Package Client Toolset (pkgt)

Secure, cross‑platform package delivery for Tcl and Eagle — designed to fetch on‑demand or pre‑install packages with cryptographic verification. ([GitHub][1])

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Table of contents

• Why pkgt?
• What’s in this repo
• Security model at a glance
• Supported runtimes & prerequisites

• Quick start (consumers)

  • Tcl
  • Eagle

• Quick start (package producers & maintainers)

  • Authoring a package
  • Signing your artifacts
  • Uploading / publishing

• How it works (architecture)

• Configuration

• FAQ

• Contributing

• License

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Why pkgt?

Distributing Tcl/Eagle packages has traditionally involved a mix of ad‑hoc steps, platform quirks, and trust problems. pkgt addresses this by:

• Fetching on demand (transparent to package require) or pre‑installing ahead of time. ([Tcl][2])
• Verifying everything: package metadata and files are OpenPGP signed; Eagle scripts are also signed with Harpy. ([Tcl][2])
• Working for both Tcl and Eagle with the same client toolset. ([GitHub][1])

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What’s in this repo

.
├─ client/1.0/neutral/
│  ├─ VERSION               # current toolset version (e.g., 1.0.10)
│  ├─ common.tcl            # shared Tcl helpers
│  ├─ pkgIndex.tcl          # Tcl-side integration
│  ├─ pkgIndex.eagle        # Eagle-side integration (Harpy-signed variants included)
│  ├─ pkgd.eagle            # package downloader library (client side)
│  ├─ pkgr.eagle            # package repository client library
│  ├─ pkgu.eagle            # package uploads client library
│  ├─ pkgr_setup.eagle      # setup/configure repositories & keys
│  ├─ pkgr_install.eagle    # install/persist packages locally
│  └─ pkgr_upload.eagle     # upload/publish packages (maintainers)
├─ externals/
│  ├─ Eagle/lib/Eagle1.0/   # Eagle library packaged for Tcl
│  └─ Harpy/Tools/sign.eagle# Harpy code-sign tooling
├─ tools/
│  ├─ deploy.bat
│  ├─ pkgr_an_d_get.sh
│  └─ pkgr_an_d_install.sh  # helper scripts to fetch/install the client
└─ doc/
   └─ v1.html               # v1 toolset documentation (reference)

File names and layout above come from the initial import. See the commit tree for the authoritative list. The current version is 1.0.10. ([GitHub][3])

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Security model at a glance

• Metadata path: The client asks a repository service for a package that satisfies a TIP #268 version requirement. The server returns a small signed script that knows what to fetch. ([Tcl][2])
• File path: The client downloads one or more OpenPGP‑signed files and verifies them before the package is made available to the interpreter. ([Tcl][2])
• Eagle scripts: In addition to OpenPGP, Harpy signatures are verified for Eagle files. ([Tcl][2])

Result: You get transparent, on‑demand package resolution with end‑to‑end verification — suitable for both public and private repositories. ([Tcl][2])

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Supported runtimes & prerequisites

• Tcl: Standard Tcl (8.5+) environments.
• Eagle: Any environment that can run Eagle scripts.
• Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS (no OS‑specific assumptions in the client libraries).

• Tools inside this repo:

  • Tcl integration via client/1.0/neutral/pkgIndex.tcl and client/1.0/neutral/common.tcl. ([GitHub][3])
  • Eagle integration via client/1.0/neutral/pkgIndex.eagle (+ Harpy-signed variants). ([GitHub][3])
  • Harpy signing utility at externals/Harpy/Tools/sign.eagle. ([GitHub][3])
  • Eagle library packaged for Tcl under externals/Eagle/lib/Eagle1.0/. ([GitHub][3])

You don’t need to install external “gpg” binaries to use pkgt; signature verification is handled by the client toolset and its libraries. See doc/v1.html for the full reference. ([GitHub][4])

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Quick start (consumers)

Tcl (consumers)

1. Vendor the client (recommended layout):

   your-project/
     vendor/pkgt/           # this repo (or a release snapshot)
       client/1.0/neutral/  # Tcl/Eagle indices + client libs
       externals/           # Eagle + Harpy helpers

1. Add pkgt to Tcl’s search path (e.g., early in your app bootstrap):

```tcl # Point this to where you vendored pkgt set pkgtRoot [file normalize [file join [pwd] vendor pkgt]]

# Add pkgt client + externals to Tcl's auto_path: lappend ::auto_path [file join $pkgtRoot client 1.0 neutral] lappend ::auto_path [file join $pkgtRoot externals Eagle lib Eagle1.0] ```

1. Configure repositories / keys The easiest path is to use the Eagle setup script (ships with the client):

   # From Tcl, invoke Eagle to run the setup, or run it once offline with an
   # Eagle interpreter (see the Eagle quick start below).
   # After setup, your configuration will be persisted for subsequent runs.

1. Use packages normally With the indices on your path, package require <name> ?version? will be satisfied locally or resolved via pkgt’s secure repository client (on demand). ([Tcl][2])

Tip: If you prefer to pre‑install packages into an application image or cache, run the pkgr_install.eagle helper once and ship the resulting package tree with your app. ([GitHub][3])

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Eagle (consumers)

1. Vendor the client as above.

2. Add pkgt to the Eagle package path, then run setup:

```tcl # Inside Eagle set pkgtRoot [file normalize "./vendor/pkgt"] path add [file join $pkgtRoot client 1.0 neutral]

# Optional: also add externals if not on your path already path add [file join $pkgtRoot externals Eagle lib Eagle1.0]

# Run interactive/CLI setup to register repository endpoints and API keys: source [file join $pkgtRoot client 1.0 neutral pkgr_setup.eagle] ```

1. Pre‑install (optional):

   # Still in Eagle
   source [file join $pkgtRoot client 1.0 neutral pkgr_install.eagle]
   # Follow prompts or pass arguments to install and persist selected packages.

1. Use packages:

   # Resolve on-demand (transparent)
   package require MyPkg 1.2

All of the above entry points (pkgr_setup.eagle, pkgr_install.eagle) are part of the client client/1.0/neutral directory. ([GitHub][3])

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Quick start (package producers & maintainers)

Authoring a package

1. Write your package the normal Tcl/Eagle way:

   • Provide a pkgIndex.tcl and/or pkgIndex.eagle that does package provide <name> <version>.
   • Organize your files under a single directory named after your package.

2. Test locally: ensure package require <name> <version> works from a clean interpreter when your package directory is on auto_path (Tcl) or path (Eagle).

3. Decide distribution mode:

   • On‑demand: pkgt can fetch files individually as directed by repository metadata.
   • Pre‑installable: you can ship the package directory as a ready‑to‑use tree.

The pkgt repository server resolves a TIP #268 version constraint, returns a small signed script, and instructs the downloader which files to fetch. All files are OpenPGP‑signed; Eagle files are also Harpy‑signed. ([Tcl][2])

Signing your artifacts

• Harpy (Eagle): use the included Harpy tool to sign Eagle scripts:

  # Eagle
  source [file join $pkgtRoot externals Harpy Tools sign.eagle]
  # See 'sign.eagle' usage for signing options.

(Tool location: externals/Harpy/Tools/sign.eagle.) ([GitHub][3])

• OpenPGP (all files): ensure each distributed file has an OpenPGP signature the client can verify. (The client will refuse unsigned or invalidly signed files.) ([Tcl][2])

Uploading / publishing

Use the uploads client and/or helper:

# Eagle
set pkgtRoot [file normalize "./vendor/pkgt"]
path add [file join $pkgtRoot client 1.0 neutral]

# Upload tool:
source [file join $pkgtRoot client 1.0 neutral pkgr_upload.eagle]

The repository (metadata) server is managed via a web UI; the file server typically runs on Fossil and uses repository users/keys for access. Public and private publishing models are supported. ([Tcl][2])

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How it works (architecture)

• Repository Client (pkgr.eagle) Locates packages meeting a TIP #268 constraint by talking to the repository service, receives a signed resolver script, verifies it, and evaluates it (in Tcl or Eagle as appropriate). ([Tcl][2])

• Downloader (pkgd.eagle) Fetches one or more OpenPGP‑signed files, verifies signatures, and exposes the package to the interpreter. Optionally persists installed packages to a local cache or application image. ([Tcl][2])

• Uploads Client (pkgu.eagle) Assists maintainers in pushing new versions to the repository/file server. ([GitHub][3])

• Language integration pkgIndex.tcl and pkgIndex.eagle provide seamless integration so ordinary package require requests trigger the above flow if the package isn’t present locally. Harpy‑signed index variants are provided for Eagle. ([GitHub][3])

A short slide deck from Tcl’16 gives a good overview of this flow and security model. ([Tcl][2])

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Configuration

• Run once: pkgr_setup.eagle to register:

  • One or more repository endpoints (metadata server URLs).
  • File server base URLs.
  • API keys (read and full) for private/personal repositories.

• Persisted settings: setup writes settings that subsequent runs of the client will use automatically (both for on‑demand resolution and pre‑installation). See doc/v1.html for parameter names and advanced options. ([GitHub][3])

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FAQ

Q. Does this replace pkgIndex.tcl? A. No. pkgt uses normal package metadata; it just enables secure remote resolution and delivery when a required package is not available locally. ([Tcl][2])

Q. How are Eagle scripts treated differently? A. They carry two signatures: OpenPGP (like all files) and Harpy (Eagle‑specific). Both must validate before the package is exposed to the interpreter. ([Tcl][2])

Q. Can I keep some packages private? A. Yes. Repository access uses API keys; file serving can be on a private Fossil instance. Public/private mixes are supported. ([Tcl][2])

Q. What version of the pkgt client is this? A. See client/1.0/neutral/VERSION (currently 1.0.10). ([GitHub][3])

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Contributing

• Open issues and PRs are welcome.
• Please test on both Tcl and Eagle when touching shared client code (client/1.0/neutral/).
• Keep security guarantees intact: never merge changes that weaken signature checks or disable verification by default. (Harpy and OpenPGP verification are core to pkgt.) ([Tcl][2])

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License

This project is available under the BSD 3‑Clause license. See LICENSE. ([GitHub][1])

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References & further reading

• Repo overview & purpose: “securely obtain and use packages for both Tcl and Eagle” — GitHub repo description. ([GitHub][1])
• Initial import & file layout (client libraries, indices, tools, externals, docs). ([GitHub][3])
• Version file (client/1.0/neutral/VERSION: 1.0.10). ([GitHub][3])
• Security & architecture slides (Tcl’16 talk: Package Repository Client & Server). ([Tcl][2])

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Maintainers: if you’d like, I can also add a minimal Makefile (or simple tclsh/Eagle scripts) to automate setup → install → smoke-test locally using the helper entry points above.