slackbuilds_ponce/network/skype/README.SLACKWARE

Skype and camera issues
-----------------------
It has been pointed out by a lot of users that Skype has problems with
some cameras, in most cases this leads to green screen or no video at
all. This happens because V4L API (legacy) has been dropped from newer
kernels, and pixel format decoding has been pushed to user space.
Moreover, V4L2 does not support kernel space decoding. Since Skype
supports only V4L, easiest way to get it working is to preload it with
V4L compatibility library, and call Skype like this:

  LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype

If you are still having problems, try adding the following as well:

  XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1

Included with this package is an alternative desktop file modified to
include those variables. For easy use, just copy it to your home
directory:

  cp /usr/doc/skype-4.3.0.37/skype-alternative.desktop \
    ~/.local/share/applications

Skype and pulseaudio dependencies
---------------------------------
With the introduction of Skype 4.3 series, all built-in ALSA support
has been completely removed. What this means is that we now have one
more dependency to deal with, and for 64bit Slackware users this makes
things even more complex, because they have to build 32bit counterparts
and use convertpkg script to make them installable on their systems.
At the time of writing this, pulseaudio also requires json-c and speex
dependencies, so if you are on a 32bit system, it should be enough to
build these and installpkg them.
For a 64bit setup, you will have to build all three dependencies, and
in the end you will end up with a total of six packages, three for each
platform. To do this, you will obviously need multilib packages from
Eric Hameleers, so make sure you check README that comes with them.
After 32bit packages are built, convert them like this:

  convertpkg-compat32 -i json-c-0.11-i486-1_SBo.tgz -e tgz
  convertpkg-compat32 -i speex-1.2rc1-i486-3_SBo.tgz -e tgz
  convertpkg-compat32 -i pulseaudio-5.0-i486-1_SBo.tgz -e tgz

And installpkg resulting packages as usual.

Skype and pulseaudio dependencies (addendum)
--------------------------------------------
It turns out, all of the above can be skipped by using apulse to wrap
around Skype binary. Naturally, for 64bit users this makes things a bit
harder, and a 32bit apulse compat32 package is required instead. In any
case, it's still a bit cleaner then having a whole pulseaudio installed
and interfering with the rest of the system, and only to serve Skype.
Find apulse SlackBuild at the usual awesome place, the slackbuilds.org
Website. Thanks goes to Andrzej Telszewski for pointing it out!

Skype with a grain of salt
--------------------------
Running binary-only applications might give open source literate people
a certain dose of unease. Even more so when this application runs at
computer start up, has constant outbound network access, becomes a
super node when open ports from the internet are detected, effectively
accepting random connections from other users on the internet. If you
are not scared enough already, think about access to your sound card,
camera, and precious files after reading the above!
Sure, some will argue that privacy is a thing of the past, and not to
run such applications if you don't want to, but sometimes you simply
don't have a choice. Whether it's your long distance family members or
coworkers and friends, price is the same, you are left with an ugly
written app (just look at that 64bit support) that is probably full of
horrible holes, intentional or not (really :^)
While safest thing, of course, is to avoid using it, and probably turn
off your computer for good, right before you put on that tin foil hat
or bury your head in a hole somewhere, we wont be exploring those
options in this awesome README!
Instead, we will start from the obvious, firewall unused ports on your
computer, in most cases it's fine to close them all down. Next in line
are also obvious things, if you do not trust that little light on your
camera, unplug it when your haircut is not presentable to the world.
Same goes for your microphone, and if it's an integrated one, take it
from the pro's in the police department that use adhesive tape to cover
it up :-)
Now that manual labor is out the way, we come to a much more fun part,
protecting your precious files in $HOME. For this we take advantage of
multi-user environment, and simply run Skype under another user with
basic access. Without further ado, create another user and group with:

  groupadd -g 666 spyke
  useradd -u 666 -d /home/spyke -m -s /bin/bash -g spyke spyke

Optionally give this user access to hardware:

  usermod -G audio,video,pulse -a spyke

If you previously had Skype set-up that you wish to keep, move it with:

  cp -a $HOME/.Skype /home/spyke
  chown -R spyke:spyke /home/spyke/.Skype

Allow group execution:

  echo "%spyke ALL=(spyke) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/skype" \
    >> /etc/sudoers.d/66_spyke

Add your user to this new group:

  usermod -G spyke -a USERNAME

Finally, run it like this:

  xhost +local: \
    && sudo -u spyke /usr/bin/skype

Attention, due to lack of goofiness in this README, anagrams were used
to fill that void. Together with some number crafting, level of Slack
has peaked, and the trumpets were blown.