Builds, dependencies and deployment in the modern multiplatform world
Channel: Linux.conf.au 2016 -- Geelong, Australia
Date: 2016-02-06

Jussi Pakkanen
https://linux.conf.au/schedule/30198/view_talk
One of the great virtues of any Linux distribution is the package manager. It makes it trivial to install both software as well as dependencies to build more software. It is therefore surprising to learn that most free software installs are done on platforms without package managers. As an example it is not uncommon for gui programs to have more than 90% of their user base on Windows. Similarly all installs to mobile devices must embed their dependencies rather than rely on a package manager. During the development of the Meson build system, the problem of everyone writing their ad hoc embedding systems kept popping up and eventually lead to the development of the multiplatform Wrap dependency system. Wrap is unique in that it aims to work seamlessly with a package manager when one is available. In this talk we look at the requirements and problems of a cross platform dependency system as well as some unexpected benefits, such as improved performance and making it easy for people on non-Linux platforms to participate in development.