[Slackbuilds-users] Virtualization and package building

[David Woodfall]

>Hi,
>
>I have to build packages for Slackware 14.0 and 14.1 as well as the
>upcoming 14.2, for both 32-bit and 64-bit architecture and different
>scenarios: server vs. desktop.
>
>Until april 2015 I built everything in a series of VirtualBox guests on
>my main workstation, which worked quite well most of the time. I vaguely
>remember having had trouble with one or two packages, but don't recall
>exactly which one.
>
>Since this date I've setup a dedicated package build host on a rather
>modest hardware (AMD dual core processor, meh), and with a quite
>bone-headed setup. No virtualization here, only a good old multiboot
>with a hard disk partitioned to death: 15 partitions with a shared swap
>and a maximum of 14 different systems, currently 8 in use. I reckon this
>is a rather unusual way of doing things, but 1) KISS 2) works perfectly.
>
>Last week I bought a thick book about Linux & Virtualization, and before
>diving head first into all this stuff, I have a general question out of
>curiosity. I guess most of you build your stuff in virtual guests
>(correct me if I'm wrong). What kind of virtualization do you use for
>this? KVM + qemu seems to be great for servers, but is it apt for
>setting up a desktop stuff and building graphical applications (Scribus,
>VLC, whatever)?
>
>I think I'll read the book differently if I already have a vague sense
>of where I'm heading.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Niki

I use chroots - a 64bit for pretty much everything, but I also have a
32bit chroot for building wine in. It's faster than booting a VM.

Dave