1 Topic by aquafoxyirina (edited by aquafoxyirina 2026-05-30 14:46:17)

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Topic: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

Hi, back again because I don't understand librechroot/libremakepkg well enough.
My problem is: some pkgs need (or ideally should use) pkgs that previously built via libremakepkg then installed into the main system via pacman local repository, but the librechroot doesn't want to read the main system's local repo!

I had this dirtily figured out before, but i had to reinstall Hyperbola and running into this same problem again >.<
my /etc/pacman.conf has: 

[foxypkgs]
SigLevel Optional TrustAll
Server = file:///var/local/foxypkgs

directly above the default [core] and [extra] parts
/var/local/foxypkgs is root:root 755 permissions, so i don't think that would be an issue..?
and all the actuall pkgs are world-readable

i did all the setup commands like https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id … e_creation says to, and have successfully compiled pkgs with this new install via 

doas libremakepkg -n native

"native" cause i made a librechroot with /usr/share/pacman/defaults/makepkg.conf version set to use march=native, for myself.

so yeah, if someone knows please help?

i'm using a dedicated build user that is *not* part of wheel group but has lines in /etc/doas.conf to enable using librechroot and libremakepkg commands, is otherwise regular user with groups: users storage input

it always throws errors: 

error: failed retrieving file 'foxypkgs.db' from disk : Couldn't open file /var/local/foxypkgs/foxypkgs.db
error: failed to update foxypkgs (download library error)

then works fine for core & extra, as expected - but no luck for my local repo.

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2 Reply by throgh

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Re: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

Have you checked the file /etc/pacman.conf within your chroot?

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3 Reply by aquafoxyirina (edited by aquafoxyirina 2026-05-30 22:10:45)

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Re: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

Not something I had thought of!
Just checked it and it includes an empty repo line above my local repo, i installed nano and removed the empty repo, but doesn't seem to make any difference.
/etc/pacman.conf in chroot is now identical to it in the main system.

If I manually 

doas librechroot -n native run mkdir /var/local/foxypkgs
doas librechroot -n native run cd /var/local/foxypkgs && repo-add foxypkgs.db.tar.lz *.pkg.tar.lz

then it seems to pick up the recently-compiled pkg, but

doas librechroot -n native run pacman -Syu

still gives same errors about the local repo, and trying to install the same pkg still doesn't work

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4 Reply by throgh

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Re: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

It is really not to recommend building with own defined repositories when you have not checked them working fully. So I recommend first really to approve your own repository running via pacman / hyperman.

Please remember that your repository is local out of the chroot and therefore not really possible to be accessible. The chroot does not use anything outside and only download data at the prepare-step. When your repository is only local on your hosts disks, the chroot is not able to access it.

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!

5 Reply by aquafoxyirina (edited by aquafoxyirina 2026-05-30 23:04:07)

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Re: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

So the only approved answer is to setup an internet repo?
What's the recommended setup to sign own packages for hosting via codeberg/sourcehut or something, then?

I'll look around with Arch's pacman info and test if can get working, just making own pgp key and signing shouldn't be hard.

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6 Reply by throgh

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Re: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

You can surely host your own webserver (also local) and you do not direct need to sign packages when you are the only one using and doing. In general I would not recommend doing that much excessive work further. Yes, per default the trust is essential. But this is something on the rumors beneath and we should ask ourselves: How long can we hold this up?

Per default we are already not recommending using 3rd party repositories as it is nowadays more than easy to build up "trust" and then later misusing it - xz is a good example. Not saying that you are on doing such, but I hope you get the point. When you host your own repository for others: Yes, that's a different point. But in general: Just using your own local via HTTP and you should be good to go.

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Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!

7 Reply by aquafoxyirina (edited by aquafoxyirina Yesterday 06:27:08)

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Re: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

haha, hosting own server to manage HTTP nonsense is quite a bit beyond the scope here.

anyway i figured out i think the initial fix i wanted (to make local repo work)
after repo-adding in main system (/var/local/foxypkgs/needs to have the database files from repo-add) and creating the librechroot, as wheel user in main system:

doas cp -rnv -- /var/local/foxypkgs/ /var/lib/archbuild/native/vixenbuild/var/local/
doas cp -rnv -- /var/local/foxypkgs/ /var/lib/archbuild/native/root/var/local/

then as build user, update and sync the librechroot. should work.

foxypkgs is my repo name. native is the name of the librechroot. vixenbuild is the user i make to use librechroot/libremakepkg

librechroot -h is unusable in console, the usual 

librechroot -h | less
librechroot -h > help.txt

and etc doesn't work, it prints the text super fast and no way to scroll up and read without X server holding it, less & tee & redirection produce empty content (unless i'm just dumb) answer is 

librechroot help | less

messing about with trying to create an internet repo was a colossal waste of time and stress, gpgme database errors and nonsense.
this might technically violate the chrooting but for purpose of build it works, and afaik it's still quite a clean fix.
can anyone else give a better answer for how to manage this thread's topic?
if not i think that's gonna be my final answer

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8 Reply by throgh

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Re: how to get libretools to read local pkg repo

That is the intended way to have a repository as it is foremost managed elsewhere on a separated server and not only local with also at risk wasting harddisk and also at risk loosing at a point your created packages (and the repository created also).

I will now close this thread.

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!