Sil for Linux (+ Arch PKGBUILD)

[magikmw]

I'm trying to create a working Arch Linux Sil PKGBUILD to submit to Arch User Repository at the moment.
I've managed to compile Sil fine following instructions from the 'compile.txt' file.

However I've got a couple of problems:
The only way I found so far of using the multiple window interface is to use the commandline option 'sil -mx11 -- -n*' where * is the number of windows. Doesn't seem like there is any other way to configure those, or change their amount/fontsize/etc after starting the game. The character sheet font is almost undreadable for me.
Only one compile variant (gtk if I recall correctly) offer a File/Options window menu, but that one doesn't have any options for other windows beside main.
Resizing windows (like equipment) makes data disappear. I can't make the equipment weight to show up after resizing the window. - Moving fixes that apparently.
The windows' positions and size are not saved on quit. No idea what to do about that.

Are any of these problems known/fixed? I may be doing something wrong.
I've already had pretty bad problems trying to build Angband on Linux before, so I expected this.

PKGBUILD if any Arch users want to test it before I submit it to AUR: link

[SaThaRiel]

Hey,

thanks for supporting *band ports in Arch Linux - i felt a bit alone

Honestly don't worry too much about X11 interfaces and stuff. Most users (the few that there are) using the terminal version or standard X11. Some may use SDL or GTK but usually the "normal" way - so not too much windows and so on. Many Arch Users use Tiling Window managers and so on...multiple windows are not welcome

From my experience, the Linux versions of *bands don't offer the same options in game like the Windows versions. But maybe i am wrong here. But i never really cared as long as the version runs without errors.

I will try your PKGBUILD later, if i have time.

[magikmw]

Honestly don't worry too much about X11 interfaces and stuff. Most users (the few that there are) using the terminal version or standard X11. Some may use SDL or GTK but usually the "normal" way - so not too much windows and so on. Many Arch Users use Tiling Window managers and so on...multiple windows are not welcome

Yes, well the standard build variant I used gives you the option of running it in X11 window and terminal-curses alike. I could just make a curses-built package and be done with it (experimenting with X11 in the mean time). It's an option I'm willing to take.

From my experience, the Linux versions of *bands don't offer the same options in game like the Windows versions. But maybe i am wrong here. But i never really cared as long as the version runs without errors.

I mostly bother because I've only played Sil on Windows so far, and I really like having couple of windows open so I can quickly judge changes in equipment, etc.
(Instead of switching eq->char->inv->eq->char I can just (w)ear and see changes in the separate window). I would love having the same option on Linux, where I use xfce4 (I like the flexibility, never managed to get tiling wms to work for me).
Sil does work with Wine for me fine, the only thing that bother me are 'wine-windows' instead of properly themed ones. And I don't really like using wine if I can help it.

Let me know how the PKGBUILD works for you.

[jdh]

The only way I found so far of using the multiple window interface is to use the commandline option 'sil -mx11 -- -n*' where * is the number of windows. Doesn't seem like there is any other way to configure those, or change their amount/fontsize/etc after starting the game. The character sheet font is almost undreadable for me.

...

The windows' positions and size are not saved on quit. No idea what to do about that.

...

Are any of these problems known/fixed? I may be doing something wrong.
I've already had pretty bad problems trying to build Angband on Linux before, so I expected this.

I believe these are by design, currently. Take a look at the silx script in the source for how to set different fonts and positions (on startup, though, not after starting the game). It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to add options for showing/hiding the various windows to the generic options menu instead of making them specific to the UI code, but I don't believe it's been done yet.

[SaThaRiel]

The Build Script works without problems on x86_64 architechture, i get a running game afterwards I don't kow if there maybe some missing dependencies, because i have a lot of *bands installed which require the common ones.

Just upload the PKGBUILD, if there is something wrong, someone will complain and you can fix it Thats the way it works. None will use it for a production environment, i hope.

[magikmw]

I've uploaded the package to AUR - please comment there if anything is out of order (I might have missed dependencies, for example).

Here's the link - https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/sil/

[SaThaRiel]

Well, after the latest update of lvm2 and the kernel my system won't boot anymore. After some fiddling i decided that this was the last reason i needed to drop Archlinux. I am not happy with the latest changes (like systemd) and so i don't use Archlinux anymore except on my work notebook - where i hadn't the time to install something else.
Good luck with you package - i am sure it will run fine. There are some *bang enthusiasts using Arch - so if there are problems people will report them and, the Arch-way, maybe also supplying fixes.

Oh, btw.. if you would like to take over some of my packages just send me a pm (i don't check in here too often). I will orphan them all in some days

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?SeB=m&K=SaThaRiel