realplayer pseudo-package for Debian ------------------------------------ Current URI: http://scopes.real.com/real/player/unix/unix.html Remember, Download the RPM!! SUMMARY ------- The intent is to assist with installation of realplayer on Debian/GNU Linux/i386 systems. Other architectures cannot be supported at this time, as they are not distributed in a format that facilitates non-interactive installation from a CLI. Thus, only the Linux i386 (Redhat) RPM of realplayer basic will work with this package. The current filename/version changes without warning. LICENSE/SITUATION ----------------- This package does not actually contain realplayer. We cannot ship Real Networks' intellectual property due to their restrictive terms (see /usr/share/doc/realplayer/LICENSE) of distribution/usage. If you would like to see their application available under a more tolerable licensing arrangement that would permit us to include a 'real' package, you are encouraged to contact them. The current maintainer has already made such efforts, without positive feedback/progress. USING THIS PACKAGE ------------------ At the time of writing, the URI for UNIX versions of realplayer was: http://scopes.real.com/real/player/unix/unix.html The maintainer will try to keep this current, inevitably it will change despite best effort. If (when) it changes, go to http://www.real.com. Survive the sea of pop-ups and you should find (hidden near the bottom) the link to 'Real Player Basic'. Follow it and you should see a link to 'Community supported realplayer for UNIX' or similar. Select the Linux/i386 Redhat RPM (not the OTHER one, pick the RPM!). You will have to fill out a form, and sacrifice your first born before you are permitted to download. It is recommended you use a spam account/sinkhole for the registration. TECHNICAL OVERVIEW ------------------ Assuming you succesfully passed GO and collected $200, you should now have the latest Linux/i386 RPM of realplayer from their site. Hopefully they haven't released a version since this was last updated. When you install this package, debconf will proceed as such: would you like to proceed with installation NOW? => no? => you may dpkg-reconfigure realplayer later, exit 0 => yes? => where is the realplayer RPM? (enter absolute path) *internal check of RPM proceeds* => RPM is broken? => Go back to beginning. => RPM is ok => turns RPM into a cpio archive and installs. OBSOLESCENCE ------------ Due to the fact that Real.com has no interest in providing the maintainer of this pseudo-package with advance notice of new releases/RPM's, this package will inevitably go out of style. Moreover, as soon as a new version is released, old versions are not kept around for public distribution. This problem is particularly noteworthy in the "stable" distribution. There may be a newer version in proposed-updates that works. There is still a good chance that the newer RPM will work, in such case you should rename the RPM you downloaded to the name that this installer wants. a) if filenames and locations have changed dramatically => it probably won't work at all b) if only contents has changed and not file names => should work fine. c) if only a few things have been renamed/moved. => it may or may not work :) (depends what moved) SUPPORT & BUGS -------------- If there's a new version of the RPM out, please do tell us, but also understand that this package is frequently a source of irritation. If you have problems, file a bug report. Even minor troubleshooting on your part is frequently very helpful, The maintainer does test it on his machine before uploading, details help in tracking down problems. General questions on installation of packages/debconf usage should probably be addressed to debian-user@lists.debian.org Suggestions on improvement of function/documentation of this pseudo-package/additional translations of the debconf templates should be submitted as 'wishlist' bugs on 'realplayer' to the Debian BTS at http://www.debian.org/Bugs/ -- Thanks to Ross Boylan @ Stanford Alumni for motivating the maintainer to lay this out. Brian Russo Thu, 28 Jun 2001 01:22:26 +1100