Install specific version of an AUR package

[arakis]

I want to know how to install a specific version and/or branch/commit/tag.

I know ArchLinux is a Rolling Distribution and partial Updates are not allowed. That's why i'm using archive.archlinux.org.

There are two reasons why I need to specify a specific version (or commit):

a) If the AUR packages require a SPECIFIC installed dependency of the regular packages. Example: You stick with virtualbox 7.0.10 (using archive.archlinux.org), but the latest AUR virtualbox-ext-oracle is at 7.0.12. To work around this, instead of using paru, I'm using these commands:

cd ~/.cache/paru/clone/virtualbox-ext-oracle
git checkout 9184ed4abf39476502419f626e3da6980ccf53d2 #7.0.10
makepkg -si --noconfirm

b) avoid re-downloading packages/sources again. The reason is, once a month, I completely rebuild my arch linux from another running linux chroot via a large, well maintained script. This means, I wipe the whole file system except the arch package cache, and the paru cache and some important data directories. I can re-build as often I want, normally, there are no re-downloads. But when paru detects new version, it will force always the latest versions. In case of large binary packages, i there could be several gigabytes of data. FYI: I'm on cell connection only, and mostly I have horrible connection.

I have no problems to iterate the commits and check the PKGBUILD version until I find a specifc commit that matches that PKGBUILD file. But even if I have the matching commit, I have no way to tell paru to take that commit. Even if I checkout the commit manually (see my example above), paru will ignore this.

Of course, I could take makepkg alone without paru, but then I lose some dependency resolving features, like when an AUR packages requires another AUR package.

[Morganamilo]

You best bet is to store your pkgbuilds somewhere either via git or on disk then add a pkgbuild repo to paru with

[myreponame]
URL = https://github.com/foo/bar
# OR
Path= /foo/bar

Then you can have your pkgbuild do whatever you want

[Morganamilo]

As a less effort hack you could just change the version in paru's cache and commit that change. You'll get a conflict on updates though.

[Morganamilo]

The first option is better though as paru will take your version as the latest so not want to update.

[arakis]

I'm not sure if you got my problem correctly. In my opinition, there are two ways, i would prefer:

a) Specify specific version like paru -S virtualbox-ext-oracle=7.0.10. It seems, this is not supported.
b) Regardless of the download state/cache state, just take the cloned directory "as it is".

Let's say, the cloned (default) dir is ~/.cache/paru/clone/virtualbox-ext-oracle. Now, I cd in, and git checkout the desired branch/commit. This is up to me. Now, I wish to tell paru, just take that directory as it is, without new online version check and so son. Like a makepkg -si, but with paru's dependency resolving features.

By the way, for the "checkout specific branch feature", for that I would write a bash script, that just take the latest commit before a specific date. With that in mind, you have an archive.archlinux.org like mechanism, and everything "should" be compatible to each other. But again, this is my part and has nothing todo with the my request for a) or b).

[Morganamilo]

paru -S virtualbox-ext-oracle=7.0.10.

This won't ever happen because the AUR's API will only give us info on the current version of a package so all dependency resolving and sanity checks go out the window. So it wouldn't really make a sensible feature.

I still think the pkgbuild repo method I suggested is what you want though.

# create a pkgbuild repo and add it to paru.conf
morganamilo@starlight ~ % mkdir oldpkgs
morganamilo@starlight ~ % sudo tee -a /etc/paru.conf <<-
EOF

  [oldpkgs]
  Path = file:///home/morganamilo/oldpkgs
EOF

# take virtualbox-ext-oracle from the AUR and put it in the repo
morganamilo@starlight ~ % git -C oldpkgs clone https://aur.archlinux.org/virtualbox-ext-oracle
# check out to the version we want
morganamilo@starlight ~ % git -C oldpkgs/virtualbox-ext-oracle checkout 9184ed4abf39476502419f626e3da6980ccf53d2

# now paru sees  virtualbox-ext-oracle-7.0.10-1 and it will take priority over the AUR
morganamilo@starlight ~ % paru -Si virtualbox-ext-oracle
Repository      : oldpkgs
Name            : virtualbox-ext-oracle
Version         : 7.0.10-1
Description     : Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
URL             : https://www.virtualbox.org/
Groups          : None
Licenses        : custom:PUEL
Provides        : None
Depends On      : virtualbox=7.0.10
Make Deps       : None
Check Deps      : None
Optional Deps   : rdesktop: client to connect vm via RDP
Conflicts With  : None
Path            : /home/morganamilo/oldpkgs/virtualbox-ext-oracle

morganamilo@starlight ~ % paru -S virtualbox-ext-oracle
:: Resolving dependencies...
:: Calculating conflicts...
:: Calculating inner conflicts...

Pkgbuilds (1)                  Old Version  New Version    Make Only
oldpkgs/virtualbox-ext-oracle               7.0.10-1       No

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n]:

[arakis]

Thank you for this detailed reply, now i understand your idea/suggestion better :-)

[jeinstei]

I am running into the same issue, especially as pacman supports the feature. I thought I'dd add a (much delayed) voice to this. Is this resolved in an issue somewhere?

Edit: #1084