GODI is an experimental distribution of the Objective Caml language as packages that can be automatically built from their sources. GODI does not include pre-compiled binaries, but it is possible to create them, even in packaged form.

GODI is derived from the NetBSD pkgsrc system (which is derived from the FreeBSD port system), and has a similar way of dealing with sources, although not everything is identical.

Basically, GODI is a framework to download, compile, install, and package O'Caml software. This software is not included in GODI, but GODI knows from which Internet sites it can be downloaded. To do so, GODI provides small archives with build instructions, the build.tgz archives. These instructions (basically Makefiles) are dynamically added to the GODI framework, and extend it with the information needed to deal with a certain piece of software.

After the software has been installed, it is always archived as so-called binary packages. The binary packages can be easily transferred to other computers with the same operating system, where they can be added to the local GODI installations without having to rebuild them again.

GODI knows about software dependencies, and automatically builds prerequisites first. Furthermore, GODI can upgrade hierarchies of dependent libraries by rebuilding the libraries in the right order.

You can get the GODI bootstrap archive here. Note that GODI is experimental software, feedback is more than welcome.

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