private-arch-repo

A self hosted build system for Arch Linux packages

DESCRIPTION

Arch Linux is one of the most popular Linux distros out there. But unfortunately, the official Arch repo has significantly fewer packages than Ubuntu or Debian. Users mostly rely on AUR for the packages not available in the official repo. AUR comes with a catch- a user must build the packages locally using makepkg or an AUR helper. Although repo for prebuild AUR packages (like Chaotic AUR) exists. They do not contain all the packages a user wants. This program enables Arch Linux users to have their personal repo with packages they want.

GETTING STARTED

1. Install docker

2. Clone the repo

   git clone https://github.com/rafiibrahim8/private-arch-repo.git && cd private-arch-repo
   

3. Create gnupg.tar.gz (see CREATING/EDITING FILES)

4. Edit internal-scripts/init-image.sh (see CREATING/EDITING FILES)

5. Run make-image.sh

   bash make-image.sh
   

6. Edit packages on aur_packages.json and non-aur-packages accoding to your need (see EDITING PACKAGES).

7. Edit run.sh (see CREATING/EDITING FILES)

8. Copy/Move aur_packages.json and non-aur-packages to HOST_REPO_PKG_DIR of your run.sh file.

9. Run run.sh

   bash run.sh
   

10. Configure NGINX

11. Add Repo to PACMAN

CONFIGURING NGINX

1. Install NGINX

2. Create a new file on /etc/nginx/sites-available named arch-repo.conf and paste following into it:

   server {
       listen 80;
       server_name arch-repo.local;
       
       location / {
           root <cloned repo path>/output/; 
           autoindex on;
      }
   }
   

   N.B: Replace <cloned repo path> avobe with the absolute path where you cloned this repo.

3. Run the following commands:

   echo "127.0.0.1 arch-repo.local" | sudo tee -a /etc/hosts
   sudo systemctl enable nginx
   sudo systemctl restart nginx
   

ADDING REPO TO PACMAN

1. Add the following line at the end of /etc/pacman.conf:

   [private-arch-repo]
   Server = http://arch-repo.local
   

2. Run the following commands:

   sudo pacman-key --recv-keys <Key ID>
   sudo pacman-key --lsign-key <Key ID>
   

   N.B: Replace <Key ID> avobe with the Key ID obtained during creating gnupg.tar.gz.

EDITING PACKAGES

You can add AUR and non-AUR packages to the build system.

• To add AUR packages simply edit aur_packages.json file. The file is a json array of packages.

• To add non-AUR packages make a folder in non-aur-packages with the package name. The folder must have two files configure.py and config.json. configure.py will genarate PKGBUILD file and config.json will contain config values.

CREATING/EDITING FILES

Creating gnupg.tar.gz

gnupg.tar.gz contains keys to sign packages. To create it follow the steps

1. Backup your current keys:

   mv .gnupg .gnupg.bak
   

2. Create new key

   gpg --full-generate-key
   

   You will get output like:

   pub   rsa3072 2021-02-21 [SC] [expires: 2026-02-20]
     410B637614A906DFAA2B26DC9AE4D939F0C017EF
   uid                      John Doe <me@example.com>
   sub   rsa3072 2022-02-21 [E] [expires: 2027-02-20]
   

   Here 410B637614A906DFAA2B26DC9AE4D939F0C017EF is your Key ID. We will need this later.

3. Upload Key

   gpg --send-keys <Key ID>
   

4. Create gnupg.tar.gz

   cd
   tar -cvf gnupg.tar.gz .gnupg
   rm -r .gnupg
   

5. Restore backup

   mv .gnupg.bak .gnupg
   

Editing internal-scripts/init-image.sh

The lines between <Edit this values> and </Edit this values> on internal-scripts/init-image.sh contains editable parameters.

The parameters are follows:

• FULL_NAME: Your full name
• EMAIL: Your email address
• KEY: Key ID
• REPO_NAME: Name of your repository
• MIRRIRLIST_URL: Pacman mirrorlist file url

Editing run.sh

The lines between <Edit this values> and </Edit this values> on run.sh contains editable parameters.

The parameters are follows:

• HOST_REPO_DIR: Local Machine directory where the packages will be saved
• HOST_REPO_PKG_DIR: The local directory which will contain aur_packages.json and non-aur-packages

ISSUES

This is very early stage of the program. It might be very buggy. You are always welcome to create an issue or submit a pull request.