Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

PupGeek · Joined: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 388

While i started using roxapps as a method of testing my new apps before copying them into my system directories, it became clear to me that it was much more convenient to just run them from where they were. It was there, that I would place all my dependencies and from there that I would create links to folders that were expected to be found in the system directories. The trouble was, that the application directories would get quite fat and with symlinks, they would never copy correctly to a vfat or other windoze filesystem. That is when I decided to put the finished product into a squashfs and mount it at startup. I figured it would also be a clever way of distributing these apps too. I have been saying right along, that one thing that really turns windoze users off from linux is that adding apps can be a real hassle. I have rarely added software to any linux distribution and not have to download more dependencies. It really sucks when you do not have an internet connection and have to download elsewhere. But rather than complain about it, I thought I would actually do something about it.

I now have "Hassle-free" roxapps. These apps contain all dependencies and some will even install OpenGL if needed. They are packaged into squash file systems that are mounted at startup to save space and allow execution from any file system. They will export all paths, and symlink any files or directories that belong in system directories, as well as remove them and unmount when the program is closed. I have tar.gz'd each app, so its as easy as 1. download, 2. extract, and 3. execute. That's all there is to it. No downloading dependencies, no looking for files that are no longer available where you once thought they were, no hassles. This is so easy, a 'doze user would probably think it was too easy.

Here is a partial list of some apps I made:

I have 17 in total, and I will try and upload a few tonight. I will follow up when I can confirm their availability.

abushcrafter · Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 1447 Location: England

interesting...

seaside · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 832

PupGeek,

That sounds really great - especially if the filesystem can be kept clean.

Looking forward to trying it out.

s

dirty_dave · Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 42

sounds good Cool

i'd be glad to test them out

MU · Posted: Thu 10 Dec 2009, 17:46 Post subject:

download:
http://dotpups.de/puppy4/dotpups/PupGeeksHassleFreeRoxapps/

Mark

Dingo · Posted: Thu 10 Dec 2009, 19:38 Post subject:

PupGeek, I tried your Scribus, but when I try to import text in a textframe, Scribus crashes

Tried in puppy 4.2.1

Flash · Posted: Thu 10 Dec 2009, 22:07 Post subject:

Pupgeek, may I suggest that you edit your original post to include an index of available roxapps, with a short description of what each is for? A lot of beginners might try a program if they only knew what it was for, and their names usually don't give a clue. Smile

PupGeek · Joined: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 388

Wow! I didn't think they would be up so soon...... Anyways, the ones I have uploaded are;

I have many more to upload, which I will do a little at a time.

I just ran Scribus and found the crash..... I think it might need an importer... I'm just not sure how to put one in at this time.... I might have experienced this before too, come to think of it. Thank you for the reminder dingo, I will have to work on this one. And not to brush you off, but if you are in a hurry to get something done, copy and paste should not have any problems, last I remember.

dirty_dave · Joined: 28 May 2009 Posts: 42

they all work great

seaside · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 832

PupGeek ,

Nicely done

One item - I downloaded the Freeciv app, started it, and nothing happened. After checking out the Freeciv SFS file, it turned out that the SFS file was made with the older SFS format, so that it won't work in the puppy 43x series.

You may want to consider some SFS version checking in the AppRun to alert the user, if it's the wrong format.

Thanks for your work,
s

DaveS · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 3669 Location: UK

I have done the same thing with Seamonkey2, Firefox 3.5* and Opera as I find it the easiest way to keep control of the installs, esp if I want to delete them. I have noticed they load a little more slowly when set up this way though.

esmourguit · Posted: Fri 11 Dec 2009, 03:46 Post subject:

Bonjour à tous,
It's excellent.
On 4.31, i tried Gimp, and i had to convert sfs file from version 3 to version 4.
Are all of them in squash version 3?
Cordialement Wink

Dingo · Posted: Fri 11 Dec 2009, 08:05 Post subject:

PupGeek · Joined: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 388

PupGeek · Joined: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 388

Ok this is one of my earlier hassle free roxapps (a beta version lets say -- come to think of it, an alpha version, as it is my very first one) I have updated my AppRun script to link an additional directory. In order to get text from MS word documents, you will need an app called antiword, according to Scribus' documentation pages

You can compare your AppRun script to the one shown here: