Using pkgmk Command to Create Binary Packages (with examples)

Motivation

Creating binary packages is an essential part of package management, especially when using CRUX. The pkgmk command allows users to create binary packages by specifying various options. These packages can then be easily installed or upgraded on CRUX systems using pkgadd command. In this article, we will explore different use cases of the pkgmk command with examples to understand its functionality better.

1. Making and Downloading a Package

The -d option is used to instruct pkgmk to make and download a package. This is useful when you want to create a package and have it available for distribution or further installation.

pkgmk -d

Explanation:

• The -d option tells pkgmk to create a binary package.
• No additional arguments or options are provided in this example.

Example Output:

Creating a binary package... Done.
Downloading the package... Done.

2. Installing the Package after Making it

To create a package and also install it immediately, we can use the -i option with pkgmk command.

pkgmk -d -i

Explanation:

• The -d option tells pkgmk to create a binary package.
• The -i option tells pkgmk to automatically install the package after creating it.

Example Output:

Creating a binary package... Done.
Installing the package... Done.

3. Upgrading the Package after Making it

Sometimes, we may need to upgrade an existing package. The -u option can be used with pkgmk to achieve this.

pkgmk -d -u

Explanation:

• The -d option tells pkgmk to create a binary package.
• The -u option tells pkgmk to upgrade the package if it already exists.

Example Output:

Creating a binary package... Done.
Upgrading the package... Done.

4. Ignoring the Footprint when Making a Package

By default, pkgmk verifies the package footprint during creation. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to ignore the footprint check. The -if option can be used for this purpose.

pkgmk -d -if

Explanation:

• The -d option tells pkgmk to create a binary package.
• The -if option tells pkgmk to ignore the package footprint.

Example Output:

Creating a binary package... Done.
Footprint check ignored.

5. Ignoring the MD5 Sum when Making a Package

A package’s MD5 sum is used to ensure its integrity. However, there may be situations where we want to bypass this check. The -im option allows pkgmk to ignore the MD5 sum during package creation.

pkgmk -d -im

Explanation:

• The -d option tells pkgmk to create a binary package.
• The -im option tells pkgmk to ignore the MD5 sum check.

Example Output:

Creating a binary package... Done.
MD5 sum check ignored.

6. Updating the Package’s Footprint

The -uf option is used to update the package’s footprint. This is beneficial when changes have been made to the files included in the package, and the footprint needs to be updated accordingly.

pkgmk -uf

Explanation:

• The -uf option tells pkgmk to update the package’s footprint.

Example Output:

Updating the package's footprint... Done.

Conclusion

The pkgmk command in CRUX provides various options to create binary packages efficiently. In this article, we explored six different use cases of the pkgmk command, including making and downloading a package, installing and upgrading a package, ignoring the footprint and MD5 sum checks, and updating the package’s footprint. Understanding and utilizing these options can greatly enhance package management on CRUX systems.