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.

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?
 

It would be nice to be able to bluetoothly "squirt" an app from your own N900 to someone else's N900. What better way to promote the advantages of open source software FTW.

Regards,
Roger

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?
 

Getting it running is the smallest part of it because ... ?

(Yes, I'm running Diablo, and my assumption/belief is that having it for Diablo would be most useful for the community.)

how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

Hello,

i have a question regarding the installation over apt-get. A friend of me had installed a game on his device with the apt-get command. I would like to have this app too, but the app is not available anymore over the apt-get command.

We have searched for it with mc commander and found the directory. We have also zipped it to a tar.gz file. But now we dont know, how to send this app to my device.

Now my questions:

1. is it possible the way we did it: to compress the whole directory and decompress it on my device to the same directory and will it work or do i make something wrong then (or is some kind of installation process needed like in windows)

2. where should we copy the compressed file to, to be able to send it via bluetooth (with petrovich)

3. how to install this compressed file? just decompress it in the right folder and thats it or is more work needed?

If anyone with a little bit linux knowledge would answer my 3 questions, it would be sooo great!

P.S. I'm an absolute Linux-noob... :)

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

Sounds like you're trying to get the angrybirds deb file, all the other ones are very easily accessible. Not sure if anyone is gonna assist you on that one.

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

Are you trying to steal stuff from the Ovi store?

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

Add the line...
"For educational use!"
I want to know too :)

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

the main problem for me is that he dont know the correct command to get it and I would like to know how the installation process a.s.o. works at linux...

so can i just copy the directory where the app is to my device or do i need to do more?

Thanks to all of you for any comment! ;)

P.S. i dont want to steal, i want to learn how all this works!

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

apt-get grabs the required .deb packaged software form the repository and automatically fetches and installs any dependencies you may lack.

What you would really need to do in order to get some software that is instaled on someone else's N900 is not only tar up or zip up the binary for the application (usually under /usr/bin) but you would need to compress ALL the files originally distributed with the original install's .deb file.

This can include library files in /usr/lib/*, other binaries, optional data files, etc.... It can be anything and without knowing what .deb you are trying to get, we can't be more specific.

Once you have all of these, they would of course need to be unpacked to the same directories on your N900.

You would also need to identify and install any dependencies that you may lack. This is harder then it sounds because if you are missing anything, the only symptom that you'll observe is the game failing to run.

If you're installing from a .deb with dpkg, application manager, or apt-get you will clearly be told what additional packages you need.

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

so what is the app in question then?

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

As Dr. Drips said, what's the name of the application. There is no means of transmitting applications between N900s (at least not -properly-.)

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

What you need is dpkg-repack. This program recreates a .deb file that was installed on your system. Since it is written in perl, you should be able to install the package from debian:

http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/poo...k_1.32_all.deb

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

Installing a local package while resolving dependencies is not a feature of dpkg or apt, but together they usually manage:

dpkg -i local.deb ; apt-get install -f

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

Very nasty, and Application Manager will be unable to assist you later.

Development tools shouldn't be used casually to toss packages back and forth between people.

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

It depends from application category - after installation of zip/unzip from .deb file via dpkg, Application Manager shows it on my N900 w/out any problem.

But after removal of red pill in 44-1 Application Manager don't want to show any application in 'admin' category for example, even it is installed on your device. And couple another categories too.

Some developers want to keep you from yourself, Brock.

BTW, you can use 'Petrovich' application to exchange files between two N900 "via BT, E-mail and sharing". I didn't test it and it is in 'system' category (not 'user') but it is still not banned.

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

thanks all for the support... i will test these things and how it works...

the software is mcalender... my friend had installed it, however he did it, i dont know and he said he has made a lot of things and dont know what of them is the one thing to do... i get always an error of missing sqllite and hoped that i could get these files from him... *so nothing with pirating or something like that ;)*

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

petrovich is in the ovi store too, so i dont think it will be banned... but the problem with petrovich is that you can not access the root directory or other system directorys...

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

No, you should do a debian package first (see some previous post) in your home directory or any another good place and send it to another N900.

Without debian package you definitely will loss configuration and some pre/post installation procedures. Actually, that procedures are written in your friend device (in /var/lib/dpkg/info directory) but much easy way and much reliable way is - recreate .deb file (again - see some post before). Debian package will include anything which is needed for application.

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

That's not a game... :P

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

your right, it was my mistake, i was playing a little bit while writing, that shoudl be the reason why i write game... so its not a game... ;)

Re: how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?
 

I know a few people are interested in designing a level editor and since the concept is just so usable and there aren't any clones I can think of. I think the community should (will?) get together and make a clone of it with extra features and a built-in level editor. If you're playing their levels though, you should honestly pay them. I wish I had bought my copy before they pulled it, 3$ is a half pint of cheap vodka, I can totally spare that for some quality levels, but from the research I've done I don't think they'll be releasing a level editor for it or multiplayer support so as a community we should probably do that for ourselves.

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?
 

Thread "how to send an installed app to another n900 and install it there?" with eighteen posts merged into this thread.

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?
 

You, my dear mod, have made me a happy man. Now i am no longer in confusion over the origin of odd-looking posts
Thank yous!

Packaging an installed application back into a .deb
 

Is it possible to package an installed application back into a .deb install file? My intention is to keep a backup of Angry Birds Level Pack 1 in case I need/want to reflash the device.

Re: Packaging an installed application back into a .deb
 

Re: Packaging an installed application back into a .deb
 

apt-get install dpkg repack

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
dpkg-repack: Depends: dpkg-dev but it is not installable
E: Broken packages

apt-get install dpkg-dev

E: Package dpkg-dev has no installation candidate


extras, extras-testing and extras-devel enabled. Is the dpkg-dev package elsewhere to be found?

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?
 

The thread "Packaging an installed application back into a .deb" with three posts has been merged into this thread.