kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Dick Hollenbeck <dick@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 04/12/2011 04:11 AM, Brian Sidebotham wrote:
> On 11 April 2011 22:57, Dick Hollenbeck <dick@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> JP,
>>>
>>> If we are making 2.9 the required version for Windows, I will remove the
>>> conditional compilation zoom code and restore the old behavior which will work
>>> properly with 2.8 on Linux and OSX.  At some point when I get some extra time,
>>> I'll write a CMake macro that will complain if the version of wxWidgets isn't
>>> correct which will put this issue to rest once and for all.
>> Thanks Wayne.
>>
>> Having detailed instructions and giving complaints are no match for simply
>> making a fool proof recipe to build Windows Kicad.
>>
>> We still get folks asking how to build the Windows version of Kicad all the
>> time, even with detailed written instructions.
>>
>> There are a number of very large organizational movements which are just now
>> picking up steam, which will be expanding the notion of "open source hardware".
>> These organizations will be out looking for open source tools to convey their
>> designs in.
>>
>> Having a recipe which builds Windows Kicad in a drop dead, fool proof manor will
>> go a long way towards having Kicad be near the top of the list of recommended
>> software packages for these open source hardware designs.
>>
>> I do NOT think complaining about the wrong version, or asking someone to follow
>> a 10 step procedure is any match for a bullet proof recipe.  CMake's "external
>> project" is an outstanding way to address this, because it allows download,
>> patching, and edge triggered compiling.
>>
>> I maintain a complete embedded linux distro, and do so with a recipe for every
>> linux package in the distro.
>>
>> Download, patch, compile, install, package.
>>
>> If we cannot do this, in using a publicly distributed recipe, then it should be
>> done using a website, where someone can go to download pre-built Windows Kicad
>> binaries made *just minutes ago* from the latest testing tree, which could have
>> been updated with a patch that a person asked for.  This last step could be done
>> on linux more easily than Windows, for Windows.
>>
>>
>> Brian, please tell us how this is coming.  I don't think we can wait forever for
>> this.
>>
>> Maybe post what your most recent findings are?
>>
> The cmake -P scripting solution works very well and it's easy to get
> cmake to download mingw-get and then install mingw if necessary - this
> part works, although some more checks for an existing mingw install
> are still required.
>
> Downloading and compiling wxWidgets should be equally simple. Again,
> there is more work involved in checking existing installs than there
> is creating and compiling a new install.
>
> Optionally getting Bazaar might be slightly more involved, but I don't
> think it will prove too much trouble.
>
> Then we just need to checkout the repo and build it.
>
> There is probably another week or so to get a script together than
> sorts out the complete dependancy list and builds the KiCad source
> tree.
>
> I was away last weekend as the lure of glorious sunshine and cold beers won out.

Awesome.    I mean, that you have your priorities right.

Thanks, its nice hearing an intermittent report.

Dick