Unix/386 TeX binaries

[Geraldo Veiga]

I got a very positive response to my suggestion of organizing a 
binary distribution of TeX for Unix 386 systems.  Thanks to all the 
folks that responded.  To get the ball rolling, I'll have an initial
distribution ready by 8pm (PST) at the following internet site:

		    math.berkeley.edu (128.32.183.94)
		    file pub/tex386ix.tar.Z

I wrote a Makefile that supposedly (It does in my system) installs the
TeX, LaTeX and Metafont automaticaly.  The same Makefile also generates
a  basic set of font bitmaps in pk format.  Try it out and let me know
if it works.

I got volunteers to generate the binaries for xdvi.  If it works out
we will include this in a future version.

Here is an excerpt of the README file in the distribution.

  DESCRIPTION
       TeX386ix	is a Unix/386 binary distribution of TeX, METAFONT
       and related utilities.  These executables are expected to
       run unchanged under all variants	of System V 3.2/386.  The
       distribution  also includes the input files necessary for
       building	working	versions of plain TeX, LaTeX and METAFONT.
       Binaries	were generated from the	most recent release of
       Web2c, compiled with gcc	under ISC SysV/386 2.2.	 Input
       files are from the most recent releases available from
       labrea.stanford.edu. Version designations for each indivi-
       dual package, used in this distribution can be found in the
       file Version in the TeX386ix distribution.  The installation
       procedure will generate TeX formats, METAFONT bases, and,
       optionally, a basic set of rasterized fonts in pk format.

       At least	on a temporary basis, TeX386ix can be retrieved	via
       ftp from	the following site:

	    math.berkeley.edu (128.32.183.94)
	    file pub/tex386ix.tar.Z

       Any problems relating TeX386ix should be	reported to

	    Geraldo Veiga (ilan343 at violet.berkeley.edu)


  INSTALLATION
       After uncompressing and dearchiving the distribution file,
       installing TeX386ix should follow the steps below.

       a)   Edit the distribution Makefile, and	change,	where
	    appropriate, the installation directories.	If possible
	    TeX	related	pathnames should be left unchanged as they
	    are	built into the executables.

       b)   Install the	core distribution, generate TeX	formats	and
	    METAFONT bases by typing

	    make install

	    Depending on the selected ownership	of TeX directories,
	    it might be	necessary to execute the installation com-
	    mand in super user mode:

	    su root -c 'make install'

	    This installation procedure	will create, through links
	    to virtex or virmf,	the flowing executables	(unless
	    their creation is disabled in the Makefile):

	    tex	- TeX with plain.tex preloaded
	    latex - TeX	with LaTeX's lplain.tex	preloaded
	    slitex - TeX with LaTeX's splain.tex preloaded
	    mf - METAFONT with plain.mf	and localmodes preloaded


       c)   Create and install a basic set of rasterized fonts in
	    pk format:

	    make ins_pk	[MODE=<mode_def>] [MAG=<magnification>]

	    where, <mode_def> (default MODE=localfont, usually Can-
	    nonCX at 300 pixels/inch) should be	one of the modes
	    specified in the collection	defined	in the Makefile	by
	    the	environment variable localmodes.  <magnification>
	    (default MAG=1000),	in units of 1000, determine the
	    magnification of the fonts in relation to one specified
	    in <mode_def>.  Be sure to use  /bin/make in the com-
	    mand above,	gnu make will not work.

            This command will generate fonts at various magnification
            steps.  Examine the Makefile and, if necessary, edit the
            list of fonts for each magnification step.