MyDSL Extensions

Forum: DSL Tips and Tricks
Topic: MyDSL Extensions
started by: mikshaw

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 24 2005,18:40

Make A UCI From Any Directory

Here's a little Bash script which (apparently) builds a UCI package from any given directory. Use the command "scriptname directoryname". If the script is named "mkuci" and the directory you want to use is "blah", use the command "mkuci blah".

The script currently creates the package in the same directory as the one that contains the "blah" directory, so make sure you are root unless you build a package in /home/dsl.

UCI packages are mounted in /opt, so if you're making a package for an executable program make sure that it will run from /opt/blah

Code Sample

#!/bin/bash
UCINAME=$1
if [ -n "$UCINAME" ]; then
if [ -d "$UCINAME" ]; then
mkisofs -R -hide-rr-moved -cache-inodes -pad $UCINAME | create_compressed_fs - 65536 > $UCINAME.uci
else
echo "There is no directory named \"$UCINAME\""
exit 1
fi
else
echo "Usage: `basename $0` directory_name"
exit 1
fi

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 24 2005,19:20

Multiple Sets Of MyDSL Packages Means Multiple Systems

We all know the usefulness of myDSL packages autoloading into your DSL setup, and specifying different partitions for mydsl during boot allows you to boot with different combinations of apps. Going one step further, you can organize your application sets into subdirectories and use that directory on the boot line instead of using a different partition for every set of applications.

Using either of these methods, you may run into the issue of "what do I do if I want one or more apps to install in more than one of these combos?". You could make copies of the myDSL packages and put them into each of your myDSL locations...but that can quickly fill up your disks, particularly with larger packages.
So, fortunately in Linux we have symlinks, which can be used in practically any situation including this one.
Using symlinks you can put all of your myDSL packages into one directory, such as /cdrom/optional, and symlink them to individual directories. For example, if you have a "games" collection, and an "xfree" collection, but want XFree86.dsl in both, make a directory called /cdrom/games and one called /cdrom/xfree. Then symlink to /cdrom/optiona/XFree86.dsll from those two directories:
ln -s ../optional/XFree86.dsl /cdrom/games/XFree86.dsl
ln -s ../optional/XFree86.dsl /cdrom/xfree/XFree86.dsl
Using the relative path in the link allows you transfer them later to other partitions or media where "/cdrom" might not apply.
Now you have XFree86 loading with both sets of apps, without having to use a full copy of the package in both directories.
Loading them during boot is as simple as changing the "mydsl=" option.
For "games" you'd use "mydsl=xxx/games", where "xxx" is the boot partition.

Posted by Monkey 9 on Dec. 08 2005,10:17

Eh....

please forgive me, if it was not meant to post here....

The frugal install is convenient, in this way, that if something does not work out, one can delete backup.tar.gz, and everything is as in the beginning.
But I still cann't figure out how to load apps.
I have saved the apps /mnt/hda7, and they are all there, but the links are gone from the fluxbox menu's and from the desktop after reboot. And I cann't figure out how to restart them manualy...
The themes in fluxbox are all there, and are usable everytime.
Aslo the extensions from Firefox lost their config, and have to be configured every time I reboot.
I have changed the ownership of the DSL partition earlier, and hda7 is my 'home'..
I tried to create a symlink, but cannot get it visable...
(must be something i did wrong?)

I searched the entire forum, but could not find the answer...
Maybe you can help a little, if it is not to much trouble?

tia....

M9.

Posted by roberts on Dec. 08 2005,15:09

If your apps are stored on /mnt/hda7 then the boot time option of mydsl=hda7 will load the at boot time.

If you are using a frugal grub installed system then you can edit your boot time options by editing the file /cdrom/boot/grub/menu.lst You will have to edit that file as root.

Or if you don't want them loaded automatically then you can use the file manager emelfm to mount /mnt/hda7 and the mydsl load button to load each one.

Posted by Monkey 9 on Dec. 11 2005,15:35

Quote (roberts @ Dec. 08 2005,10:09)

This is correct.

One question:
Is it that with copying, in some occasions only the original location is linked, instead of realy copied? (which is imho one of the most clever thoughts of this extremely clever system!)

The more I get into DSL, the more I am astonished and amazed by the clear thinking, this little system is based upon.

Thank you for developing this beautifull, extraordinairy handy OS, which makes old hardware usefull as never before....

M9.