Hi markh,
I am also silly enough to want to get a relatively recent version of git (& related GNU tools) onto IRIX 6.5.
In looking at this I came across your github repository:
https://github.com/markhellegers/nekoports
I have an "idea" which is kind of like what you are doing with nekoports, but with slightly different angle.
This it to see if FreeBSD Ports could be "adapted" to build a small subset of key GNU / other SW.
FreeBSD Ports uses similar approach to what your nekoports is doing:
- It keeps record of target version to build
- Maintains a patch mechanism
- Runs build process
What FreeBSD ports adds in additional to this is:
- runs config process to allow you to select build options
- maintains dependency list and will automatically build the dependencies
The dependency management is essential to make this easy, as even doing something like building openssl (which is an essential base part) brings in perl and all its tangle of stuff, so building by "hand" quickly requires lots of effort to chase down and build the dependencies.
By adapting FreeBSD Ports approach, we can then have a process that is 100% source code based and do away with need for "Nekoware" forever.
As lets be honest nekochan (is completely dead) and nekoware is almost dead and putting energy into trying to keep nekoware alive seems a bit like watching the doctor in emergency room continuing to apply CPR even though the patient has been flatlined for 15 minutes...
The FreeBSD Port approach just builds things into UNIX standard /usr/local space, which to me is fine and acceptable and has proven to work over more than 30 years....
Given where we are now (last IRIX release was in 2006), I do no see much value in trying to build IRIX "inst" usable binary packages, it is just simpler to use source build process.
Just soliciting thoughts / feedback as you seem to be one of few who has had some success with building old SW on IRIX using an automated process.
Cheers from Oz,
jwhat/John.
