If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

Here's the background to this question:

Canola2 has a recent update that sucks. People want to go back to the prior version. Or someone flashed his device and now wants to re-install Canola (but with the old version).

Problem: there is no .deb, or at least no repository with all the dependencies, for doing a standard installation.

However, I still have the "good" Canola2 installation on my N800.

The gist of the question:
Is there any way I can "package" what I have to send to other users?

Here's the thread where this problem has arisen:

You could start with Post #1: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=33799

Then, if you want, you might read #42 thru #49: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=33799&page=5

I've specifically stated this with respect to Canola, but it is a problem that could come up again with other programs.

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

I think wajig will do what you want? http://www.togaware.com/linux/surviv..._Overview.html


I know I did something to repackage the chinook browser for use on diablo because the dpad behavior with the diablo browser irritated me.

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

Do you know what version you are looking for?

Several versions are online at http://repository.maemo.org/extras-d...ree/c/canola2/

I am not sure how many files were included in the .deb you are looking for. I believe that you can run "dpkg --listfiles canola" in a terminal to see a list of the files included in your package. You could then transfer those files to your friend who would install them in the same locations.

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

dpkg-repack (no package available for maemo)

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

Johnx's dpkg-repack looks exactly like what I had in mind.

It would be great if someone would port dpkg-repack to maemo (and either make a GUI for it or provide really simple Xterm directions). With the N8x0's development virtually abandoned (even Mer looks pretty debatable), and early indications that not all the Diablo-compatible installation files are going to be kept available, I think the community might really appreciate such a port over time.

Sarahn, maybe I'm wrong but Wajiq doesn't look like it's for Maemo, and, frankly, I couldn't understand it. (I should also point out that I'm not a Linux user; so all this might just be over my head.)

Bruce, the problem with that repository is that it looks like none of the debs are for the last problem-free Canola2 installation, which wasn't a RC but rather was beta11.

Thanks to all of you!

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

Hopefully once the sheen has worn off the N900, people will be able to get some work done on our "legacy devices". Or not!

Here's hoping for the best, although I knew this day would come eventually. It's a hazard I took purchasing a tech gadget (in December 2008) that was already a year and a half into its lifespan. I think that's the equivalent of an 80-year-old person, as measured in "device years".

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

dpkg-repack is just the one, as Johnx said. I had it running on my N800 on OS2007, it wasn't too difficult. It's a Perl script. So, I had to install Perl (which wasn't there in that first OS2007 install I had), and I believe I had to do a few adjustments -- it ends up calling some other applications, and IIRC some of them are busybox versions (i.e. may not have the options used). But in the end it worked fine.

I don't have it installed anymore, it went away when I flashed the device with an upgrade. But it wasn't difficult, so if the OP wants to have a try then just grab this file: http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/ma...ck_1.31.tar.gz
Unpack it with 'tar xzvf', and the script is dpkg-repack/dpkg-repack
Try to execute it, and fix all the problems as you go along. Usage: dpkg-repack name-of-package

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

Said OP may give it a try, but he is neither a Linux user nor a coder.

Ideally, this program would be very simple to use, so that as time goes by we could all help each other when someone needs a no-longer-available install file. You know, as time goes by and us N8x0 users look like Atari aficionados to the outside world ;)

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

I'm assuming you're running Diablo (or OS2008 anyway), so it probably won't be much use if I tried to make an installable dpkg-repack - I'm on OS2007. But there must be others out there who could do this reasonably easily.

Re: If I have App X installed on my NIT, and you want it, but there is no longer a .deb, how do I "give" you App X to install?
 

I've run dpkg-repack on OS2008 when trying to bring Wayfinder Maps to the N900; as has been said - it's pretty trivial. I'll see if I've still got it on my N810 (won't be for days, though).

But getting it running is the smallest part of it.