
	      Accessing the regexps.com arch Repository

The latest sources for arch, more recent than the most recent release,
can be obtained from the arch repository at regexps.com.  Here's some
advice:


* Start with a distribution

  You'll need a running installation of arch.  Get the latest
  tar bundle from regexps.com and build and install using the
  instructions it contains.


* Register the archive

  Register the location of the regexps.com archive:


    % arch register-archive lord@regexps.com--2002 \
           ftp://regexps.com/pub/{archive-2002}


  After that, you should be able to run commands such as:


    % arch categories -A lord@regexps.com--2002


* Getting the latest sources


  To get the latest sources from scratch, which is not the fastest way
  to do it, use:

    % arch get lord@regexps.com--2002/dists--devo--1.0 \
               arch
    % cd arch
    % arch build-config regexps.com/devo.arch


  A better way, if you have an unmodified source tree, such as from a
  distribution tar file, is to make my repository and branches the
  default for the various packages in your tree, and then use `update'
  or `replay' commands to update to the latest sources.  For example:


    # point your project tree at the regexps.com repository:
    # 
    % cd ~/wd/arch--1.0pre3
    % arch set-tree-version lord@regexps.com--2002/dists--devo--1.0

    % cd src
    % arch set-tree-version lord@regexps.com--2002/package-framework--devo--1.0

    % cd arch
    % arch set-tree-version lord@regexps.com--2002/arch--devo--1.0

    % cd ../file-utils
    % arch set-tree-version lord@regexps.com--2002/file-utils--devo--1.0

    % cd ../ftp-utils
    % arch set-tree-version lord@regexps.com--2002/ftp-utils--devo--1.0

    % cd ../hackerlab
    % arch set-tree-version lord@regexps.com--2002/hackerlab--devo--1.0

    % cd ../shell-utils
    % arch set-tree-version lord@regexps.com--2002/shell-utils--devo--1.0

    # apply the latest patches:
    # 

    % cd ~/wd
    % arch replay --in-place arch--1.0pre3
    [...]

    % cd arch--1.0pre3
    % arch replay-config regexps.com/devo.arch
    [...]


* Set Up Your Own Branches

  One efficient way to track the latest sources, especially if you
  plan on making local modifications, is to create your own repository
  and set up branches from my repository.

  See the user's guide for instructions about creating a new archive
  and using the `tag' command to create branches.  Once you've created
  branches, use `archive-cache-revision' to cache full source for the
  tagged revisions in your local archive.  Later, as my `devo'
  branches evolve, you can check out from your branch, use any
  combination you like of `update', `replay', `star-merge',
  `update-config' and `replay-config' to merge my devo branches into
  your branches.  Then, commit the merged copies to your branches.


* Set Up Your Own Revision Library

  If you do create your own repository, or if you want to study all
  the past revisions from my repository, read up in the user's guide
  about "revision libraries" and "notifiers".  Setting up a library
  for your own repository will greatly speed up many arch commands.

  You might also want to try setting up a browser and notifiers to 
  update that browser.  

  If you are using arch for your own projects, you will almost
  certainly want to create a library and browser for your repository.

# tag: Tom Lord Sat Feb  2 18:09:28 2002 (=FAQS/repository)
#
