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Diffstat (limited to 'doc/guix.texi')
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1 files changed, 87 insertions, 24 deletions
diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi index ab31ffd575..684382720e 100644 --- a/doc/guix.texi +++ b/doc/guix.texi @@ -1482,9 +1482,9 @@ tight integration of GNU components, and an emphasis on programs and tools that help users exert that freedom. @menu -* Packaging Guidelines:: What goes into the distribution. * Installing Debugging Files:: Feeding the debugger. * Package Modules:: Packages from the programmer's viewpoint. +* Adding New Packages:: Growing the distribution. * Bootstrapping:: GNU/Linux built from scratch. * Porting:: Targeting another platform or kernel. @end menu @@ -1492,25 +1492,6 @@ tools that help users exert that freedom. Building this distribution is a cooperative effort, and you are invited to join! @ref{Contributing}, for information about how you can help. -@node Packaging Guidelines -@section Packaging Guidelines - -@c Adapted from http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/philosophy.html. - -The GNU operating system has been developed so that users can have -freedom in their computing. GNU is @dfn{free software}, meaning that -users have the @url{http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html,four -essential freedoms}: to run the program, to study and change the program -in source code form, to redistribute exact copies, and to distribute -modified versions. Packages found in the GNU distribution provide only -software that conveys these four freedoms. - -In addition, the GNU distribution follow the -@url{http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html,free -software distribution guidelines}. Among other things, these guidelines -reject non-free firmware, recommendations of non-free software, and -discuss ways to deal with trademarks and patents. - @node Installing Debugging Files @section Installing Debugging Files @@ -1575,8 +1556,9 @@ the load. To check whether a package has a @code{debug} output, use From a programming viewpoint, the package definitions of the distribution are provided by Guile modules in the @code{(gnu packages -...)} name space---for instance, the @code{(gnu packages emacs)} module -exports a variable named @code{emacs}, which is bound to a +...)} name space (@pxref{Modules, Guile modules,, guile, GNU Guile +Reference Manual}). For instance, the @code{(gnu packages emacs)} +module exports a variable named @code{emacs}, which is bound to a @code{<package>} object (@pxref{Defining Packages}). The @code{(gnu packages)} module provides facilities for searching for packages. @@ -1584,7 +1566,87 @@ The distribution is fully @dfn{bootstrapped} and @dfn{self-contained}: each package is built based solely on other packages in the distribution. The root of this dependency graph is a small set of @dfn{bootstrap binaries}, provided by the @code{(gnu packages -bootstrap)} module. More on this in the next section. +bootstrap)} module. For more information on bootstrapping, +@ref{Bootstrapping}. + +@node Adding New Packages +@section Adding New Packages + +The GNU distribution is nascent and may well lack some of your favorite +packages. This section describes how you can help make the distribution +grow. @ref{Contributing}, for additional information on how you can +help. + +@menu +* Packaging Guidelines:: What goes into the distribution. +* From the Source Tarball to the Package:: The story of a package. +@end menu + +@node Packaging Guidelines +@subsection Packaging Guidelines + +@c Adapted from http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/philosophy.html. + +The GNU operating system has been developed so that users can have +freedom in their computing. GNU is @dfn{free software}, meaning that +users have the @url{http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html,four +essential freedoms}: to run the program, to study and change the program +in source code form, to redistribute exact copies, and to distribute +modified versions. Packages found in the GNU distribution provide only +software that conveys these four freedoms. + +In addition, the GNU distribution follow the +@url{http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html,free +software distribution guidelines}. Among other things, these guidelines +reject non-free firmware, recommendations of non-free software, and +discuss ways to deal with trademarks and patents. + +@node From the Source Tarball to the Package +@subsection From the Source Tarball, to the Package Definition, to the Binary Package + +Free software packages are usually distributed in the form of +@dfn{source code tarballs}---typically @file{tar.gz} files that contain +all the source files. Adding a package to the distribution means +essentially two things: adding a @dfn{recipe} that describes how to +build the package, including a list of other packages required to build +it, and adding @dfn{package meta-data} along with that recipe, such as a +description and licensing information. + +In Guix all this information is embodied in @dfn{package definitions}. +Package definitions provide a high-level view of the package. They are +written using the syntax of the Scheme programming language; in fact, +for each package we define a variable bound to the package definition, +and export that variable from a module (@pxref{Package Modules}). +However, in-depth Scheme knowledge is @emph{not} a prerequisite for +creating packages. For more information on package definitions, +@ref{Defining Packages}. + +Once a package definition is in place, stored in a file in the Guix +source tree, it can be tested using the @command{guix build} command +(@pxref{Invoking guix build}). For example, assuming the new package is +called @code{gnew}, you may run this command from the Guix build tree: + +@example +./pre-inst-env guix build gnew --keep-failed +@end example + +Using @code{--keep-failed} makes it easier to debug build failures since +it provides access to the failed build tree. + +Once your package builds correctly, please send us a patch +(@pxref{Contributing}). Well, if you need help, we will be happy to +help you too. Once the patch is committed in the Guix repository, the +new package automatically gets built on the supported platforms by +@url{http://hydra.gnu.org/gnu/master, our continuous integration +system}. + +@cindex substituter +Users can obtain the new package definition simply by running +@command{guix pull} (@pxref{Invoking guix pull}). When +@code{hydra.gnu.org} is done building the package, installing the +package automatically downloads binaries from there (except when using +@code{--no-substitutes}). The only place where human intervention is +needed is to review and apply the patch. @node Bootstrapping @@ -1756,7 +1818,8 @@ reason. This project is a cooperative effort, and we need your help to make it grow! Please get in touch with us on @email{guix-devel@@gnu.org}. We welcome ideas, bug reports, patches, and anything that may be helpful to -the project. +the project. We particularly welcome help on packaging (@pxref{Adding +New Packages}). Please see the @url{http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/guix.git/tree/HACKING, |