Desktop Integration Packages

For core PKGBUILD workflow, use archlinux-pkgbuild

This sub-skill covers desktop-specific packaging requirements for GNOME, KDE, Eclipse, and Font packages.

Quick Reference

Type	Key Tool	Install Location	Hook Handling
GNOME	meson/arch-meson	/usr/bin, /usr/share	GSettings/icons auto
KDE	cmake + extra-cmake-modules	/usr/lib/qt/plugins	Auto-discovery
Eclipse	N/A (Java)	/usr/lib/eclipse/dropins	Auto-discovery
Fonts	N/A	/usr/share/fonts/$pkgname	fc-cache auto

Font Packages

Font packages install TrueType, OpenType, or Variable fonts system-wide.

Font Key Rules

Rule	Description
Package naming	`ttf-fontname` (TrueType) or `otf-fontname` (OpenType)
Variable fonts suffix	Add `-variable` suffix for variable fonts
Architecture	Always `any`
Dependencies	None (fontconfig handled by hooks)
Installation path	`/usr/share/fonts/$pkgname/`
License installation	`/usr/share/licenses/$pkgname/` (especially OFL)
Provides	Add `provides=('ttf-font')` if meets criteria

Font Template

bash

pkgname=ttf-example
pkgver=1.0.0
pkgrel=1
pkgdesc="Example TrueType font family"
arch=('any')
url="https://example.com"
license=('OFL-1.1-RFN')
provides=('ttf-font')
source=("https://example.com/$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.gz")
sha256sums=('...')

package() {
    cd "$pkgname-$pkgver"
    
    # Install fonts
    install -Dm644 -t "$pkgdir/usr/share/fonts/$pkgname" fonts/*.ttf
    
    # Install license (required for OFL)
    install -Dm644 OFL.txt "$pkgdir/usr/share/licenses/$pkgname/OFL.txt"
}

Font Common Issues

Issue	Cause	Fix
Missing license	OFL not installed	Install to /usr/share/licenses/$pkgname/
Wrong directory	Font in wrong location	Use /usr/share/fonts/$pkgname/
Uppercase in name	Package naming violation	Use all lowercase
Font cache not updated	Old packages used .install	Remove .install (hooks handle this)

GNOME Packages

GNOME applications follow GNOME's build conventions and use common GNOME infrastructure.

GNOME Key Rules

Rule	Description
Build system	Most use Meson, some older use GNU Autotools
Source URL	download.gnome.org for releases, gitlab.gnome.org for Git
GSettings	No manual intervention (pacman hooks handle updates)
Icons/desktop	No .install files (pacman hooks handle caching)
Metainfo validation	Add appstream-glib to checkdepends

GNOME Template (Meson)

bash

pkgname=example-gnome-app
pkgver=45.0
pkgrel=1
pkgdesc="Example GNOME application"
arch=('x86_64')
url="https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/$pkgname"
license=('GPL-2.0-or-later')
depends=('gtk4' 'libadwaita' 'glib2')
makedepends=('meson' 'git' 'appstream-glib')
checkdepends=('appstream-glib')
source=("https://download.gnome.org/sources/$pkgname/${pkgver%.*}/$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.xz")
sha256sums=('...')

build() {
    arch-meson "$pkgname-$pkgver" build
    meson compile -C build
}

check() {
    meson test -C build --print-errorlogs
}

package() {
    meson install -C build --destdir "$pkgdir"
}

GNOME Common Issues

Issue	Cause	Fix
Manual schema compile	Old habit from pre-hook era	Remove from .install
Icon cache in .install	Unnecessary with hooks	Remove from .install
Desktop database in .install	Unnecessary with hooks	Remove from .install
Wrong source URL	Old git.gnome.org	Use gitlab.gnome.org

KDE Packages

KDE packages use CMake with specific conventions for Plasma widgets, themes, and applications.

KDE Key Rules

Rule	Description
Build directory	Out-of-source build required (`mkdir -p build`)
Install prefix	Always `-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr`
Build type	Generally omit (honors CFLAGS/CPPFLAGS)
Plasma widgets	Name: `plasma6-applets-widgetname`
Plasma runners	Name: `plasma6-runners-runnername`
Service menus	Name: `kf6-servicemenus-servicename`
Themes	Name: `plasma6-themes-themename`

KDE Template

bash

pkgname=plasma6-applets-example
pkgver=1.0.0
pkgrel=1
pkgdesc="Example Plasma 6 widget"
arch=('x86_64')
url="https://example.com"
license=('GPL')
depends=('plasma-workspace')
makedepends=('extra-cmake-modules' 'plasma-framework')
source=("https://example.com/$pkgname-$pkgver.tar.gz")
sha256sums=('...')

prepare() {
    mkdir -p build
}

build() {
    cd build
    cmake ../$pkgname-$pkgver \
        -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
    make
}

package() {
    cd build
    make DESTDIR="$pkgdir" install
}

KDE Common Issues

Issue	Cause	Fix
Wrong naming convention	Inconsistent with Arch standards	Use plasma6-, kf6- prefixes
In-source build	Build artifacts in source	Use out-of-source build directory
Wrong CMake prefix	Files in wrong location	Set CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
Missing extra-cmake-modules	KDE macros not available	Add to makedepends

Eclipse Packages

Eclipse packages provide plugins and features for the Eclipse IDE.

Eclipse Key Rules

Rule	Description
Package naming	`eclipse-pluginname` (use plugin's common name, not internal ID)
Architecture	Usually `any` (pure Java), `x86_64` if contains native libraries
Dependencies	Must depend on `eclipse` or specific Eclipse base
Install location	`/usr/lib/eclipse/dropins/pluginname/`
No manual registration	Eclipse auto-discovers plugins in dropins/
Feature-based	Install complete features, not individual JARs

Eclipse Template

bash

pkgname=eclipse-example
_pkgname=com.example.eclipse.plugin
pkgver=1.0.0
pkgrel=1
pkgdesc="Example plugin for Eclipse IDE"
arch=('any')
url="https://example.com"
license=('EPL')
depends=('eclipse')
source=("https://example.com/eclipse-plugin-$pkgver.zip")
sha256sums=('...')

package() {
    cd "$srcdir"
    
    # Install to dropins directory
    install -dm755 "$pkgdir/usr/lib/eclipse/dropins/$pkgname"
    
    # Copy features and plugins
    if [ -d features ]; then
        cp -r features "$pkgdir/usr/lib/eclipse/dropins/$pkgname/"
    fi
    
    if [ -d plugins ]; then
        cp -r plugins "$pkgdir/usr/lib/eclipse/dropins/$pkgname/"
    fi
    
    # Install license
    install -Dm644 LICENSE "$pkgdir/usr/share/licenses/$pkgname/LICENSE"
}

Eclipse Common Issues

Issue	Cause	Fix
Plugin not detected	Wrong install location	Use /usr/lib/eclipse/dropins/
Manual registration attempted	Old Eclipse versions	Remove registration (auto-discovery works)
Missing features/ directory	Only plugins/ installed	Install complete feature structure
Internal ID used	Package naming error	Use common name, not com.example.id