Someone (named stativ) is providing packages for Arch Linux on AUR. These packages are not binaries, but they download source code from the Rawtherapee github, take care of the dependencies for you, compile and installs the resulting binary.
Just to let you guys know, per my request stativ started to propose a package from the Gtk3 branch as well.
Both packages can be found here.
stativ see http://rawtherapee.com/downloads for what we currently provide for Arch. If your procedure is simpler or offers something which that one doesn’t, then please explain clearly what a person who wants to download it should do, as I don’t speak Arch, then I’ll add that info.
I’m fairly new to Arch Linux so I may be wrong, but to me the advantage of the AUR git package is that it downloads the current code found on Github, no need to wait for a binary repository to be updated. It’s nice if someone wants just to try the latest code, without having to manually check/install dependencies (the PKGBUILD script does it for you). It’s also nice for lazy people I guess!
Oh and you can even customize on the fly the cmake configuration (for example to set the best processor target) before compiling starts.
If you provide short and clear instructions, I’ll add it.
Here are some tentative instructions, not so short because I prefer to give more information for one to understand what they do.
First, here’s an exerpt of the Arch Wiki regarding the AUR repository:
The Arch User Repository (AUR) is a community-driven repository for Arch users. It contains package descriptions (PKGBUILDs) that allow you to compile a package from source with makepkg and then install it via pacman.
The AUR was created to organize and share new packages from the
community and to help expedite popular packages’ inclusion into the community repository.
The easiest way to install bleeding-edge versions of Rawtherapee is to use package manager supporting the AUR repository, such as pamac (install it with sudo pacman -S pamc), enable searching on AUR, search for “rawtherapee” and in the AUR tab, locate either rawtherape-git (for compiling and installing the master / Gtk+2 branch) or rawtherapee-gtk3-git (for the Gtk+3 branch, the recommended one). Slect and proceed to installation of the version of your choice, and follow the interactive instructions.
If you don’t have / want to use a package manager, you can use yaourt, a wrapper for the AUR and regular packages. Install it with pacman -S yaourt. Yaourt uses mostly the same options syntax as pacman. To list the Rawtherapee packages available in the Arch repositories, type yaourt -Ss rawtherapee in command line. To install the git version from AUR, type yaourt -S rawtherapee-git or yaourt -S rawtherape-gtk3-git
Note: the default cmake options are simply -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="release", if you want to customize your build answer “Yes” when prompted to edit the PKGBUILD and add the options of your choice, for example I add -DPROC_TARGET_NUMBER="2" -DCACHE_NAME_SUFFIX="4" for my personal build.
Safe to assume if someone doesn’t want to use the package manager, then they know what they’re doing and don’t need instructions?
Probably yes, if not we’ll know soon.
Done. Please check and tell me if I did it correctly. I presume the method we previously described uses the “Arch Extra” repository, check that it’s still accurate.
http://rawtherapee.com/downloads
@Morgan_Hardwood there are a couple of typos:
I think everything else is correct, including the reference to Arch extra. It looks like Marcin Bajor does a great job of providing frequent updates.
I don’t think the advice installing pamac is a good idea. There are plenty of ways installing software from the AUR. A simple note like “RawTherapee is avaiable in the AUR” with a link would be sufficient as Arch users know how to install software from there.
And why not install from the official repository?
Moreover the recommendation to install the GTK3 version… There are plenty of issues with HiDPI displays. So personally I would recommend the GTK2 version anytime (it’s also more compact).
edit: typos
Arch users were not born with Arch knowledge. New Arch users need to learn were and how to install packages, thus IMO clear and detailed information is better than no or scarce information.
If someone want to install something from the AUR someone has to be familiar with the risks of the AUR - it can be dangerous. I would recommend reading the Arch Wiki - as someone who want to install Arch someone can’t go around the Arch Wiki.
Using the official repositories should be the way to go - especially if you (the rawtherapee guys) want that the user has a hassle free experience.
To install rawtherapee on arch is done the normal way:
pacman -S rawtherapee
when you install arch you have to know this command - otherwise you wouldn’t be able to install arch in the first place.
I agree, AUR can be dangerous, but for our case, Rawtherapee, I have checked the PKGBUILD script, installed and tested both packages, and I can say that these packages are okay.
Maybe we can add a warning to tell users that, although using pamac is tested and fine for Rawtherapee, they are invited to read the Arch Wiki if they don’t know what they do.
I would like a hassle-free experience putting installation instructions for Arch users up on the website. Please notify me what information to put up once you reach a consensus. I don’t use or speak Arch so you need to be clear.
Typos fixed, thank you @sguyader
I agree because in Arch the user is responsible for his own system and he has to be aware of this. Even if the PKGBUILD is good now it don’t have to be tomorrow.
Well if RT is okay with it having instructions on their website with that they cannot be responsible for (they haven’t packaged and distributed the AUR package) - then I’m also okay with that. But if this installation method breaks or suddenly there’s no maintainer anymore - it’s not the best idea having the instructions for it on the website.
# pacman -S rawtherapee
I would consider the AUR method as “at your own risk”.
What will pacman -S rawtherapee install?
current version in the official repo is
rawtherapee 1:4.2+448.g26d182d-2
https://www.archlinux.org/packages/community/x86_64/rawtherapee/
community contains packages that have been adopted by Trusted Users from the Arch User Repository.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Official_repositories#community
…which is quite old in my opinion. Better installing one of Marcin Bajor’s precompiled packages.
Here’s what I suggest: in the download instructions for Arch Linux, place in first position the information for Marcin Bajor’s builds, and in second postion place the information regarding AUR, saying it’s for the more adventurous people who want the very latest “build”.
I’m not interested in putting up warnings and disclaimers - being cautious goes without saying. Every operating system has more than one way of installing a program, and I want the download page to clarify what the recommended, up-to-date procedure for each supported distro is. I don’t think it is the duty of our download page to teach Arch users to how install packages - that is general knowledge someone who chooses to use Arch should learn on their own. I just want to point out which installation source and method is the most supported, the most up-to-date and the most hassle-free, and I want it to be clear that the RawTherapee project does not run the repository but someone else does, and this someone else is the go-to person when there are installation issues.
26d182d is old, from October 2015. If pacman -S rawtherapee installs a 5 month old development build, then I do not want to recommend using it. I prefer providing a way for users to get a recent version. It makes no difference to me whether they download a binary or compile one themselves, as long as they have access to the latest “stable” version (4.2) and/or a recent development version.
I’ll do as you suggest @sguyader, that seems like a clear solution to me.