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Packaging Project

Community Packaging Project

The Community Repository

The Community Packaging Repository was set-up by a small group of community members to provide pre-built applications, especially compiled for the Mepis Linux OS environment, that are easily installable via the Synaptic Package Manager.

The aim of the repository team is to provide applications that are not included in the default Debian or Mepis repositories, and/or provide newer (more up to date) versions of existing applications when requested.

We do this by either compiling direct from source, or backporting from upstream existing debian packages.

To use the Community Repository, you need to add the following sources using the MEPIS Welcome Center, opening Synaptic or editing the file /etc/apt/sources.list manually:

MEPIS 8.5 (current KDE4 version) .

Main
deb http://main.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/repo/ mepis85cr main non-free

Restricted (proprietary in some countries)
deb http://restricted.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/repo/ mepis85cr restricted restricted-non-free

MEPIS 8.0 (KDE3 version)

Main
deb http://main.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/repo/ mepis8cr main non-free

Restricted (proprietary in some countries)
deb http://restricted.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/repo/ mepis8cr restricted restricted-non-free

MEPIS 7

Main
deb http://main.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/repo/ mepis7cr main non-free

Restricted (proprietary in some countries)
deb http://restricted.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/repo/ mepis7cr restricted restricted-non-free

Adjusting Preferences
In order to have the Community Repository packages show as upgrades/upgrageable, you will need to adjust apt preferences. If you are unsure how to do this, please as for help on MepisLovers forums. The file to edit is /etc/apt/preferences. You need to add (as root) the following - the addition is bolded below:

Package: *
Pin: release o=MEPIS
Pin-Priority: 901

Package: *
Pin: release a=mepis
Pin-Priority: 901

Package: *
Pin: release o=Debian
Pin-Priority: 800

IMPORTANT
For more information regarding the community repository, or if you are not sure how to enable it, please check (or ask a question) on the MepisLovers forum.

BTW — quick disclaimer here — we have attempted to make the contents of the repo as stable & trouble-free as possible for you — but there are no guarantees. We are following strict packaging guidelines to try and ensure no compatibility issues; however if you do use the repo, you acknowledge that you do this at your own risk. I've got the repo enabled for my own production machine, so that should show you how safe I feel with it!
--Brooko

MEPIS Community Packaging Project team:

Paul Brooks (Brooko) - Project Manager, Maintainer & Packager
Marcos Del Puerto (marcos) - Server Admin, Maintainer & Packager
Steve Pusser (Stevo) - Lead Packager - Steve's our 'expert'
Tim Harris (timkb4cq) - Main server provider & Packager
Scott Milliken (smilliken) - Packager

How our Community Packaging system works

  1. We have section here on the MepisLovers forum where you can request packages that either aren't included in standard repos, or if you'd like newer versions of applications than those available in the standard stable debian repositories.
  2. The Community Maintainers will each run a pod of Packagers, and if we can build the package successfully, it will be uploaded to a TEST REPOSITORY (see below) and we'll confirm availability in the original thread on ML HERE once built.
  3. Once the packaged application is available in the TEST REPOSITORY, all we want the community to do then is to test the package and ensure it works correctly (provide feedback). Once we know the package is working correctly, we will then upload it to the actual COMMUNITY REPOSITORY, and if enabled on your system, you'll be able to grab updates etc via synaptic as normal.
  4. We'll also maintain a list of supported packages HERE on the Community Website.
  5. For those interested, HERE is a link to our packaging guide & HERE is a link to our base procedures.
  6. To use the TEST REPOSITORY — add following to your sources list — or add a new repository in synaptic.
    Mepis 8.5 Test Main - Code:
    deb http://main.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/testrepo/ mepis85cr test

    Mepis 8.5 Test Restricted - Code:
    deb http://restricted.mepis-deb.org/mepiscr/testrepo/ mepis85cr test-restricted