About the queue for PBI requests

[thnewguy]

In the past week or so we've received quite a few requests for new PBIs and it may seem like we're ignoring them. I just want to bring people up to speed here on what's going on behind the scenes.

At the moment we're in the middle of a rebuild of existing PBI packages. There are a lot of them, so it takes a while. We're also looking at doing a massive import of PBIs from the existing ports collection. What this means is, in another week or two, we hope to add a lot of new PBIs to our collection. When that happens a lot of the PBIs being requested here should be accounted for. So please bear with us for a few more weeks, we are working on getting all of your requests filled.

Thank you for your patience.

[kmoore134]

And thank you for making the tools to quickly build all these modules! I
think you have a sixth sense that tells you when our build server cores
are idle and bored :)

[thnewguy]

It's about to get better.

I'm working on a graphical tool (based on Qt to match other PC-BSD utilities) which would allow users to create PBI modules with a couple of mouse clicks. Soon any user should be able to create and submit desired modules to us in seconds.

[Linuxis]

If you manage to perfect it, may it come standard with every PCBSD install. XD

Could this tool create a PBI of FVWM-Crystal?

[thnewguy]

It probably wouldn't come as part of the standard install, there is only so much room on those CDs. However, once the application is working I would like to get it added to the PC-BSD software manager so people could install it with a couple of mouse clicks.

The tool should work on most ports, at least applications. Modules for complex ports like servers and window managers would probably require manual tweaking after the fact.

[Linuxis]

Actually Fvwm-crystal isn't a Window Manager, it's a desktop environment based FVWM.

But I understand what your saying. Keep up the good work, I can't wait until that thing is finished.

[thnewguy]

EasyPBI, a graphical application that makes creating PBI modules point-n-click easy, has been submitted to the FreeBSD ports collection. Hopefully it will be approved in the next couple of weeks and we can get packages made for PC-BSD.

[Beanpole]

EasyPBI still has not been approved for the FreeBSD ports collection yet. In the meantime, alternate instructions for getting EasyPBI are listed on the PC-BSD wiki page for module builders: http://wiki.pcbsd.org/index.php/PBI_Module_Builder_Guide

We are almost ready to begin building new PBI's again, so I will try to start getting through the current backlog of PBI requests here soon.

[drulavigne]

Regarding FVWM: As of RC2, FVWM is an unsupported desktop available during both install and afterwards using System Manager. It comes with FVWM-crystal and both are listed as choices in the login menu when you install FVWM. I'll get screenshots of both for the handbook once RC3 is out.

[Linuxis]

@Drulavigne

Thank you. I noticed. I didn't do a net install but I was thinking of fetching FVWM from the system manager.

Can you uninstall desktops that don't work for you? I'm just wondering so that I can keep hard drive space small.

[Beanpole]

It is possibly to uninstall different system packages (such as unused desktop environments) using the System Manager.

[Linuxis]

What version of FVWM is it?

Is it 2.6.3?

[Beanpole]

Yes, it is FVWM version 2.6.3, and FVWM-Crystal version 3.0.6_6

[Linuxis]

I just installed FVWM and I'm using FVWM-crystal.

It's faster and far more responsive then LXDE. I am a bit sad that it couldn't be made to support mime types and PCBSD settings, though.

Thanks for including it in RC2.

Any new Window Managers in the works for RC3?

[drulavigne]

The mime types and PC-BSD settings should be fixed for RC3. Let us know if you come across any more quirks once RC3 is out.

I think that is it for new window managers for 9.0.

[Linuxis]

The mime types and PC-BSD settings should be fixed for RC3. Let us know if you come across any more quirks once RC3 is out.

I think that is it for new window managers for 9.0.

Awwww, but I thought you would at least have added a few more Window managers, at least in PBI form. I mean PEKWM, JWM,Rox;

Oh and by the way Rox comes installed with FVWM and you can have it manage the desktop. Unfortunately because it's a very stripped down version of Rox, it doesn't come with any way to log out or shut down. It was an effort getting back to the default settings. Good thing I have Launchy, it's a life saver.

Anyway, a really funny glitch I noticed in FVWM is that regardless of whether you try to shut down or reboot, your machine will reboot.

As, a joke it's hilarious but it gets annoying after awhile though.