need to be installed to a specific folder - installing them anywhere will most likely break them

pretty much I think that .zip files are ok and not distro-specific, but hey, that's your gp2x, do what you want, GPH will not enforce you to do anything against your will h34r:

if you suggest zip files, you're completely missing the point of this, which is to install a package management system that in the future could automatically download .debs from an online repository straight to the gp2x

Mark

 

[pepone]

Lint: You obviously know nothing at all about this.

A .deb file is a .tar containing .tar.gz files. It contains both the files and instructions on where they should go. They can be handled by a basic, dependency-free version of dpkg from BusyBox - the .deb format is just a handy container, because the specification and application are both there already. It has nearly nothing to do with Debian at all.

Next time, try thinking before you spout rubbish.

To be more precise, a .deb is a simple archive made by ar (much like a lib actually ) containing some scripts and .tar.gz files.

 

[aapje89]

... though most things only come in plain source or rpm files...

 

[Orkie]

I've written a script which should run on pretty much any OS (Windows users may need Cygwin, check the list of dependencies in the readme against your setup to make sure - there is nothing unusual in there) to automate making debs:
http://x11.gp2x.de/filemanager/makedeb.zip