Re: Support for packaging an OCaml-based tool for Debian
Hi, since I was last in contact we made progress with packaging for
Debian and other package platforms, including OPAM: https://gitlab.com/niksu/caper/-/blob/master/pkg.sh?ref_type=heads
It's the first time that the student and I worked on packaging for these
platforms. Would it be possible to obtain feedback from your community
on how we can improve our packaging craft for Debian?
Once we're more familiar with the process, I'd like to regularly update
the package for each version of the tool.
Thank you
Nik
On Wed, 14 Jun 2023, Nik Sultana wrote:
> Hi, I'm the main developer of an open-source OCaml-based tool and I'm
> trying to get help to package it for Debian.
>
> The tool is called Caper: https://gitlab.com/niksu/caper
> It is mainly of benefit to the networking community, especially
> tcpdump. Caper features on https://www.tcpdump.org/bpfexam/ -- that
> page invokes a recent build of Caper among other tools.
>
> Do you know of anybody in the OCaml+Debian community who could carry
> out, lead, or help with packaging?
> Even if they can only help with 20% of the effort, having their
> experience and guidance might lighten the load enough to enable me
> and/or students to carry out the packaging.
>
> By packaging it for Debian, the tool would be made available to more
> users who can benefit from it.
> I looked into packaging Caper for Debian but I haven't had enough time
> to work through the detailed process -- though I do appreciate the
> wealth of documentation that the Debian project makes available for
> this.
> Caper's developed alongside university research, and since I lack the
> time to package it myself, I also considered finding students with the
> right level of experience and detail-orientation who might be able to
> help with this, but I haven't succeeded in this either.
>
> Regarding the tool, I've been developing it for a few years. Here is a summary:
> - the tool is distributed under GPLv3
> - the environment-building and dependency-gathering is automated
> through a Dockerfile and Vagrantfile, both in the repo.
> The compilation is automated.
> - it has benefited from contributions from members of the tcpdump
> community, in the form of patches and of bug reports, as well as
> students. I review all contributions, particularly from students, to
> check quality.
> - it has a regression suite which is heavily used during development,
> to ensure good quality behaviour by the tool.
> - it's actively developed.
>
> Thank you
> Nik Sultana
--
http://www.cs.iit.edu/~nsultana1
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