Hi. I'm wonder, why there is no latest houdini builds on SideFx FTP server?

I'd like to automate downloading/installing new builds.As far as i know, there is no direct links to houdini builds?


Thx :roll:

Here's a thought - SESI's xml feed contains links for recent daily builds:

http://www.sidefx.com/download/buildfeed.php?release=daily_stable [sidefx.com]

Maybe you could parse that feed for the latest build number and download address.



Then retrieve the link for the newest build on your target platform:



Links seem to follow a pattern like this:

http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?&Itemid=208&page=license&version=13.0&build=310&platform=linux_x86_64_gcc4.4&format=tar.gz [sidefx.com]

This isn't a full solution, but might be of some use in developing your automation system.

I second parsing the RSS.

Thanks guys for reply. Yes, i can parse RSS no problem, but there is no direct link to build. That's the problem.

Chronon, with webbrowser.open() it's working, but requires running xserver and browser.

:?

Stalkerx777
Thanks guys for reply. Yes, i can parse RSS no problem, but there is no direct link to build. That's the problem.

I don't understand. The direct link is exactly the URL posted in the RSS entries, eg. the second URL that Chronon posted.

To download a file using python, use urllib2, eg.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22676/how-do-i-download-a-file-over-http-using-python [stackoverflow.com]

Edward, i have tried this first. But this it's not working, it's just getting PHP page…
I think this is because of authentication. Need to login first. Need to find a way of doing that properly within python….

Another route might be to try standalone utilities like Curl or Wget. They can help reveal the steps necessary to authenticate and transfer data.

This sample shell script shows how curl can submit form data, store cookies, and initiate downloads.

#!/bin/sh
#
# This sample script demonstrates how the cURL utility can download Side Effects
# software. It requires a valid sidefx.com username and password, and creates
# a temporary web cookie called “cookie.txt”.
#
# 2014-02-04

# Provide a valid Side Effects name and password:

sidefx_name=MrMasamitsuNiitani
sidefx_pass=FancySalami

# Compile application build details; build number changes frequently.
# For the latest build number, query the RSS feed at:
# http://www.sidefx.com/download/buildfeed.php?release=daily_stable [sidefx.com]

version=13.0
build=288
platform=linux_x86_64_gcc4.6
format=tar.gz
saved_file=“houdini_$version_$build.$format”

# Save some shortcuts to common sidefx.com addresses:

login_page="http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=172&page=login [sidefx.com]“
license_terms=”http://www.sidefx.com/components/com_download/accept_terms.php [sidefx.com]“
dailies=”http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_download&Itemid=208 [sidefx.com]“

# Navigate to download destination. Disposable cookie will also appear here:

cd ~/Desktop

# Provide login credentials, save resulting cookie to text file:

echo ”Attempting to log in as ‘$sidefx_name…’\n“
curl -b cookies.txt -c cookies.txt -s -d ”login=Login In&autologin=on&username=$sidefx_name&password=$sidefx_pass“ $login_page
curl -b cookies.txt -c cookies.txt -s $dailies

# Almost ready to download. Must accept license terms at least once.
# Assemble all the variables and submit as a form.
# If everything is complete, the download will begin immediately:

echo ”\n\nAttempting to fetch Houdini version $version, build $build…\n“

curl -b cookies.txt -c cookies.txt -d ”terms_menu=Accept&submit=Continue&always_accept=on&version=$version&build=$build&platform=$platform&format=$format" $license_terms -o $saved_file

If successful, the file transfer should begin promptly:


http://curl.haxx.se [curl.haxx.se]
https://www.gnu.org/software/wget/ [gnu.org]

Thanks Chronon! Very nice solution with curl. I'l keep an eye on it. Now i'm trying to login within python. I'l post a link to my solution, when i'm done! 8)

P.S.
But i still don't understand why not to put latest production(at least) build on FTP? Is it so hard, sesi?

Hi,
here is an updated version: