how to use dpkg/dselect/apt-get ???

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.

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

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

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.

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/
  (----)
 ( >__< )
 ^^ ~~ ^^

I'll have to try that

I just barely noticed the '/' option.

[snip]

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.

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

Yes, it does. Thanks.

Nick

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.

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.