= Arch Linux Packaging =

<<TableOfContents>>

----



== Distributed Design ==

The Arch Linux project encourages and empowers users to create their own software packages.

 * The package manager [[Linux/Arch/Pacman|pacman]] is designed to mix and match official binary packages with unofficial, locally compiled packages.
 * Packages are never split between software and development headers.
 * Build options and flags are coordinated through system configuration packages.
 * Tools for isolated build processes are well tested and documented.

The Arch Linux project also supports code for running public and private mirrors of the official binary packages.

----



== PKGBUILD ==

A '''`PKGBUILD`''' is a shell script to build a software package installable by `pacman(8)`. The shell script is called by the `makepkg(8)` utility.

A `PKGBUILD`...

 * mandatorily defines the `pkgname`, `pkgver`, `pkgrel`, and `arch` variables
 * defines dependencies as an array variable, wherein each element is a package name with versioning constraints
   * try: `depends=('foobar>=1.8.0' 'foobar<2.0.0')`
 * defines well-known functions that will be called by `makepkg(8)`
   * `prepare` applies patches to the source code
   * `build` calls the build pipeline, including any configuration steps
   * `check` calls the test suite
   * `package` creates the package

It's also possible to specify build-time dependencies with the `makedepends` variable (same format as `depends`), test suite dependencies with the `checkdepends` variables (again, same format), and optional (feature gate) dependencies with the `optdepends` variable (try: `optdepends=('cups: printing support')`).

If a package provides software that may be depended upon by other packages, set the `provides` array variable accordingly. Try: `provides=('foobar=1.2.3')`.

----



== makepkg ==

The '''`makepkg(8)`''' utility uses `PKGBUILD` scripts to build a package.

To build a package, try:

{{{
makepkg
}}}

To install all of a package's dependencies, built it, and install it, try:

{{{
makepkg --syncdeps --install
}}}

To build a source code only package ''(a tarball that does not include sources that can be fetched via a download URL)'', try:

{{{
makepkg -S
}}}

`makepkg(8)` is configured with `makepkg.conf(5)` and through environment variables. In particular, these variables are often configured:

||'''Variable'''||'''Default'''||'''Suggested Value'''||'''Meaning'''                          ||
||`PKGDEST`     ||`.`          ||`$HOME/packages`     ||built package base directory           ||
||`SRCDEST`     ||`.`          ||`$HOME/sources`      ||package source code base directory     ||
||`SRCPKGDEST`  ||`.`          ||`$HOME/srcpackages`  ||source code only package base directory||
||`LOGDEST`     ||`.`          ||`$HOME/makepkglogs`  ||build logs base directory              ||
||`PACKAGER`    ||``           ||                     ||packager name and contact info         ||
||`GPGKEY`      ||``           ||                     ||packager GPG key                       ||

----



== makechrootpkg ==

The '''`makechrootpkg(8)`''' utility builds packages in a clean chroot.

The chroot must first be setup like:

{{{
mkdir ~/chroot
export CHROOT=$HOME/chroot
mkarchroot $CHROOT/root base-devel
}}}

To keep the chroot up-to-date, run:

{{{
arch-nspawn $CHROOT/root pacman -Syu
}}}

Lastly, build packages with:

{{{
makechrootpkg -c -r $CHROOT
}}}

----



== Arch User Repository ==

The '''AUR''' ('''Arch User Repository''') is a public git repository of user-created and user-maintained `PKGBUILD` scripts.

The AUR is chiefly a way to coordinate the distribution of non-free and closed source applications on Arch Linux. Because a `PKGBUILD` script ''itself'' does not contain copyrighted material, they can be distributed freely and developed as open source code.

While these `PKGBUILD` scripts can be cloned and used directly, there are a number of 'AUR helpers' that automate this process. See [[Linux/Arch/Pacaur|pacaur]], [[Linux/Arch/Paru|paru]], [[Linux/Arch/Pikaur|pikaur]], [[Linux/Arch/Trizen|trizen]], [[Linux/Arch/Yaourt|yaourt]], and [[Linux/Arch/Yay|yay]].



----
CategoryRicottone