Kswaret - Documentation
Copyright(C)2003 Matthew Lares
<namaseit@madpenguins.net>
As well, thanks to xbone@swaret.org
some of these were from his comments
in his config file for swaret. :)
This doc is under the GNU General public License. If you
dont know what it is or its terms.
Go to http://www.gnu.org for information
- Introduction
1.1. Version History
1.2. Installation
1.2.1. Dependencies 1.2.2. Compiling
- Howto Use
2.1. Main Window
2.1.1. Upgrade 2.1.2. Install 2.1.5. Config
2.1.3.1. Version 2.1.3.2. Mirrors 2.1.3.3. Repos 2.1.3.4. Deps 2.1.3.5. Proxy 2.1.3.6 Interface 2.1.3.7. Exclude 2.1.3.8. Cache 2.1.3.9. Timeout 2.1.3.10. GPG 2.1.3.11. Check Box Options 2.2 Packages
2.2.1 System Packages 2.2.2 Remove 2.2.3 Install 2.3. Updating
2.3.1. Why Update? 2.3.2. What mirrors to use? 3.
1. Introduction
Kswaret is a gui front end to the program swaret. If you dont know what swaret is go to http://www.swaret.org. If you do know what it is, good. Kswaret is used to keep a Slackware Linux system up to date and current with packages and patches. It can be used as a tool to upgrade/install/remove/reinstall/patch packages. It's basicly a package management tool.
1.1 Version History
This is just a list of major changes for the releases.
v.6
-added su ability
-added system package management
-added package installation/removal ability -added "Select All" button in new packages listview -added download rate to download window -added dependancy support
-added proxy configuration
-added upgrade/install progress windows -added dependancy progress windows
-removed quick hide button
-removed button "Remove" since it exists in packages -removed manual/auto as its redundant
-changed "List" to "Packages"
v.3:
-Update/Install works
-Remove/List does not
-Configuring works
-Other stuff I don't remember
1.2 Installation
Kswaret is very easy to install. If you have ever compiled a package from source before its no different. If not just go to 1.2.3 after you have check the dependencies section. Skip this section if you installed a pre-compiled package.
1.2.2 Dependencies
Kswaret requires certain libs in order to work. If you dont have them, get them before asking me why it keeps asking for them.
*** Required ***
QT library -- http://www.trolltech.com
1.2.3 Compiling
Just do the following:
user@shell$ tar -jxvf <packagename>.bz2
user@shell$ cd <extracted directory>
user@shell$ ./configure
user@shell$ make
user@shell$ make install
And guess what, Your done. Run Kswaret and go nuts! (WARNING: We will not be held responsible for actually going nuts)
2. How To Use
This section explains how to effectively use the gui. Its pretty self explanatory. But so that I dont get a bunch of emails asking what this or that does. Here we go.
Start kswaret and if you're a low level user then you will have to give the root user's password when prompted.
2.1 Main Window
This is the first window you will see when you start Kswaret.
2.1.1 Upgrade
This allows you to upgrade single packages or the whole system.
You will presented with a few options.
- ALL
- Packages
- Patches
- Extra
All setting chooses to install anything that has a newer version of it. And install any patches that have been are available. This is set to true by default. Packages setting chooses to only install new versions of packages. It will not install patches. Patches setting chooses only to download and install any patches that are available. Extra setting chooses only to install packages that are in the "extra" category. Obviously.
NOTE If you are using any REPOS settings, auto will not work. You have to do manual. If you set it to auto and are using a REPOS it will automatically set it tomanual. The reason is there are many different versions of the same package on REPOS mirrors. If there is 5 versions of the gimp setting to auto will install ALL of them.
As well there is a Keyword button. If you are looking for a certain package or only want to upgradea certain group of packes, such as "kde". Then only those packages will be upgraded if there are newversions of the program. Depending on the mirror, some mirrors are not as up to date as others so itis a good idea to try mutltiple mirrors if you know there is an update versin of a program.
Then just hit OK and the package list will be updated.
2.1.2 Install
If you can upgrade its the same thing. But this time you use the "keyword" button to specify the package your looking for.
2.1.3 Config
The tooltips on that show up for each button/checkbox should explain what the button does. I'll do it again just in case your slow. :)
2.1.3.1 Version
This sets the version that you want to stay up to date with. Default is 9.1. You can use "current"as your version and it will keep all your packages...well...current. I suggest using current.
2.1.3.2 Mirrors
Define Slackware (8.1 or Higher or Current) Linux Mirrors. Used for Official Slackware Linux Packages. List of Slackware Linux Mirrors available at http://www.slackware.com
2.1.3.3 Repos
Define Repository URL's with Slackware Linux Packages. (Used for Repository Slackware Linux Packages) (Repository URL's available at http://www.swaret.org/?menu=sp)
NOTE 1: If you want to use a Local Repository or Remote Repository,
be sure it contains the following Files:
- CHECKSUMS.md5 (For MD5 Sum, REQUIRED)
- FILELIST.TXT (For Package Name + Size, REQUIRED)
- PACKAGES.TXT (For Package Description, NOT REQUIRED)
- MANIFEST.bz2 (For Dependency Support, NOT REQUIRED)
NOTE 2: If you want to create your own Local Repository,
use 'swaret --repos'.
Please, check out 'swaret --faq' for more Information!
Syntax: REPOS_ROOT=REPOSITORYNAME%PROTOCOL:URL
NOTE 1: The REPOSITORY NAME can only be ONE Keyword! NOTE 2: swaret will use the order of the specified REPOS_ROOT URL's.
2.1.3.4 Deps
Define Libraries (8.1 or Higher or Current) List Mirrors. (Used for Dependency Support)
NOTE 1: You need to specify a Libraries List Mirror which
contains a 'libraries-VERSION' File.
NOTE 2: If you want to create the Libraries List,
use 'swaret --libmaker'. You can also clear all
DEP_ROOT Variable(s) which will allow swaret to create
it for you during Dependency Check using the defined
ROOT Variable(s) above.
Please, check out 'swaret --faq' for more Information!
Syntax: DEP_ROOT=PROTOCOL:URL
2.1.3.5 Proxy
If you want HTTP or FTP Proxy Support.
2.1.3.6 Interface
Network Interface. Use this to specify a network interface to use(eth0, eth1, wlan0, etc.)
2.1.3.7 Exclude
These are packages that you want to exclude from upgrade. Such as the kernel, lilo(boot loader).
2.1.3.8 Cache
Cache Directory for (Repository) Packages and Sources. Where packages will be when they are downloaded.
2.1.3.9 Timeout
Timeout for wget and/or rsync.
2.1.3.10 GPG
Enable gpg checking for the mirrors. "swaret --faq gpg" should tell what else you need to know.
2.2 Packages
This is where you would administer your local system packages. Here you remove packages and can install packages from your local HDD.
2.2.1 System Packages
What you see is a list of all the packages you have currently installed on your computer. In the pane to the right is the description of the package selected.
2.2.2 Remove
Select a package from the left pane and then click on remove to remove the package from your system. A prompt will come up asking if you really want to remove that package.
2.2.3 Install
This can be used to install a single(or multiple) packages that reside on your HDD. The package list will be updated immediately so you can view your newly installed package(s) and view their description(s).
2.3 Updating
Updating is done when you upgrade/install a package. Updating is done to update the list of packages available on the mirrors you are using.
2.3.1 Why Update?
If you did not update you would not have the 'current' list of packages that are on the mirrors. So Kswaret might not show any packages need to be upgraded but in actuality there might be a few that need to be updated or patched. Update is done automatically each time you run "Upgrade" or "Install".
2.3.2 What Mirrors to Use?
Essentially there are 2 types of mirrors "Official" mirrors, and "Unofficial" mirrors. Official mirrors can be found at: http://www.slackware.com/getslack I don't know about any unofficial package mirrors except Linuxpackages.net mirror which is already set in your swaret.conf file. "Unofficial" mirrors may also be referred to as REPOS mirrors. That is what they are called in the swaret.conf file. Although you can use a local directory as a REPOS mirror.
NOTE Using Unofficial mirrors is HIGHLY discouraged. Use only if you must. Beware though, the packages are not distributed by slackware, and are not packaged by slackware. They are use at your own risk packages. So if your system gets f***ed by a linuxpackages.net package it's your own fault.