Re: EasyTAG 2.1.8 released

["Alastair" <ajebay errichel co uk>]

On Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:44:08 +0000 David King wrote:
> Hi Arnd
>
> On 2013-02-27 08:59, Arnd <ttaapp gmail com> wrote:
> > Nice work!
> > I've got a question about the following:
> >
> > David King <amigadave amigadave com> [Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:58:38 +0000]
> > > * Port to and require the most recent GTK+ 2 release (2.24)
> >
> > I maintain a few machines with older distributions. Unfortunately, the new
> > GTK requirement breaks compiling on them. Was it really necessary (in
> > terms of features) to use the latest GTK version? Is there a trick to
> > compile against older versions (ET-2.1.7 compiled without problems against
> > 2.14.x)?
>
> It was not absolutely necessary, but it made the GTK+ 3 port easier, with only a thin 
> compatibility wrapper and almost no ifdefs outside the wrapper. There are numerous bits 
of 
> API that were added in response to "sealing" the GTK+ structures, which occurred in 
various 
> releases from 2.16 to 2.24. While with a more invasive set of ifdefs and compatibility 
> wrappers it would be possible to avoid some (or maybe all) of the post-2.14 API, it is not 
> something that I would find particularly easy to test on a regular basis.
>
> If you or someone else would come up with a patch that made it possible to build EasyTAG 
> against an older version, which did not add ifdefs outside the compatibility wrapper, I 
might 
> merge it, but I think that instead it would be better to look forward to a post-2.1.9 release, 
> which would likely depend on GTK+ 3 and drop support for GTK+ 2 entirely.

I am a bit out of my depth here but a loyal Easytag user and thought I would upgrade.  I was 
using openSUSE 12.1 with KDE desktop.  Tried to install the latest version and "broke" my 
setup trying to install GTK+3.  Had to recourse to -devel repos and break dependencies to 
the extent that I gave up.  I have now installed openSUSE 12.2 with KDE desktop and am 
ready to try again with Easytag.  My my first question is what is LATEST-IS-2.1.8 please?
I think I understand the .tar.xz file is but the first one has me guessing.

An idiot's guide to installation would be much appreciated as I have been forced to use 
previous version as the only one supported by openSUSE/packman  repo. and have had 
some problems with it.

Grateful for help when somebody has a moment to spare.
Regards,
Alastair