Debian PPC Starters Manual

Get inspiration and information from http://www.debian.org/doc/maint-guide/ keep this guide simple, in the form of:

Title | Why would you want to do that | tasks and commands to do it

Introduction

Why would you want to contribute to Debian powerpc?

- FREE software and DFSG
- PowerPC
- all the existing G3 G4 and G5 machines
- diversity, freedom and choice
- learning
- the PowerPCNotebook project
- saving the world :-)

The Debian Bug submission / testing / integration process

Simple description (graphical diagram) of content from https://wiki.debian.org/HowtoUseBTS

Installation of Debian powerpc

recommended installation method is to start with stable then upgrade to unstable

- find your computer in the "supported" list on:

https://www.debian.org/ports/powerpc/inst/install

- follow the link to specific installation page
- the detailed installation page is on:

https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/powerpc/

- you need to get Debian 8 "jessie" from:

https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/debian-installer/

- most efficient way is to get netinst, which is a minimal install:

http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/8.7.0/powerpc/iso-cd/debian-8.7.0-powerpc-netinst.iso

- you will need to burn it on a CD - most if not all of our machines will not boot on USB.
- you will need a wired ethernet connection during install - after that, it is possible to use wifi - but that will require the use of evil non-free software - but it can be very convenient.
- sound setup
- cpufreq-set -g ondemand / powersave
- wifi (non-free): sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer
- compositing – how to prevent windows remanence
- 2d acceleration – without changing the ROM of ATI card
- changing the ROM of ATI card
- https://wiki.debian.org/PowerPC/FAQ
- update /etc/apt/sources.list

Installation of tools

tools used for development, debugging etc...

popcon: show Debian community that powerpc is still actively used!

this can help bringing back Debian powerpc as a release architecture

Getting source code and Compiling it

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Patches

Making Patches, sharing and applying them

Packages

Creating Debian packages - Conditions and rules to follow for packages to be included in Debian

Creating ISO Images

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Debugging and Profiling

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64bits / 32bits

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Kernel modification/reconfiguration/recompilation

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Altivec - the PowerPC secret weapon

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Drivers

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