Failure to build

Having done two complete OS builds of Fedora on ARM. First with Fedora 14 and now with Fedora 17 on both hardfp and softfp flavours of ARM is never ceases to amaze me how many packages won’t build on mainline Fedora. Now days if I get a build failure on ARM the very first thing I do is a scratch build on mainline so I can be sure whether the problem is ARM specific or a general failure, in a lot of cases sadly it’s the later.

What’s more it’s surprising to see how many packages are FTBFS post mass rebuilds even though it’s advertised that packagers need to fix their build failures post mass rebuild. In fact post F-17 mass rebuild there’s still nearly 300 packages that are FTBFS in F-17 and that’s just doing a basic grep against the latest f-17 tagged packages so it doesn’t take into account packages that were built in the f17-build prior to gcc 4.7 landing but are FBTFS with gcc 4.7.0, ruby or some of the other F-17 features.

I know of the last 3-4 months I’ve personally fixed into the 100s of broken packages, and I know spot fixes a lot too but it still amazes me that maintainers don’t fix the build failures for their packages. A lot of fixes, especially for the older build packages, are basic things like patch fuzz so shouldn’t be hard to fix!

A list of the current < f17 packages currently tagged into F-17 stable (sorry if there's already a fix in the works via updates-testing): Mayavi-3.4.0-2.fc15 Panini-0.71.103-5.fc15 PyKDE-3.16.6-7.fc15 Temperature.app-1.5-8.fc16 UnihanDb-5.1.0-7.fc15.3 alacarte-0.13.2-3.fc16 alevt-1.6.2-16.fc15 amanda-3.3.0-2.fc16 apache-commons-fileupload-1.2.2-2.fc15 apache-commons-jxpath-1.3-6.fc15 apache-commons-launcher-1.1-7.20100521svn936225.fc15 ape-1.1.0-3.fc15 aplus-fsf-4.22.4-21.fc16 async-http-client-1.6.1-1.fc16 audtty-0.1.12-3.fc15 autoarchive-0.2.0-3.fc15 ax25-apps-0.0.6-8.fc16 barcode-0.98-17.fc15 base64coder-20101219-2.fc16 blahtexml-0.8-3.fc16 boolstuff-0.1.13-2.fc15 bwa-0.5.9-1.fc16 cargo-parent-4.7-1.fc15 chronojump-0.8.14-1.fc12 cmucl-20b-1.fc15 cobertura-1.9.3-3.fc15 compat-flex-2.5.4a-6.fc12 coredumper-1.2.1-10.fc12 crossvc-1.5.2-7.fc12 ctemplate-0.97-1.fc14 dhcp-forwarder-0.9-1501.fc15 diveintopython-5.4-19.fc16 driftnet-0.1.6-21.20040426cvs.fc15 dvipdfm-0.13.2d-42.fc15 eboard-1.1.1-7.fc15 eclipse-anyedit-2.3.3-2.fc15 eclipse-collabnet-merge-2.2.1-2.fc15 eclipse-emf-query-1.4.0-2.fc15 eclipse-emf-transaction-1.4.0-2.fc15 eclipse-emf-validation-1.4.0-2.fc15 eclipse-m2m-qvtoml-3.0.0-2.fc15 eclipse-mdt-ocl-3.0.0-2.fc15 eclipse-mdt-uml2-3.1.0-2.fc15 eclipse-mercurial-1.8.2-1.fc16 emacs-common-proofgeneral-3.7.1-5.fc15 email2trac-0.13-6.fc12 erlang-ebloom-1.0.2-5.fc15 erlang-js-0.5.0-3.fc16 esc-1.1.0-14.fc15 ext3grep-0.10.2-2.fc15 ezmorph-1.0.6-3.fc15 fbdesk-1.4.1-7.fc15 fbida-2.07-8.fc15 fedora-idm-console-1.1.3-3.fc15 felix-parent-1.2.1-6.fc16 felix-shell-1.4.2-3.fc15 fillmore-lombard-0.1.0-5.fc15 flickcurl-1.18-2.fc15 freenx-client-0.9-11.fc15 fuse-emulator-1.0.0.1-1.fc16 fvwm-2.5.30-4.fc16 fwbuilder-4.1.2-1.fc15 g-wrap-1.9.11-4.fc12 gant-1.8.1-5.fc15 gconf-cleaner-0.0.3-2.fc15 gdmap-0.8.1-8.fc15 gengetopt-2.22.3-1.fc13 gforth-0.7.0-5.fc16 gimmix-0.5.7.1-2.fc15 gmpc-0.20.0-4.fc15 gnaughty-1.2.4-2.fc15 gnofract4d-3.13-2.fc15 gnome-do-docklets-0.8.2-4.fc15 gnome-speech-0.4.25-5.fc15 gok-2.30.1-1.fc15 goldendict-1.0.1-4.fc16 gooddata-cl-1.1.9-2.fc15 google-gson-1.7.1-3.fc16 grace-5.1.22-9.fc16 gshutdown-0.2-8.fc16 gtkglextmm-1.2.0-10.fc12 gtkmm-utils-0.4.1-3.fc15 gtksourceview-1.8.5-8.fc15 gtksourceview-sharp-2.0.12-14.fc16 gtksourceview2-sharp-1.0-10.svn89788.fc16 gtksourceviewmm-2.10.2-2.fc16 gwget-1.0.4-5.fc15 hardinfo-0.5.1-3.fc15 healpix-2.13a-2.fc14 ibus-table-cangjie-1.2.0.20100210-18.fc15 ibus-table-cantonese-1.2.0.20100305-3.fc15 ibus-table-code-1.2.0.20100305-8.fc15 ibus-table-others-1.3.0.20100907-6.fc15 ibus-table-xingma-1.2.0.20100305-3.fc15 ibus-table-yinma-1.2.0.20100305-7.fc15 icewm-1.3.7-1.fc16 ini4j-0.5.1-1.fc16 ipe-6.0-0.32.pre32patch1.fc12 jaffl-0.5.9-1.fc16 jgraph-5.13.0.0-2.fc13 jmol-12.0.41-1.fc16 jpoker-1.0.16-2.fc15 json-lib-2.3-5.fc15 kadu-0.6.5.4-5.fc15 kaffeine-1.2.2-1.fc16 kismet-0.0.2011.03.R2-1600.fc16 komparator-0.9-5.fc15 krecipes-1.0-0.2.beta2.fc15 ksplice-0.9.9-2.fc15 latexila-2.3.0-1.fc16 lekhonee-gnome-0.11-4.fc15 libAfterImage-1.20-2.fc15 libbsr-0.2-4.fc12 libcrystalhd-3.5.1-1.fc14 libfc14audiodecoder-1.0.2-3.fc17 libfwbuilder-4.1.2-1.fc15 libgdbus-0.2-6.fc15 libgdiplus-2.10-2.fc16 libgtkhotkey-0.2.1-4.fc15 libgtksourceviewmm-0.3.1-7.fc15 libharu-2.1.0-3.fc15 libhid-0.2.17-6.fc15 libinfinity-0.5.0-2.fc15 libkml-0.6.1-8.fc15 libmnetutil-0.8.0-0.3.20100629svn3775.fc15 libofx-0.9.4-1.fc16 libopensync-plugin-opie-0.22-5.fc15 libpano12-2.8.6-5.fc15 libqttracker-6.11.0-2.fc15 libsoup22-2.2.105-9.fc15 libvpd-2.1.1-2.fc15 licq-1.3.5-10.fc15 links-2.2-13.fc15 lsvpd-1.6.8-3.fc15 maven-changelog-plugin-2.2-7.fc16 maven-changes-plugin-2.6-2.fc16 maven-invoker-plugin-1.5-5.fc16 maven-license-plugin-1.8.0-5.fc16 maven-plugin-cobertura-2.5.1-1.fc16 maven-stage-plugin-1.0-0.3.alpha2.fc16 mercury-1.0-0.4.alpha6.fc16 metapixel-1.0.2-7.fc15 mimetic-0.9.6-2.fc15 mod_scgi-1.13-5.fc15 mod_security-2.5.12-4.fc15 moksha-0.5.0-5.fc15 munipack-1.2.10-2.fc15 nagios-plugins-rhev-1.0.0-2.fc16 natus-0.1.5-2.fc15 ndesk-dbus-0.6.1b-1.fc13 node-0.3.2-8.fc15 notify-sharp-0.4.0-0.14.20100411svn.fc15 ntfs-config-1.0.1-13.fc15 numptyphysics-0.3-0.6.20080925svn.fc15 ocaml-augeas-0.4-9.fc15 ooo2gd-3.0.0-1.fc16 openoffice.org-diafilter-1.7.0-6.fc15 openvrml-0.18.8-2.fc16 ovaldi-5.9.1-1.fc16 parole-0.2.0.2-6.fc15 perl-Config-Augeas-0.701-5.fc16 perl-Crypt-CBC-2.29-8.fc16 perl-Log-Any-0.11-6.fc16 perl-MD5-2.03-10.fc16 perl-Module-Starter-Plugin-CGIApp-0.30-6.fc16 perl-Test-Refcount-0.07-1.fc16 perl-XML-Filter-XInclude-1.0-9.fc16 pgp-tools-1.1.3-4.fc16 php-ezc-Authentication-1.3.1-2.fc15 php-pear-File-Find-1.3.1-1.fc15 php-pear-Payment-Process-0.6.6-7.fc16 pianobooster-0.6.4b-3.fc15 piccolo2d-1.3-9.fc16 pino-0.3-0.3.20101112hg.fc15 pioneers-0.12.3-3.fc15 pki-java-tools-1.3.1-1.fc14 plexus-sec-dispatcher-1.4-4.fc16 pmd-4.2.5-11.fc16 pngcrush-1.6.10-7.fc15 pngnq-1.1-1.fc16 pnmixer-0.3-1.fc16 polyxmass-bin-0.9.8-2.fc12 postgresql-odbcng-0.99.101-0.5.test1.fc15 postgresql-pgpoolAdmin-2.2-2.fc12 postgresql_autodoc-1.40-2.fc14 printoxx-2.8.1-2.fc15 professor-is-missing-0.1-6.fc15 putty-0.60-7.20100910svn.fc15 pxe-kexec-0.2.3-3.fc15 pysvn-1.7.5-1.fc16 python-GeoIP-1.2.5-0.4.20090931cvs.fc15 python-HTMLgen-2.2.2-14.fc14 python-bitarray-0.3.5-4.fc15 python-blinker-1.1-1.fc16 python-blist-1.3.4-1.fc16 python-catwalk-2.0.2-4.fc15 python-cclib-1.0.1-1.fc16 python-cement-0.8.18-2.fc16 python-cerealizer-0.7-3.fc15 python-cherrypy2-2.3.0-15.fc15 python-cherrytemplate-1.0.0-12.fc15 python-chm-0.8.4-10.fc15 python-clientform-0.2.10-2.fc15 python-cloudservers-1.2-3.fc16 python-coffin-0.3.5-2.fc16 python-compositor-0.2b-4.fc15 python-configobj-4.7.2-3.fc15 python-couchdb-0.6.1-4.fc15 python-cpio-0.1-12.fc15 python-cssutils-0.9.7-2.fc15 python-ctags-1.0.5-4.fc15 python-daap-0.7.1-7.fc15 python-daemon-1.6-1.fc16 python-dialog-2.7-14.fc15 python-dictclient-1.0.1-6.fc14 python-dmidecode-3.10.13-3.fc15 python-dns-1.9.4-1.fc16 python-dotconf-0.2.1-12.fc15 python-dpkt-1.7-2.fc15 python-drizzle-0.08.2-7.fc15 python-dtopt-0.1-8.fc15 python-durus-3.9-2.fc14 python-empy-3.3-7.fc15 python-enum-0.4.4-3.fc15 python-epdb-0.11-6.fc15 python-exif-1.0.8-6.fc15 python-formencode-1.2.2-4.fc15 python-modjkapi-0.1.2.28-7.fc15 python-mpmath-0.17-2.fc15 python-pywt-0.2.0-3.fc15 python-unidecode-0.04.7-4.fc16 qalculate-kde-0.9.7-3.fc15 qbrew-0.4.1-7.fc15 qtparted-0.4.5-26.fc15 quesoglc-0.7.2-2.fc15 qwtplot3d-0.2.7-10.fc15 ragel-6.6-3.fc15 raul-0.8.0-2.fc15 rinputd-1.0.4-1.fc16 rmic-maven-plugin-1.1-7.fc16 rpmdepsize-1.0-7.fc15 scite-2.22-2.fc15 selenium-core-1.0.2-0.5.20100324svn.fc15 selenium-remote-control-1.0.3-8.20100318svn.fc15 sinjdoc-0.5-10.fc15 snoopy-1.8.0-1.fc16 sofsip-cli-0.16-3.fc15 specto-0.3.1-3.fc15 sphinx-0.9.9-6.fc16 spor-1.0-4.fc15 sshfp-1.2.0-1.fc16 stardict-3.0.2-2.fc16 stratagus-2.2.4-9.fc15 subcommander-2.0-0.7.fc15.7 surf-0.4.1-3.fc15 svnkit-1.3.4-2.fc15 symkey-1.3.0-4.fc13 synapse-0.2.6-1.fc16 synfigstudio-0.62.02-1.fc15 tesseract-3.00-2.fc15 testng-6.0.1-1.fc16 tilda-0.9.6-6.fc16 tomoe-0.6.0-19.fc15 tucnak2-2.31-1.fc13 txmpp-0.0.2-3.fc14 txt2man-1.5.6-1.fc15 tyrion-0.1.0-1.fc15 ucblogo-6.0-8.fc15 umlgraph-5.4-2.fc15 uncrustify-0.58-1.fc16 vifm-0.5-5.fc15 vorbisspi-1.0.3-3.fc15 winwrangler-0.2.4-2.fc15 wmdrawer-0.10.5-11.fc16 wmfire-1.2.3-4.fc15 wmweather+-2.11-3.fc15 wormux-0.9.2.1-5.fc16 writer2latex-1.0.2-6.fc16 xaos-3.5-2.fc15 xdrawchem-1.9.9-15.fc15 xesam-glib-0.5.0-5.fc15 xmlbeans-2.4.0-7.fc15 xulrunner-python-2.0-1.20110406hg.fc16 xxdiff-3.2-14.fc15 yaws-1.89-4.fc15 zhu3d-4.2.2-3.fc15