Re: [pygame] Galcon released

[Bob the Hamster <Bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, Dec 12, 2006 at 01:19:42PM -0800, Brian Fisher wrote:
> On 12/12/06, Bob the Hamster wrote:
> >> You can easily make a tarball containing your .pyd files and not your
> >> .py source code, and sell that to Linux users.
> >
> I always think of packaging a game as finding the dependencies and
> specific versions of components I tested with and distributing those
> along with the game content and code, and  putting them in a package
> with a simple and obvious way to run. Basically making it as easy as
> possible to run it the way I intended and have it all just work...

If the only dependency of a game is pygame, then you just include a 
README that instructs the user to install pygame with the package 
manager of their choice. Linux users will seldom have difficulty with 
that.

> shipping a bunch of .pyc or .pyo and the appropriate .pyd and .so
> files in a tarball doesn't really do all that does it? I mean, isn't
> there still the challenge of knowing what files need to be included
> (and what shouldn't) in what structure? Also, how would you clearly
> define the entry point if all you ship is a tarball? can a tarball
> also have a "run" action or something like that?

No such (widely used) standard exists... not saying such a standard 
wouldn't be nice, but Linux users aren't expecting it.

If you want a "standard" installation, you should paackage your 
program as a .deb (for Debian, Ubuntu, etc) and as a .rpm (Fedora, 
Redhat, etc) I have seen commercial software distibuted this way too, 
such as crossover office, which I purchased as .deb files. Also, this 
kind of packaging handles dependency information too!

Of course, if learning those packaging systems is too much trouble, I 
still say you should sell commercial linux games as tarballs. You might 
be surprized at how fast your linux customers will volunteer to do the 
.deb or .rpm packaging for you. (which is an easy thing for a knowledgable 
person to do if they have your tarball)

---
Bob the Hamster