Re: [gentoo-soc] Graphical portage front-end

[Brian Dolbec]

On Sun, 2010-03-21 at 23:14 +0100, Patrick Lerner wrote:
> On Sat, 2010-03-20 at 09:02 -0700, Brian Dolbec wrote:
> > [..] As for it not being pushed in the main tree, Zac
> > informed me that there were some problems with it that needs a proper
> > API in portage for it to be stable and reliable.  He also intends to
> > implement it ( as have others in previous years), but he is only one
> > person, already busy with the core development of portage.
> >
> > If there is to be a project to with portage it should be the
> > implementation of a proper public API for apps to use such as porthole,
> > portato, himerge, etc..
>
> Is there like any information out on how the communication between
> client and portage would work? As in "Portage Daemon" or something along
> the lines of python bindings?
> In case I can help (with no previous experiences on creating public
> APIs), I'd be glad to do so even outside the scope of SoC.

The portage public API is mostly coded in the form of the packagekit
portage backend which was one of last years soc projects.  The
packagekit bacend is in the gnome overlay if you want to look it over.
It is in 2 basic parts, 1 a "c" to python bridge to access the python
based portage interface code.  It is this interface code that is to be
integrated into portage proper as a public API. 

 I talked with zmedico about the portage public API and he said that it
does not need much modification to be a part of portage.  With some
recent code changes and split-ups, portage is now ready for more API
integration.  He will be doing it in the near future and plans it for a
2.1.9 release.

>
> > If you want to work on a gtk
> > interface, I could always use more help with porthole, Necoro is
> > extremely busy with schooling and could use help with portato.  I
> > haven't talked with araujo enough to know if he needs help with himerge.
>
> I've looked into Porthole, which looks pretty similar to what I had in
> mind when proposing a GTK portage front-end, so I'm going to look into
> it a bit more.
> Something I've actually wanted to do is having some kind of
> background-process which would take care of syncing your tree and inform
> you about outstanding updates similar to the update managers of Ubuntu
> or Windows (systray icon + notify, like evolution does it with new
> mail).

I've wanted to do this for some time now too :)

Also I am starting a complete rewrite of porthole's backend structure
that will be able to make proper use of that new API, not to mention be
easier to create a pkgcore backend as well.  Help is welcomed and
appreciated.  Other things on my TODO list are full layman support,
individual overlay tree listings, full binpkg support, possibly even
multiple repo source support, py3k readiness, as pygtk is planned to add
python-3 support this spring...

> In Porthole all I found was the big upgrade button which immediatly
> installed everything without even giving me a list of which updates are
> there.

Ah, when it presented you with the small dialog box asking if you wanted
all pkgs in your world file updated you clicked "Yes".  Had you clicked
"NO" or selected the "Upgradable Packages" view ( that box next to
"View:" on the left, right above the category listings.  It would have
shown you "ALL" the pkgs that have an upgrade available.  From that view
the "Upgrade" button only upgrades the pkgs that have been selected.

Use the Help ==> Contents menu options to open your browser to the html
help files installed with porthole. They give you a good overview of how
it works and it's capabilities. ;)


> Nevertheless, kudos on the project, I'll look into contributing
> something to it if I can, too.
>
> --Patrick Lerner
>
>

I look forward to hearing from you.  IRC channels are #gentoo-guis,
#porthole

-- 
Brian Dolbec <brian.dolbec@×××××.com>