[maemo-developers] Reviewing beginner packaging docs

[From: Dave Neary]

Hi,

So I got through my troubles today & I think that I've managed to
understand pretty well the various aspects of packaging, integration
with HAM and the application menu.

I'd appreciate reviews & comments on the updated
http://wiki.maemo.org/Packaging page now, please!

Dave Neary wrote:
> So far, here are a few remarks:
> * At this stage, your package still doesn't have an icon and an entry in
> the applications menu - which is what I'm having trouble with now. In
> fact, the entire section "Maemo-specific packaging information" has
> entirely too many unstated assumptions. Just to give three examples:
>   * The Desktop files section points to a [[Desktop file format]] page
> which does nothing to explain how to write a .desktop file

I have explained the minimum .desktop file now - where to install it
(and how), what the fields mean, and how to load a pixmap for the menu.

One thing I'm missing: fcrochik says that icons should be 64x64, and I
can't find any reference to that anywhere in the docs. Can someone with
knowledge help clear this up (and, in passing, improve the
documentation), please?

>   * The paragraph about .install files. There is a line: "You can add
>     the desktop file to the .install file for your application so that
>     it is installed to the correct place, for example, if you have
>     debian/application.install, adding the line:
>         application.desktop usr/share/applications/hildon"

I have deleted the paragraph. .install files need to be mentioned, in
the "uploading to extras-devel" page, but a .deb should (imho) be able
to install by itself, without any maemo-specific extensions.

> So I'm currently stuck trying to figure out how to get an icon file
> installed & how to write & install a .desktop file which will load it
> up. The advice I've gotten so far is good - but can mostly be summarised
> as "download a working package & look to see how they did it". And I
> know I'm still missing a bunch of stuff which will be necessary for the
> package to go into extras-devel.

In the end, my advice is "use whatever build system you prefer to
install <this file> in <this directory> (as specified by <this
spec/doc>) - here's how to do that in autotools".

At this point, I can get from blank laptop to Hello, World installed on
my N900 by following these in about 45 minutes. Not bad, if I say so myself.

Can anyone help make this even better?

Cheers,
Dave.

-- 
maemo.org docsmaster
Email: dneary at maemo.org
Jabber: bolsh at jabber.org