Redcore Linux Project Forum

Myst

Member

Registered: 2023-06-05

Posts: 12

Guide to install a package from Overlays

Hi these are the steps on how to install a non Redcore/Gentoo package, that is available in the Gentoo overlays.

Overlays
You can find mostof them here!     https://gpo.zugaina.org/Overlays
A Gentoo overlay is essentially a supplementary Portage repository — a collection of additional or alternative ebuilds that extend or override Gentoo’s main package tree.

How Sisyphus package manager.
Why: Don't use emerge, it treats the package as an alien package, on redcore and may leed to braeking the Redcorelinux OS.

The correct & easiest way to install an overlay package is with sisyphus using the "--ebuild" flag. you will need to use the emaint command.
"emaint" syncs or repairs your Gentoo/Redcore repositories so your system knows about the latest overlays and package lists

Package example:  librewolf browser

https://gpo.zugaina.org/www-client/librewolf-bin
https://gitlab.com/librewolf-community/browser/gentoo
We need to tweek the instructions for Redcore, as mentioned above, we don't want to break the system.

Install librewolf-bin (step-by-step)
1️⃣ Add the LibreWolf overlay
sudo mkdir -p /etc/portage/repos.conf
sudo tee /etc/portage/repos.conf/librewolf.conf >/dev/null <<'EOF'
[librewolf]
priority = 50
location = /var/db/repos/librewolf
sync-type = git
sync-uri = https://codeberg.org/librewolf/gentoo.git
auto-sync = yes
EOF

** This adds the package instructions into the folder
/etc/portage/repos.conf/
with
gentoo.conf  librewolf.conf 

2️⃣ Sync the overlay
sudo emaint sync --repo librewolf

✅ You should see output ending with
=== Sync completed for librewolf

3️⃣ Refresh Sisyphus indexes
sudo sisyphus spmsync
sudo sisyphus update

4️⃣ Search for LibreWolf
sisyphus search librewolf --ebuild

You should see results like:
www-client/librewolf-bin

5️⃣ Install the binary version
sudo sisyphus install www-client/librewolf-bin --ebuild

6️⃣ (If keyworded)

If it says the package is masked or keyworded:

echo "www-client/librewolf-bin ~amd64" | sudo tee -a /etc/portage/package.accept_keywords/librewolf
sudo sisyphus update
sudo sisyphus install www-client/librewolf-bin --ebuild

7️⃣ Launch LibreWolf via the applications menu.

Using ths overlays, provides user access to thousands of apps that are not in redcore/gentoo repos!

I hope this helps,

Enjoy Redcore.

Thanks V3, for the best Linux OS!

Myst!

russelld

Member

Registered: 2025-10-20

Posts: 2

Re: Guide to install a package from Overlays

Hey Myst!

After searching on zugaina for the package and finding the repository aka overlay,
it can be added with out any editing of files:

(as root)
first install "app-eselect/eselect-repository"
# sisyphus install --ebuild app-eselect/eselect-repository

then add the repository
# eselect repository enable <repo name from zugaina>

update portage:
# emaint sync -r <repo just added>

to remove the repository:
# eselect repository remove <repo name>

list the repositories installed:
# eselect repository list -l

to find help:
# eselect repository (enter)

cheers

- r