Re: [gentoo-dev] An Offering: the EMerge Interface

[Will Rogers]

> Hi.

Hi.

> If you have knowledge of Python (we don't use Perl for Portage) and
> want to keep working on these kinds of things, tell me, and I'll see
> if we can't get Gentool rolling a bit faster from now on.

I'm reasonably familiar with Python (I tinker with a MUD written in Java
using Jython for scripting every now and again) but I haven't really used it
to write anything significant yet.  This has been on my "TODO" list for
quite a while and Gentoo is giving me a reason to finally get around to it.
I spent much of my day today browsing the Python web site and figuring out
what the analogs to the Perl features I used in my emi script are in
Python--opening a pipe, backticks, qx//, etc.  I also read through the
Developer HOWTO on the Gentoo site to get a vauge idea of how Portage works.

Tonight I'm going to see if I can rewrite emi in Python in a reasonable
amount of time.  If I succeed at that I'll declare myself a Python
programmer and start implementing some of the other features I want in emi.
Some of these are easy (emi merge <packagename> shows you a list of possible
ways to install packagename, binary or ebuild, and lets you choose one
without having to explicitly specify a _file_ to install on the
commandline), some are hard (providing an interactive mode with a browsable
view of the state of the system and available packages, a la dselect).

I'm obviously not familiar with the Gentoo development process.  If I
produce a version of emi in Python or add features, should I post it to this
list again?  Figure out how to create an ebuild + archive and post it to the
ebuild list?  Please instruct me in the particulars.

> Since Portage itself is so vital, we don't want to muck around with
> it needlessly. That's why I suggest we use Gentool as an entry-point
> for all crazy and non-crazy 'portage addons' that crop up on the list.
>
> This way, the users will be able to try them out before they make
> it into Portage proper, and we can throw away/rework suggestions
> that weren't so hot after all.

Excellent.

> I promise to speed up Gentool development once I get settled at uni (in
> about a week).

I promise to speed up anything and everything once I'm settled back at
University of Maryland, College Park for my third year and off this horrid
dialup.  ;)  I am willing and able to assist in development.  This project
really interests me.

Will Rogers, enjoying Gentoo
wjr@×××××××.edu