GNUstep Installation

2006-06-19

The packages in this directory were created using SuSe-Linux 10.0.
You can install them safely on SuSe Linux >= 10.0, and probably on
other Linux distributions like Red Hat.
All packages will be installed in /usr/GNUstep.

1.  System requirements
2.  Additional packages from the distribution
3.  GNUstep installation
4.  GNUstep configuration
5.  GNUstep configuration for each user
6.  Details (optional)
7.  Quick entry to GNUstep
8.  Trouble Shooting


1. System Requirements
=======================================================================

The installation of GNUstep using the RPM packages from vhf,
require the following:

- Linux kernel >= 2.4
- XFree86 Version >= 4
- You probably want to use WindowMaker as the window manager, because
  it has the same look as GNUstep applications.
- This document is based on the SuSe 10 distribution with minimal
  graphic system. Other distributions may deviate in some details.


2. Additional packages from the distribution
=======================================================================

The following packages must be installed from the distribution CD.

- libxml2           Package: libxml2
- libobjc           Package: libobjc
- libart_lgpl_2     Package: libart_lgpl
- gmp               Package: gmp
- ld                Package: binutils
- freetype-2.1.4    Package: freetype-2
- ghostscript (gs)  Package: ghostscript
- libaudiofile      Package: audiofile
  portaudio         Package: portaudio
- libpng            Package: libpng

You may need to install other libraries, which usually are all
available on any distribution. So, if the installation of the RPM
packages request some other libraries, you can install them from your
distribution.


3. GNUstep Installation (as user root)
=======================================================================

mount /cdrom
cd /cdrom/Cenon/Linux/i586/GNUstep

The following GNUstep packages need to be installed as user root in
the given order (you can copy the lines into your terminal shell).
These 5 packages are the GNUstep base and are the important ones.

rpm -Uhv gnustep-make*.rpm
rpm -Uhv gnustep-base*.rpm
rpm -Uhv gnustep-gui*.rpm
rpm -Uhv gnustep-back*.rpm	# Art backend for GNUstep
rpm -Uhv gnustep-fonts*.rpm	# some basic fonts for the Art backend

In the folder Apps you find some applications for GNUstep. You should
install at least the important ones.

rpm -Uhv GWorkspace.app.rpm	# File-Manager (important!)
rpm -Uhv Preferences.app.rpm	# Preferences for GNUstep (important!)
rpm -Uhv AppWrappers.rpm	# allows starting non GNUstep apps
rpm -Uhv Affiche.app.rpm	# Notes
rpm -Uhv Burn.app.rpm		# CD-Writer+ CD-Player (CDPlayer.app)
rpm -Uhv CodeEditor.app.rpm	# text editor with syntax highlighting
rpm -Uhv EasyDiff.app.rpm	# comfortable tool to compare files
rpm -Uhv GNUMail.app.rpm	# very good mail client
rpm -Uhv GSPdf.app.rpm		# PDF Viewer
rpm -Uhv ImageViewer.app.rpm	# an Image Viewer
rpm -Uhv Ink.app.rpm		# RTF-Editor
rpm -Uhv Terminal.app.rpm	# Terminal program
rpm -Uhv Waiho.app.rpm		# FTP client

Tip: If the installation brings up an error message, then usually
a library is not installed on your system. You can simply install the
library from your distribution.


The following commands are of general help in using RPMs:
rpm -qpR PACKAGENAME.rpm	# list package dependencies
rpm -qpi PACKAGENAME.rpm	# list package information
rpm -qpl PACKAGENAME.rpm	# list package contents


4. GNUstep Configuration (as user root)
=======================================================================

The following lines need to be added to a boot script. For the most
linux distributions this is /etc/init.d/boot.local

# start GNUstep services
if [ -f /usr/GNUstep/System/Library/Makefiles/GNUstep.sh ]; then
   source /usr/GNUstep/System/Library/Makefiles/GNUstep.sh
   opentool gdomap
   opentool gnustep_sndd	# if available
fi


5. GNUstep Configuration for all Users (login as user)
=======================================================================

For these configurations you have to be logged in as the user.
Copy the following lines into the .xinitrc file before the window
manager is started (here wmaker).
The file .xinitrc is located in your home directory. If the file is
missing create one.

# set GNUstep environment, start pasteboard server
. /usr/GNUstep/System/Library/Makefiles/GNUstep.sh
gdnc	# GNUstep notification center
gpbs	# GNUstep pasteboard server
# start Window Maker
wmaker


You can set the time zone, system font and modifier keys with the Preferences.app or SystemPreferences.app.


6. Details (optional)
=======================================================================

Keyboard commands
To have the keyboard commands for Alt-1, Alt-2, ... available in
GNUstep, you should disable them in WindowMaker. To do this goto the
preferences of WindowMaker.


7. Quick entry to GNUstep
=======================================================================

GNUstep applications are located in the following paths:
/usr/GNUstep/Local/Applications
/usr/GNUstep/System/Applications

The following are examples of applications available for GNUstep.
Documentation to these programs can be found on their home pages:

GWorkspace.app	
	The File Manager.
	Internet: http://www.gnustep.it/enrico/gworkspace/

GNUMail.app
	The Mail Client
	Internet: http://www.collaboration-world.com/gnumail/

Preferences.app
	Preferences for GNUstep.
	After the first start, you may have to set all the switches of
        the first module. After a restart the modules for keymapping
        appear.
	Here you can set the modifier keys, time zone, system font, etc.

Ink.app
	Text editor + Rich Text editor (RTF editor)

ImageViewer.app
	Image Viewer
	Internet: http://www.nice.ch/~phip/softcorner.html

Calculator.app
	little Calculator

Affiche.app
	yellow notes

Waiho
	FTP client


You can start applications from GWorkspace. You can also start
programs from a terminal shell (to have this work you need to source
the GNUstep.sh script as described before!):

openapp GWorkspace.app


8. Trouble Shooting
=======================================================================
RPM doesn't install the package. Instead I get messages of missing
library dependencies.
Cause:    Some libraries, which are needed are not installed
Solution: Install the missing libraries from your distribution.
	  You can use the search function to find the related package.

The libraries are installed. Still the dependencies are not sattified.
Cause:    The library is only provided in a different version.
Solution: You can try to install by ignoring the dependencies
	  using the parameter --nodeps
          It may also help to create a link to an existing library
          version.

I get a message that 'openapp' can't be found.
Cause:    You haven't issued the GNUstep.sh script
Solution: You have to add the call of the script into your .xinitrc
	  file for every user (see above).

The Gnustep paths (echo $PATH) are set to linux-gnuolsld instead of
linux-gnu. Rien ne va plus.
Cause:    The tool ld isn't installed
Solution: Install the package binutils from the distribution

The menu of GNUstep is very wide and the texts are cut off.
Cause:    You are using a stone old version of the X Window Server
Solution: install XFree 86 Version 4 or larger