The Written Word

This page describes the CSS/CSI Open Source support using The Written Word.

The Written Word(TWW) - What is it?

The Written Word (TWW) is a company that supplies pre-built binaries of various open source packages. These updates are distributed on CD-ROM four times per year. In addition, The Written Word provides access to patches, security fixes, new releases to existing packages, new packages, online documentation, changelog information, and a central bug tracking system for all packages.

Where Can I find Documentation?

Documentation for The Written Word software comes with the software; however web browsable versions of those docs as installed in AFS are available via an Info browser and a Man Page browser.

What Products Are Installed in AFS?

Click here for descriptions of products currently installed in afs space.

How do I get it?

AFS

If you have AFS mounted, you can symlink the version in AFS space so that it is usable on your system:
ln -s /afs/fnal.gov/files/tww/live/current/@sys /opt/TWWfsw

Local install

The unbundled distribution by TWW is available on fnkits. You will need to download TWW package manager on your local machine, and possibly rpm. Using TWW package manager, you can install individual open source packages on your machine.

Detailed Instructions for Local Installation

1. Download the package manager tar file for the appropriate OS:<
(It is recommended to create a new directory and placing the tar file there. The extract from the tar file does not create new directories)
  1. Unwind the tar file:
    tar -xvf linux.tar|sgi.tar|sun.tar

  2. If you are not on a Linux system and rpm is not installed, install it.
    Use either pkgadd(Sun) or inst(SGI) to install rpm. pkgadd/inst are only used to install rpm, from this point on you should be using rpm and not pkgadd or inst.

  3. Install TWWos-<flavor>-rpm:
    rpm -Uvh TWWos-*.rpm

  4. Install pkgutils* rpms:
    rpm -Uvh TWWpkgutils*.rpm

  5. Download either the pkgutils.conf.http file
    to fetch the packages via http, or the pkgutils.conf.afs file to fetch the packages from afs. Move the downloaded pkgutils.conf.* to /opt/TWWfsw/pkgutils14/etc/pkgutils.conf. You want to overwrite the pkgutils.conf that is already there.

  6. Put /opt/TWWfsw/bin in your path.
    PATH=/opt/TWWfsw/bin:$PATH

  7. If you want the man pages, put modify your man path to include the man pages from TWW.
    MANPATH=/opt/TWWfsw/man:$MANPATH

  8. The package manager is now installed, and individual packages can be installed. For example, to install the ddd debugger:
    pkg-inst ddd

Other useful commands:

pkg-info: provided info on installed packages.
pkg-rm[pkg]: uninstalls
chk-pkg-updates --check-uninstalled: Gives you a listing of what is available and not installed.

There is also a python script that will give you a listing available products. By default, running the script will list all packages, the version, and whether or not they have been installed locally. The script can also show just installed packages (-i) or just packages not installed (-n). Simply type "python tww_packages.py --help" to get the usage info. Examples:

python tww_packages.py -i : List installed products
python tww_packages.py : List all products
python tww_packages.py -n : List products available but not installed.

UPS -> TWW support

Many products that are currently available and supported through UPS/UPD will now be distributed solely through TWW distribtions. The UPS/UPD products will still be available, but are frozen. Here is a list of products that will no longer be supported through UPS/UPD.

fromm@fnal.gov
03/28/03

Updated by Kevin Hill, 01/07/05