[Solved] Question about .jar files and building

[timeth]

G'day packagers,

I requested a package here > http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,94440.0.html

...but I don't know if anyone will have the time to do it so I thought it's a good time to get into packaging properly and do it myself.

I know we're supposed to get an SRPM to begin with and I can't find one online anywhere but I do have the source files in the form of a .jar file. I'm following the manual and just wanted to ask some questions along the way. Does this following course of action sound correct?

Unzip the .jar file and put the source files into ~/src/rpm/SOURCES

Put the spec file (which I haven't made yet) into ~src/rpm/SPECS

Then I can build it?

[gseaman]

Java programs are difficult to build. Tex has even put pre-built java binaries in a few packages. The problem as I understand it is that java programmers don't all use the same build tools. They don't usually worry about making it easier for packagers, because the binaries work on multi-platforms. Ideally, the actual compiling instructions should be in the spec file, but unless you have a working spec file to start with it's not easy.

Galen

[timeth]

Thanks for the response Galen.

I didn't realize it was difficult to build java programs.
I just decided to run it directly with a shell script and execute it from the menu. Seems an easy way to get around the problem.