Scripting - Chapter 9: Standardization
Contents
Standardization, what is this thing?
To improve script readability, maintainability, debugging, and translation, scripts are standardized. This means that things are added or modified so that scripts will look and behave in a similar fashion.
Let us go over the details...
Make your script available under Mac OS X using PlayOnMac
It may be useful to clarify (for those who would not know) that PlayOnLinux and PlayOnMac are really the same software, sharing the same code. Only the name changes depending on the operating system. So, making your script available to PlayOnMac users can be very easy. You just have to check that your script runs fine under Mac OS X. Even if you don't have any Mac OS X at hand, for small and simple software one can expect that, if it works correctly under GNU/Linux, there's a 99% probability that it will also work under Mac OS X.
To make your script available under Mac OS X, check the box "PlayOnMac compatible" of the new script submission form of the PlayOnLinux website.
Standardization, let's begin
We will see several items to standardize in scripts.
The $TITLE variable
You should assign the variable $TITLE with the name of the script, and use it every time the name of the script is required.
Example:
#!/bin/bash [ "$PLAYONLINUX" = "" ] && exit 0 source "$PLAYONLINUX/lib/sources" TITLE="Mozilla Firefox" # Should be present in all your scripts POL_SetupWindow_Init ... POL_SetupWindow_presentation "$TITLE" "Mozilla" "http://www.mozilla.com" "YourNickname" "MozillaFirefox" ... POL_Shortcut "firefox.exe" "$TITLE" ...
Obviously, adapt it to the name of your script (that usually matches the name of the software it installs). The variable $TITLE is notably required for the use of PlayOnLinux's debugging system.
Use the $TITLE variable for window titles
To avoid confusing the user with disparate window titles, it is recommended to use the variable $TITLE as window title.
Example:
POL_SetupWindow_message "Message" "$TITLE" POL_SetupWindow_browse "Message" "$TITLE" POL_SetupWindow_wait "Message" "$TITLE"
The $PREFIX variable
Example:
#!/bin/bash [ "$PLAYONLINUX" = "" ] && exit 0 source "$PLAYONLINUX/lib/sources" TITLE="Mozilla Firefox" PREFIX="MozillaFirefox" POL_SetupWindow_Init ... POL_SetupWindow_presentation "$TITLE" "Mozilla" "http://www.mozilla.com" "YourNickname" "$PREFIX" ... POL_Wine_SelectPrefix "$PREFIX" ... POL_System_TmpCreate "$PREFIX" ...
Some informations about the script
It is recommended to provide some informations near the beginning of the script, right after the #!/bin/bash line.
Syntax:
# Date : (Year-month-day hour-min) # Last revision : (Year-month-day hour-min) # Wine version used : # Distribution used to test : Distribution # Author : Your nickname
Example:
#!/bin/bash # Date : (2011-11-19 06-39) # Last revision : (2011-11-19 06-39) # Wine version used : 1.3.4 # Distribution used to test : Ubuntu 10.04 LTS # Author : Your nickname
Enable debugging
PlayOnLinux features a script debugging mode, that must be enabled through a command. It is mandatory to enable it, even if you have no use for it; If some user experiences a problem with your script, it will allow him to sent a bug report to the PlayOnLinux website.
Syntax:
POL_Debug_Init
This command should be put right after the command POL_SetupWindow_Init.
Some more information
Some more informations that did not fit in previous chapters, but that you should know nonetheless.
It is forbidden to use sudo
Commands sudo, su, gksudo, kdesu and similar are forbidden for the sake of security. However, if you really need sudo (for example to display hidden files from hybrid PC/MAC DVDs, using mount command), you can use the following command:
Syntax:
POL_Call POL_Function_RootCommand "sudo command; exit"
Winetricks forbidden in scripts
Winetricks, or a similar script, is forbidden in PlayOnLinux scripts. Instead, you can use the very similar command POL_Call.
Syntax:
POL_Call Script
Example:
POL_Call POL_Install_vcrun6
The list of all the available scripts can be seen on this page.
Scripts translation
We're almost done with scripts standardization, the only item left is scripts translation. This will be the topic of the next chapter.
Previous: Chapter 8: My First Real Script
