*BSD News Article 6846


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From: grog@lemis.uucp (Greg Lehey)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions,comp.unix.wizards,comp.unix.sys5.r4,comp.unix.sys5.r3,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,comp.unix.internals,comp.unix.bsd,comp.unix.solaris,comp.unix.ultrix,gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: Suggestions for content of book on porting/installing software
Keywords: porting,installing,C,book
Message-ID: <2395@adagio.lemis.uucp>
Date: 21 Oct 92 13:41:37 GMT
Followup-To: comp.unix.questions
Organization: LEMIS, W-6324 Feldatal, Germany
Lines: 41


I am currently preparing to write a handbook on building and porting
software packages, and would like some input from people who have run
into trouble in this area.

The book will concentrate mainly on UNIX and C, though I can be
persuaded to address other topics as well. It addresses primarily
people who find themselves confronted with a source package which they
need to get to run on their hardware. My intention is to include:

- how to get sources
- how to unpack and understand the source tree
- how to find and print the documentation
- what tools to use
- how to configure, build and test the package
- how to identify and solve problems
- (maybe) porting from other platforms

What do you think? The areas with which I am would like your help are:

- What problems have you had in the past that I should be able to
  anticipate? What hurt most? How can I help to minimise this in the
  future?
- I don't see any difference here between building a public domain
  package and building a proprietary one. Do you?
- Are you interested in porting from DOS or Macintosh to UNIX? What
  would you like me to write about it? Are you interested in
  conversions from MS Windows to X11?

Of course, I would be interested in opinions on other aspects as well;
if you have any kind of useful ideas about the topic, I'd be happy to
hear from you.

Please reply by mail to grog%lemis.uucp@Germany.Eu.net; the German
backbone has been having problems lately, and just occasionally a
message bounces. This is the correct address, however: it hasn't
happened twice to anybody, so just persevere...
-- 
Greg Lehey                       | Tel: +49-6637-1488              
LEMIS                            | Fax: +49-6637-1489
Schellnhausen 2, W-6324 Feldatal, Germany