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Update README file.

Several pieces of information were outdated for the 3.2 release.  Add a
section for the API changes between 3.1 and 3.2.

Signed-off-by: Xavier Chantry <shiningxc@gmail.com>
[Dan: small updates/grammar corrections]
Signed-off-by: Dan McGee <dan@archlinux.org>
This commit is contained in:
Xavier Chantry 2008-07-26 00:28:28 +02:00 committed by Dan McGee
parent a7244e6ab2
commit 5949936777

165
README
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@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ ALPM library overview & internals
=================================
Here is a list of the main objects and files from the ALPM (i.e. Arch Linux
Package Management) library. This document, whilst not exhaustive, also
Package Management) library. This document, while not exhaustive, also
indicates some limitations (on purpose, or sometimes due to its poor design) of
the library at the present time.
@ -13,9 +13,8 @@ the frontend. Lots of structures are of an opaque type and their fields are
only accessible in read-only mode, through some clearly defined functions.
In addition to "alpm.h", the interfaces of "alpm_list.h" have also been made
available to the frontend. It is not a requirement for the frontend to use
these list functions; however, it prevents frontends from having to reimplement
a list data structure.
available to the frontend, for allowing it to manipulate the lists returned by
the backend.
Several structures and functions have been renamed compared to pacman 2.9 code.
This was done at first for the sake of naming scheme consistency, and then
@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ same name declared in both spaces. To avoid such conflicts, internal function
names have been prepended with "_alpm_".
In a general manner, public library functions are named "alpm_<type>_<action>"
(examples: alpm_trans_commit(), alpm_release(), alpm_pkg_getinfo(), ...).
(examples: alpm_trans_commit(), alpm_release(), alpm_pkg_get_name(), ...).
Internal (and thus private) functions should be named "_alpm_XXX" for instance
(examples: _alpm_needbackup(), _alpm_runscriplet(), ...). Functions defined and
used inside a single file should be defined as "static".
@ -33,59 +32,63 @@ used inside a single file should be defined as "static".
[Initialization]
alpm_init() is used to initialize library internals and to create
alpm_initialize() is used to initialize library internals and to create
a transparent handle object. Before its call, the library can't be used.
alpm_lib_release() just does the opposite (memory used by the library, and the
handle is freed). After its call, the library is no longer available.
alpm_release() just does the opposite (memory used by the library, and the
handle is freed). After its call, the library is no longer available.
[Options]
In the future, the library will not use any configuration file. It will be up
to the front end to The handle holds a
number of configuration options instead (IGNOREPKG, SYSLOG usage,
log file name, registered databases, ...).
The library does not use any configuration file. It is up to the front end to
configure the library as needed; the handle holds a number of configuration
options instead.
All of the following options have a alpm_option_get_* and alpm_option_set_*
function for getting and setting the value. The cannot be set before the
function for getting and setting the value. They cannot be set before the
library is initialized.
* logcb: The callback function for "log" operations.
* dlcb: The callback function for download progress.
* logmask: The logging mask for which level of output is sent to the logcb.
* root: The root directory on which pacman operates (Default: /)
* dbpath: The base path to pacman's databases (Default: var/lib/pacman)
* cachedir: The base path to pacman's download cache (Default: var/cache/pacman)
* logfile: The base path to pacman's log file (Default: var/log/pacman.log)
* dlcb: The callback function for download progress of each package.
* totaldlcb: The callback function for overall download progress.
* root: The root directory for pacman to install to (Default: /)
* dbpath: The toplevel database directory (Default: /var/lib/pacman)
* logfile: The base path to pacman's log file (Default: /var/log/pacman.log)
* usesyslog: Log to syslog instead of `logfile` for file-base logging.
* xfercommand: The command to use for downloading instead of pacman's internal
downloading functionality.
downloading functionality.
* nopassiveftp: Do not use passive FTP commands for ftp connections.
* chomp: No way, easter eggs are secret!
* usecolor: Unimplemented, but for the future. You can assume what it means.
The following options also have a `alpm_option_add_*` function, as the values
are list structures (NOTE: The add functions are NOT plural, as they're in
english: alpm_option_get_noupgrades -> alpm_option_add_noupgrade).
The following options also have `alpm_option_{add,remove}_*` functions, as the
values are list structures.
NOTE: The add and remove functions are NOT plural, as they are in English:
alpm_option_{get,set}_noupgrades -> alpm_option_{add,remove}_noupgrade.
* cachedirs: Paths to pacman's download caches (Default: /var/cache/pacman/pkg)
* noupgrades: Files which will never be touched by pacman (extracted as .pacnew)
* noextracts: Files which will never be extracted at all (no .pacnew file)
* ignorepkgs: Packages to ignore when upgrading.
* holdpkgs: Packages which must be upgraded before continuing.
* ignoregrps: Groups to ignore when upgrading.
* holdpkgs: Important packages which need a confirmation before being removed.
The following options are read-only, having ONLY alpm_option_get_* functions:
* lockfile: The file used for locking the database
(Default: <dbpath>/db.lck)
* localdb: A pmdb_t structure for the local (installed) database
* syncdbs: A list of pmdb_t structures to which pacman can sync from.
The following options are write-only, having ONLY alpm_option_set_* functions:
* usedelta: Download delta files instead of complete packages if possible.
[Transactions]
The transaction sturcture permits easy manipulations of several packages
The transaction structure permits easy manipulations of several packages
at a time (i.e. adding, upgrade and removal operations).
A transaction can be initiated with a type (ADD, UPGRADE or REMOVE),
A transaction can be initiated with a type (SYNC, UPGRADE or REMOVE),
and some flags (NODEPS, FORCE, CASCADE, ...).
Note: there can only be one type at a time: a transaction is either
@ -105,7 +108,7 @@ These targets represent the list of packages to be handled.
Then, a transaction needs to be prepared (alpm_trans_prepare()). It
means that the various targets added, will be inspected and challenged
against the set of already installed packages (dependency checkings,
against the set of already installed packages (dependency checking, etc...)
Last, a callback is associated with each transaction. During the
transaction resolution, each time a new step is started or done (i.e
@ -116,27 +119,27 @@ the resolution. Can be useful to implement a progress bar.
[Package Cache]
libalpm maintains two caches for each DB. One is a general package cache, the
other is a group cache (for package groups). These caches are loaded on demand,
and freed when the libary is.
It is important to note tha, as a general rule, package structures should NOT be
freed manually, as they SHOULD be part of the cache.
The cache of a database is always updated by the library after
an operation changing the database content (adding and/or removal of
packages). Beware frontends ;)
libalpm maintains two caches for each DB. One is a general package cache, the
other is a group cache (for package groups). These caches are loaded on demand,
and freed when the library is.
It is important to note that, as a general rule, package structures should NOT
be freed manually, as they SHOULD be part of the cache. The cache of a
database is always updated by the library after an operation changing the
database content (adding and/or removal of packages). Beware frontends ;)
[Package]
The package structure maintains all information for a package. In general,
packages should never be freed from front-ends, as they should always be part of
the package cache.
The package structure maintains all information for a package. In general,
packages should never be freed from front-ends, as they should always be part
of the package cache.
The 'origin' data member indicates whether the package is from a file
(i.e. -U operations) or from the package cache. In the case of a file, all data
members available are present in the structure. Packages indicated as being
from the cache have data members filled on demand. For this reason, the
alpm_pkg_get_* functions will load the data from the DB as needed.
The 'origin' data member indicates whether the package is from a file (i.e. -U
operations) or from the package cache. In the case of a file, all data members
available are present in the structure. Packages indicated as being from the
cache have data members filled on demand. For this reason, the alpm_pkg_get_*
functions will load the data from the DB as needed.
[Errors]
@ -149,13 +152,15 @@ indicating success, -1 indicating a failure.
If -1 is returned, the variable pm_errno is set to a meaningful value
Wise frontends should always care for these returned values.
Note: the helper function alpm_strerror() can also be used to translate
the error code into a more friendly sentence.
Note: the helper function alpm_strerror() can also be used to translate one
specified error code into a more friendly sentence, and alpm_strerrorlast()
does the same for the last error encountered (represented by pm_errno).
[List - alpm_list_t]
The alpm_list_t structure is a doubly-linked list for use with the libalpm
routines. This type is provided publicly so that frontends are free to use it
routines. This type is provided publicly so that frontends are free to use it
if they have no native list type (C++, glib, python, etc all have list types).
See the proper man pages for alpm_list_t references.
@ -179,41 +184,65 @@ perform a special action.
[MAIN] (see pacman.c)
Calls for alpm_lib_init(), and alpm_lib_release().
Calls for alpm_initialize(), and alpm_release().
Read the configuration file, and parse command line arguments.
Based on the action requested, it initiates the appropriate transactions
(see pacman_add(), pacman_remove(), pacman_sync() in files add.c,
(see pacman_upgrade(), pacman_remove(), pacman_sync() in files upgrade.c,
remove.c and sync.c).
[CONFIGURATION] (see conf.c)
[CONFIGURATION] (see conf.h)
The frontend is using a configuration file, usually "/etc/pacman.conf".
Part of these options are only useful for the frontend only (mainly,
the download stuffs, and some options like HOLDPKG).
The rest is used to configure the library.
The frontend is using a configuration file, usually "/etc/pacman.conf". Some
of these options are only useful for the frontend only (mainly the ones used to
control the output like showsize or totaldownload, or the behavior with
cleanmethod and syncfirst). The rest is used to configure the library.
[ADD/UPGRADE/REMOVE/SYNC]
Nothing new here, excepted some reorganization.
[UPGRADE/REMOVE/SYNC]
The file pacman.c has been divided into several smaller files, namely
add.c, remove.c, sync.c and query.c, to hold the big parts: pacman_add,
upgrade.c, remove.c, sync.c and query.c, to hold the big parts: pacman_upgrade,
pacman_remove, pacman_sync.
These 3 functions have been split to ease the code reading.
LIMITATIONS/BEHAVIOR CHANGES COMPARED TO PACMAN 2.9
===================================================
Excepted missing features still needing to be implemented, one can
notice the following limitations:
API CHANGES BETWEEN 3.1 AND 3.2
===============================
- If pacman is out of date, the frontend displays a warning and recommends
to give up the on-going transanction. The frontend does not allow to
upgrade pacman itself on-the-fly, and thus it should be restarted with
only "pacman" as a target.
[REMOVED]
- alpm_db_whatprovides()
- alpm_splitdep (no longer public)
- trans->targets was removed, so alpm_trans_get_targets() as well
- error codes:
PM_ERR_OPT_*, PM_ERR_PKG_INSTALLED, PM_ERR_DLT_CORRUPTED,
PM_ERR_LIBARCHIVE_ERROR
- event: PM_TRANS_EVT_EXTRACT_DONE
- PM_TRANS_TYPE_ADD pmtranstype_t (add transaction)
- PM_TRANS_FLAG_DEPENDSONLY pmtransflag_t
- ...
[CHANGED]
- alpm_grp_get_pkgs returns with pmpkg_t list, not package-name list
- Swap parameters on PM_TRANS_CONV_INSTALL_IGNOREPKG callback function
- download callback API changed: alpm_cb_download, alpm_cb_totaldl split
(+ new alpm_option_get_totaldlcb(), alpm_option_set_totaldlcb() functions)
- unsigned long->off_t changes where size is used
- pmsyncpkg_t struct changes:
- pmsynctype_t and alpm_sync_get_type() were removed
- alpm_sync_get_data() was removed
- alpm_sync_get_removes() was added
[ADDED]
- alpm_delta_get_from_md5sum(), alpm_delta_get_to_md5sum()
- alpm_miss_get_causingpkg() (new causingpkg field in pmdepmissing_t)
- alpm_checkdbconflicts()
- alpm_sync_newversion()
- alpm_deptest()
- error codes :
PM_ERR_DLT_INVALID, PM_ERR_LIBARCHIVE, PM_ERR_LIBDOWNLOAD and
PM_ERR_EXTERNAL_DOWNLOAD
- flags:
PM_TRANS_FLAG_ALLEXPLICIT, PM_TRANS_FLAG_UNNEEDED and
PM_TRANS_FLAG_RECURSEALL