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% MKHINT(1) mkhint 1.1.2 | User Commands
% Danilo M.
% July 2026
# NAME
mkhint - manage hint files for slackrepo scripts
# SYNOPSIS
**mkhint** \[**\--set-version** *VERSION*] **\--hintfile** *FILE*
**mkhint** \[**\--set-version** *VERSION*] **\--new** *FILE* \[**\--no-dl**]
**mkhint** **\--check** \[*FILE*...]
**mkhint** **\--fix-current**
**mkhint** **\--list** \[*FILE*...]
**mkhint** **\--review** \[*FILE*...]
**mkhint** **\--delete** *FILE*...
**mkhint** **\--clean**
**mkhint** {**\--version** | **\--help**}
# DESCRIPTION
**mkhint** manages slackrepo hint
files. A hint file overrides build variables (version, download URL, checksum,
dependencies) for a SlackBuild. **mkhint** updates the version string and
download checksums of an existing hint, creates a new hint from a repository
`.info` file, checks upstream for newer versions via **nvchecker**, and manages
`DELREQUIRES` for Slackware -current phantom dependencies.
After a version-changing update, **mkhint** dispatches **slackrepo** for the
affected package: `slackrepo update` if the package is already built in the
package repository, `slackrepo build` if it is not.
# OPTIONS
**\--set-version**, **-V** *VERSION*
: New version string. Required with **\--hintfile**; optional with **\--new**.
Replaces the old version everywhere in the hint and recalculates MD5 checksums.
**\--hintfile**, **-f** *FILE*
: Update an existing hint file. Without **-V**, queries **nvchecker** for the
latest version and prompts to accept, override, or decline. Backs the hint up
to *FILE*.bak first.
**\--new**, **-n** *FILE*
: Create a new hint file from the package's `.info`. Strips `PRGNAM`,
`HOMEPAGE`, `MAINTAINER`, and `EMAIL`, comments out `REQUIRES`, and sets
`ARCH="x86_64"`, keeping only the variables a hint needs. `VERSION` is kept
from the `.info` unless **-V** is given. Appends an **nvchecker** section to the
config, autodetecting a github or pypi source or leaving a commented stub.
**\--check**, **-C** \[*FILE*...]
: Check all (or the named) hints for upstream updates via **nvchecker** and
apply them interactively. With one package, uses `nvchecker -e`; with two or
more, one full scan. Mutually exclusive with **-V**.
**\--fix-current**, **-F**
: Sweep the whole repository. For every package whose `REQUIRES` contains a
phantom dependency, ensure its hint carries the matching `DELREQUIRES`.
Idempotent. Mutually exclusive with **-V**, **-f**, **-n**.
**\--list**, **-l** \[*FILE*...]
: List all hint files with their hint version, `.info` version, and a
`DelReq` marker. With package names, show each hint side by side with its
`.info` instead of the table.
**\--review**, **-R** \[*FILE*...]
: Review hints. With no arguments, iterate the hints whose version matches the
`.info`. With names, review each named hint regardless of match. For each,
show a diff and prompt **[K]eep / [D]elete / [S]kip**.
**\--delete**, **-d** *FILE*...
: Delete a hint file and its `.bak`. Accepts multiple names.
**\--clean**, **-c**
: Remove all `.bak` files from the hint directory.
**\--no-dl**, **-N**
: Download and recalculate checksums, then append `NODOWNLOAD=yes`. Use with
**\--hintfile** or **\--new**; an error on its own.
**\--version**, **-v**
: Print `mkhint <version>` and exit.
**\--help**, **-h**
: Print a short usage summary and exit.
# USAGE EXAMPLES
Update an existing hint to a new version (re-downloads, recalculates MD5,
backs up to `.bak`):
mkhint --hintfile mypackage --set-version 2.0.1
mkhint -f mypackage -V 2.0.1
Same, then append `NODOWNLOAD=yes`:
mkhint -f mypackage -V 2.0.1 -N
Create a new hint from `.info`:
mkhint --new mypackage # from .info, keep its VERSION
mkhint -n mypackage -V 1.2.3 # update version + recalculate md5
mkhint -n mypackage -V 1.2.3 -N # same, add NODOWNLOAD=yes
Suggest the latest version for an existing hint via nvchecker (no **-V**):
mkhint --hintfile mypackage
Check upstream for updates:
mkhint --check # all hints
mkhint --check pkg1 pkg2 # named hints
List, review, sweep, delete, clean:
mkhint --list
mkhint --list mypackage
mkhint --review
mkhint --fix-current
mkhint --delete mypackage
mkhint --clean
URLs set to `UNSUPPORTED` or `UNTESTED` are skipped during download.
# CONFIGURATION
**mkhint** reads an optional sourced config file, plain bash `KEY="value"`
pairs, right after its baked-in defaults. A missing file leaves the defaults in
place.
~/.config/mkhint/config
The overridable variables and their defaults:
`REPO_DIR` (`/var/lib/sbopkg/SBo-danix/`)
: SBo repository holding the `.info` files.
`HINT_DIR` (`/etc/slackrepo/SBo-danix/hintfiles/`)
: Where `.hint` files live.
`PACKAGES_DIR` (`/repo/`)
: Built-package repository holding `*.txz`. Used to decide `slackrepo update`
vs `slackrepo build`.
`NVCHECKER_CONFIG` (`$HOME/.config/nvchecker/nvchecker.toml`)
: nvchecker config. The `[__config__]` section must be created manually once
before version-checking works. **mkhint** only appends per-package sections.
`PHANTOM_DEPS_FILE` (`$HOME/.config/mkhint/phantom-deps`)
: One phantom dependency per line, `#` comments allowed. Deps needed on
Slackware stable but not on -current. A missing file makes **\--fix-current**
and the **\--new** phantom-dep hook no-ops.
`TMP_DIR` (`/tmp/mkhint`)
: Scratch directory for downloads.
# FILES
*~/.config/mkhint/config*
: Optional config overrides.
*~/.config/mkhint/phantom-deps*
: Phantom dependency list.
*~/.config/nvchecker/nvchecker.toml*
: nvchecker configuration.
# EXIT CODES
0
: Success.
1
: Invalid arguments or missing required options.
2
: File not found.
3
: File already exists.
4
: Required tool not available (wget / nvchecker / nvtake / jq).
# BASH COMPLETION
A bash completion script ships with **mkhint** (install to
*/etc/bash-completion.d/mkhint*). It completes long and short options and, for
**-f**, **-n**, **-d**, **-C**, **-R**, and **-l**, the package names from their
respective directories. With **-f** *package* already on the command line,
**-V** *TAB* suggests the current `VERSION` from that package's hint. The
completion script sources the same *~/.config/mkhint/config*, so its paths stay
in sync with **mkhint**.
# SEE ALSO
**slackrepo**(8), **nvchecker**(1), **nvtake**(1)
# AUTHOR
Danilo M. <danix@danix.xyz>
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