minor tune ups in nd_* blogpost

diff --git a/sandbox/blog_vm_ndtools.rst b/sandbox/blog_vm_ndtools.rst
index 58f7327499e96f2dd5c5da919ff2e9343853149f..f82ebceba4e203abb243ca4c197b4218f30dd29a 100644 (file)
--- a/sandbox/blog_vm_ndtools.rst
+++ b/sandbox/blog_vm_ndtools.rst
@@ -1,17 +1,39 @@
-:date: 2011-12-12 12:05:00
-:tags: debian, neuroscience, development, packages, virtualization
+:date: 2012-04-14 22:05:00
+:tags: debian, neuroscience, software, development, packages, virtualization
 
 .. _chap_ndtools_build:
 
 NeuroDebian nd* tools
 =====================
 
-TODO
+One of the goals of NeuroDebian_ is to provide recent versions of
+scientific software on stable Debian (and Ubuntu) deployments.  That
+is why we build (whenever possible) every new package not only for the
+Debian unstable (the entry point of packages into Debian) but also for
+Debian testing and stable, and Ubuntu releases.  To automate such
+procedure we prepared few rudimentary wrappers around cowbuilder_
+allowing to build packages in isolated environment.  Also we provide a
+backport-dsc_ script to ease backporting with optional application
+per-release patchsets.  In this blog post we would like to introduce
+you to these tools.  They will be of use for anyone working on a
+package intended to be uploaded to NeuroDebian_ repository.  With a
+single command you will be able to build a given Debian source package
+across distributions.  As a result it verifies that there are no
+outstanding backport-ability issues or compatibility problems with
+core components (e.g. supported versions of Python) if your source
+package excercises test suites at build time.
+
+.. _cowbuilder: http://packages.debian.org/sid/cowbuilder
+.. _NeuroDebian: http://neuro.debian.net
+.. _backport-dsc: https://github.com/neurodebian/neurodebian/blob/master/tools/backport-dsc
+
 
 Procedure
 ---------
 
-- [1-20 min] :ref:`Install NeuroDebian VM <chap_vm>`
+- [1-20 min] If you are not running Debian-based distribution,
+  :ref:`Install NeuroDebian VM <chap_vm>`; otherwise just :ref:`add apt
+  sources for NeuroDebian repository <repository_howto>`.
 
 - [<1 min] Install the neurodebian-dev package providing nd* tools::
 
@@ -42,14 +64,14 @@ Procedure
 Building
 --------
 
-At this point you would be all set to build packages for all
-distributions in a single command.  E.g.::
+At this point you should be all set to build packages for all
+distributions with a single command.  E.g.::
 
    sudo nd_build4all blah_1-1.dsc
 
 should take the .dsc file you provide, and build it for main Debian
 sid and all ND-supported releases of Debian and Ubuntu.
-nd_build4allnd would build only for the later omitting the vanilla
+``nd_build4allnd`` would build only for the later omitting the vanilla
 Debian sid.  The highlevel summary either builds succeed or failed get
 reported in ``summary.log`` in the same directory, pointing to
 ``.build`` log files for the corresponding architecture/release.
@@ -58,8 +80,8 @@ reported in ``summary.log`` in the same directory, pointing to
 Troubleshooting Failing Build
 -----------------------------
 
-Provide --hookdir cmdline pbuilder argument to point to a hook which
-would get kicked in by pbuilder upon failure, e.g.:
+Provide ``--hookdir`` cmdline pbuilder argument to point to a hook
+which would get kicked in by pbuilder upon failure, e.g.:
 
    sudo apt-get install git
    git clone https://github.com/neurodebian/neurodebian
@@ -67,6 +89,6 @@ would get kicked in by pbuilder upon failure, e.g.:
 
 
 If you have any comments (typos, improvements, etc) -- feel welcome to
-leave a comment below, or just email `us@NeuroDebian`_ .
+leave a comment below, or `contact us`_ .
 
-.. _us@NeuroDebian: http://neuro.debian.net/#contacts
+.. _contact us: http://neuro.debian.net/#contacts