[parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[Nicholas Leippe]

I'm tearing my hair out, and glad I've never tried debian before...

I got 0.92 installed and running on my B132L, but for the life of
me can't figure out how in the !@#$ to use the package tools
to do anything useful (like install X or see what packages are
in ftp.us.debian.org/debian/dists/unstable/main/binary-hppa/

I have also failed to find any useful docs/tutorials on the matter.

Could someone please post a link to a useful howto or write a
mini-howto up?  So far, these package tools have seemed rather
daunting...

Nick

Re: [parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[Tom]

On Sat, 20 Oct 2001, Nicholas Leippe wrote:
> I'm tearing my hair out, and glad I've never tried debian before...
>
> I got 0.92 installed and running on my B132L, but for the life of
> me can't figure out how in the !@#$ to use the package tools
> to do anything useful (like install X or see what packages are
> in ftp.us.debian.org/debian/dists/unstable/main/binary-hppa/
>
> I have also failed to find any useful docs/tutorials on the matter.
>
> Could someone please post a link to a useful howto or write a
> mini-howto up?  So far, these package tools have seemed rather
> daunting...

Here's the basic one I found. It's for i386, but I don't think I've found
much different...

http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/dselect-beginner

Hope that helps!

Re: [parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[Nicholas Leippe]

Thankyou for the link.  Unfortunately, I've already read that one
and found it of little help.

Let me ask a few specific questions:

1) How do I know that it's looking at hppa packages and not x86
packages?  And if it's seeing x86, how do I fix it?

2) How can I 'collapse' the ridiculously long (3000+) list of
packages into just group headings?

3) How can I search the list so I can find, for example, 'X11'
to '+' it and let it figure out what else is needed and then
install it?

4) Is there a better package interface than dselect?
(rh/caldera/mdk's glint is 3+ yrs old and is still far superior
to dselect--you can actually _understand_ what you're looking at)

I am not against whatever debian uses considering all the wonderful
features it's supposed to have, just rather annoyed that it is such a
difficult/disgusting interface.


Nick

p.s. is there a way to get it to actually highlight the line your on?
it only echos the line in the middle of the screen for me, which is
really gross.

Re: [parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[Randolph Chung]

You may want to try install deity-curses (aka console-apt). I'd like to
think it's easier to use :-)

> 3) How can I search the list so I can find, for example, 'X11'
> to '+' it and let it figure out what else is needed and then
> install it?

in dselect, you can search using / (like vi)
there's decent online help using 'h'.

> 4) Is there a better package interface than dselect?
> (rh/caldera/mdk's glint is 3+ yrs old and is still far superior
> to dselect--you can actually _understand_ what you're looking at)

well, many people find dselect easy to understand too, but i can see how
it's daunting. do give deity a try and see if that's easier for you.
 
> I am not against whatever debian uses considering all the wonderful
> features it's supposed to have, just rather annoyed that it is such a
> difficult/disgusting interface.

most of us just install things from command-line. For example, you can
do 'apt-get install x-window-system' from the command-line (as root)
once your system is up and running. 'apt-get update' updates your
"package sources" from the debian mirrors, and 'apt-get upgrade' will
install the newest versions of what you have on your system.

you can use 'apt-cache search <pattern>' to look at available packages.
There's also a web interface, http://packages.debian.org/

to use apt you need to have a correct /etc/apt/sources.list file. If the
installer didn't set one up for you, you can use something like this:

=================
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian unstable main contrib non-free
deb http://debian.yorku.ca/debian/non-US unstable non-US/main non-US/contrib 
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian unstable main contrib non-free
=================

as for mixing i386 and hppa, it won't happen; the debian package tools
are all arch-specific and will only look at the arch it's running on.

hope this helps.

randolph
-- 
   @..@                                         http://www.TauSq.org/
  (----)
 ( >__< )
 ^^ ~~ ^^

Re: [parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[Nicholas Leippe]

On Saturday 20 October 2001 22:20, you wrote:
> You may want to try install deity-curses (aka console-apt). I'd like to
> think it's easier to use :-)

I'll have to try that

> > 3) How can I search the list so I can find, for example, 'X11'
> > to '+' it and let it figure out what else is needed and then
> > install it?
>
> in dselect, you can search using / (like vi)
> there's decent online help using 'h'.

I just barely noticed the '/' option.

[snip]
> well, many people find dselect easy to understand too, but i can see how
> it's daunting. do give deity a try and see if that's easier for you.
>
> > I am not against whatever debian uses considering all the wonderful
> > features it's supposed to have, just rather annoyed that it is such a
> > difficult/disgusting interface.
>
> most of us just install things from command-line. For example, you can
> do 'apt-get install x-window-system' from the command-line (as root)
> once your system is up and running. 'apt-get update' updates your
> "package sources" from the debian mirrors, and 'apt-get upgrade' will
> install the newest versions of what you have on your system.
>
> you can use 'apt-cache search <pattern>' to look at available packages.
> There's also a web interface, http://packages.debian.org/

This is exactly the kind of stuff that oughta be on the front page of
the install howto, there's no way I'd know it was called 'x-window-system',
nor how on earth I could possibly find out.  Thanks.

> to use apt you need to have a correct /etc/apt/sources.list file. If the
> installer didn't set one up for you, you can use something like this:
>
> =================
> deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian unstable main contrib non-free
> deb http://debian.yorku.ca/debian/non-US unstable non-US/main
> non-US/contrib deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian unstable main
> contrib non-free =================
>
> as for mixing i386 and hppa, it won't happen; the debian package tools
> are all arch-specific and will only look at the arch it's running on.

I noticed it was only getting *hppa.debs, so figure it must be smart enough.

> hope this helps.

Yes, it does.  Thanks.

Nick

Re: [parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[Tomasz Korycki]

I am _not_ going to quote anybody, because then it might be assumed I am 
disputing _somebody's_ point of view, instead of a _particular_ one. So 
here goes.

Think of a word "processor". In a community of computer-relating people 
this word will have an assumed specific meaning of a "central processing 
unit". In a community of food-relating people it may mean "food processor". 
In a community of paperwork-relating people it may mean a "application 
processor", ie: person that processes applications. The point is, all 
communities have their own meanings for words or expressions, and a whole 
set of assumptions that go with them. It's not wrong or right. Just different.

Debian model was chosen for PA linux. dpkg/dselect and friends go with this 
choice. It may be unfamiliar to some, but it is just _different_. When You 
switch over from HPUX to AIX, You have no sam to help You, You have 
smit/ty. It's different. You need to get to know the new guy. He's not here 
to hurt You, but help You. But You won't know how to ask for help, until 
You learn how to convey what You need to him. He assumes certain things, 
and so do You. The trick is to get those two sets as close as possible. 
When You know him _that_ well, then You can start working on changing him. 
Criticizing him or his assumptions, MO and so on will not work until You 
know everything that can be done with this new - in this case - tool. Get 
to know it, then Your criticism will have far more weight.

And, as a parting note, I am as bewildered by it as some. Esp since I used 
package commands on Solaris, and it ain't the same, despite similar 
sounding names... But I'm learning. 

Re: [parisc-linux] how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

[Pasi Kärkkäinen]

On Sat, 20 Oct 2001, Nicholas Leippe wrote:

> Thankyou for the link.  Unfortunately, I've already read that one
> and found it of little help.
>
> I am not against whatever debian uses considering all the wonderful
> features it's supposed to have, just rather annoyed that it is such a
> difficult/disgusting interface.
>

Some basic commands:

This will update the list of available packages:

=09apt-get update

This will upgrade all of your installed packages to newest versions:

=09apt-get dist-upgrade

Searching for a package 'foo':

=09apt-cache search foo

Download and install package 'foo':

=09apt-get install foo

Listing the files in package 'foo':

=09dpkg -L foo

Displaying status of package 'foo':

=09dpkg -s foo

Display information of not-installed package 'foo':

=09apt-cache show foo

Removing package 'foo':

=09apt-get remove foo
or
=09dpkg --purge foo

Checking to what package file 'foo' belongs to:

=09dpkg -S /path/to/foo


And so on..

the 'sources' for apt are configured in /etc/apt/sources.list
You can add your favourite mirror in there.

And if you need to find which package includes file 'foo' you can check it
from http://packages.debian.org (use the search that let's you search insid=
e
packages).


Hope that helps.


- Pasi K=E4rkk=E4inen


                                   ^
                                .     .
                                 Linux
                              /    -    \
                             Choice.of.the
                           .Next.Generation.