[comp.unix.questions] How to patch?

kleinj@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (Justin the Blue) (03/07/91)

  A somewhat unique problem has cropped up here at the public access machines
  at Oregon State University. 

  We are a group of people who are learning how to compile utilities for
  general system use.  One of the things we are unfamiliar with is how to
  implement patches.  There are many things that we want to do, however,
  that involve patches.

  Here's an example...a personal use I'd like to do.  I know of places where
  the source for the game Ularn is availible.  In perusing the shell archives,
  at one time I noted three patches: two to correct defciencies in the code,
  and a third (the one I want most for) that converts it to an MSDOS execut-
  able program.  How would I implement the patches?  I'm fairly clear on
  running the compiler and getting through the bugs in the Makefile.

  Since this may be a bit too "beginner" for this group, I think email
  to kleinj@jacobs.cs.orst.edu would be most appropriate.  I didn't think
  it was basic enuff for news.newusers.questions, tho'...

  advTHANKSance,
  -Justin the Blue-
  through the kind courtesy of the public access machines at
  Oregon State University, Corvallis Oregon.
  OB Disclamier:About the only creature on Earth who shares my opinions
  is my cat, and even we disagree from time to time.

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jc@raven.bu.edu (James Cameron) (03/07/91)

>>>>> On 7 Mar 91 10:38:51 GMT, kleinj@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (Justin the Blue) said:
JB> Nntp-Posting-Host: jacobs.cs.orst.edu


JB>   A somewhat unique problem has cropped up here at the public access machines
JB>   at Oregon State University. 

JB>   We are a group of people who are learning how to compile utilities for
JB>   general system use.  One of the things we are unfamiliar with is how to
JB>   implement patches.  There are many things that we want to do, however,
JB>   that involve patches.

JB>   Here's an example...a personal use I'd like to do.  I know of places where
JB>   the source for the game Ularn is availible.  In perusing the shell archives,
JB>   at one time I noted three patches: two to correct defciencies in the code,
JB>   and a third (the one I want most for) that converts it to an MSDOS execut-
JB>   able program.  How would I implement the patches?  I'm fairly clear on
JB>   running the compiler and getting through the bugs in the Makefile.

JB>   Since this may be a bit too "beginner" for this group, I think email
JB>   to kleinj@jacobs.cs.orst.edu would be most appropriate.  I didn't think
JB>   it was basic enuff for news.newusers.questions, tho'...


*I* think this was a good question.  I too am fairly new to building
programs and from what I understand, most patches are simply diff's
of the first file or files compared to the new one.  (A diff is a line
by line comparison between two or more files which shows the difference
in files and where the line numbers are.  Take a look at the man page
for it..  diff(1) )

Now, this method seems to be to save Bandwith but makes life for the
rest of us...(if I am correct about most patches).  

Anyone care to futher explain it or perhaps correct anything I might
have said incorrectly??

JC






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James Cameron  -  jc@raven.bu.edu

Signal Processing and Interpretation Lab, ECS Engineering Dept.
	Boston University, Boston MA
	Work: 617 353-2879
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	Boston University, Boston MA
	work: 617 353-2780 ext. 338

		"But to risk we must, because the greatest hazard in life
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khera@thneed.cs.duke.edu (Vick Khera) (03/08/91)

In article <JC.91Mar7095321@raven.bu.edu> jc@raven.bu.edu (James Cameron) writes:

   >>>>> On 7 Mar 91 10:38:51 GMT, kleinj@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (Justin the Blue) said:

   JB>   We are a group of people who are learning how to compile utilities for
   JB>   general system use.  One of the things we are unfamiliar with is how to
   JB>   implement patches.  There are many things that we want to do, however,
   JB>   that involve patches.

   Now, this method seems to be to save Bandwith but makes life for the
   rest of us...(if I am correct about most patches).  

   Anyone care to futher explain it or perhaps correct anything I might
   have said incorrectly??

   JC

there is a program called patch which will read the output of diff,
and apply them to the source files.  works very well, and makes life
easy for the rest of us.

patch can be found at various archive sites, including
prep.ai.mit.edu and jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov.
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