I think I have things working with texlive. I will reproduce the
installation to make sure I capture all steps. It basically comes down
to:

1) Install texlive 2004 to /usr/local/TeX

2) (possibly optional) Compile new pdftex, pdfetex and pdfxtex and
replace executable and pool files in /usr/local/TeX/bin/i386-linux/
and /usr/local/TeX/texmf-local/web2c/ respectively.

3) Install beta cont-tmf.zip into /usr/local/TeX/texmf-context

4) Edit /usr/local/TeX/texmf-local/web2c/texmf.cnf to include the
following modifications from the copy in /usr/local/TeX/texmf/web2c:
TEXMFCONTEXT=$SELFAUTOPARENT/texmf-context
TEXMF={$HOMETEXMF,!!$VARTEXMF,$TEXMFLOCAL,!!$TEXMFCONTEXT,!!$TEXMFMAIN,!!$TEXMFDIST}

5) wget http://www.pragma-ade.com/context/install/linuxtex.zip 
Unzip the file into a temporary directory and cd to tex/texmf-linux/bin.
Copy only the small stub scripts (all less than 50 bytes) to
/usr/local/TeX/bin/i386-linux overwriting similarly named executables.
Copy texmfstart to the same place, again overwriting the existing
executable. Delete the rest of the temporary linuxtex installation.

6) Update /usr/local/TeX/texmf-context/scripts/context/perl/texexec.pl
with the attached patch.

7) Download the latest lm fonts from CTAN and install them in the
correct folders in texmf-context.

8) Run updmap.

9) Run texexec --make --all

I'm sure I have forgotten some crucial step. Corrections and
simplifications are welcome.

On 5/9/05, Taco Hoekwater <taco@elvenkind.com> wrote:
> bb wrote:
> >
> > Reading my own words I see how they don't exactly convey warm
> > appreciation for all the hard work that has been put into context.
> 
> That's ok, i have written stuff in the not so distant past that
> was much, much less appreciative. :-)
> 
> > below. Since texlive 2005 is in the process of being worked out,
> > perhaps a better use of time would be to ensure that a fully
> > functional, up-to-date (and upgradable!) context gets included.
> 
> It wouldn't stay up-to-date for the whole year, only for the first
> six months or so. But you are right that the current (texlive2004)
> situation is particularly messy, and an effort should be made to
> make sure that the next texlive starts off with a more stable
> situation.
> 
> Taco
> 
>