[wellylug] Mandrake packaging help

[Wood Brent]

Hi y'all....

As some of you know, I have an interest in spatial database/GIS/mapping
applications, particularly under Linux.

While I'm currently looking at ways to get a freely available copy of the LINZ
vector topographic & placenames databases set up, I'm also looking at ways to
get this data available to people using Open Source software.

A couple of emails I received recently have been of interest. 

One from Mandrakesoft about developing a "science" oriented version/distro,
which would include the geo-sciences. Another from a guy in Europe who wants to
build up Mandrake compatible RPM's for web map server & supporting
applications.

What he has suggested is that I prepare RPM's for the desktop side of GIS
things, which would provide a client for his server stuff.

He is looking at mapserver & Postgres/PostGIS with the related underlying
libraries (Proj4, GDAL, etc). I'd need to look at packages such as QGIS, JUMP &
Maplab.

At the end of this long-winded intro, what I'm asking is for some kind generous
capable Linux user in the Wellington area, who is prepared to consider the
difficult process of helping me upskill in the packaging area to where I can do
a reasonable job of this.

While I'm not totally ignorant or stupid, it could still be quite a 
challenge :-)  


All offers gratefully considered,

  Brent Wood