So I recently upgraded to Etch, but the kmail version(3.3.2) doesn't have a feature I need. Thoughts on upgrading to etch(for KDE 3.4), or a place to get 3.4 w/ out upgrading completely?

That's from searching KDE at apt-get.org

Don't know if it's of any use. I just started playing around with Debian yesterday. I thought if you were running etch, for example and you wanted a package from sid, you could change your sources to sid then get the package then change back to etch. That shouldn't be done?

yes you can. Make sure /etc/apt/apt.conf point to testing.

then add the unstable branch to your /etc/apt/sources.list.

then apt-get -t unstable install kmail

I don't have a /etc/apt/atp.conf. There is however a /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/70debconf. Is this what you mean?

Do not try to install unstable KDE packages on your Etch machine... they won't. Unstable is going (although it is fairly complete, and thus a fairly usable system) through some changes that make new C++ programs incompatible with old libraries, and thus you would need to upgrade your complete system to unstable. I'd try searching on www.apt-get.org, as juvestar said.

If you want to install a package from a specific version, do:

apt-get install -t testing mypackage
or
apt-get install -t unstable mypackage

Normally, apt-get always installs the newest version of a package. You can add a line in apt.conf to tell what should be the default version to use. Refer to "man apt.conf" to find out how to create your apt.conf. You can use 70debconf as an example to start from. You have to copy it to /etc/apt/apt.conf.

BIG FAT WARNING:
Do not rely on that you can install/uninstall KDE or KDE components like KMail at will. Often files appear and disappear from the versions. It happened when testing became Etch instead of Sarge. In Unstable it is bot uncommon at all. For example, if I attempt to upgrade KMail apt-get wants to remove tens of packages, upgrade a few hundred and install a handful of new ones. It can be done, but I don think you should expect to go back when something is not working.

Just to be fair to the developers of KDE: this is not a complaint. I understand why it is happening. If you try to keep correct interdendencies for 400+ packages which all have dependencies themselves, it is a fact of life.

jlinkels

<aside>
Warning -- I have yet to have to do this.

From man dpkg: It seems to me this could also be used as safety net when you are about to do something major to your system: Immediately prior to doing something drastic, make the "copy of the package selection states"; then if something goes wrong, you have a restore file available.

As I said above, I have yet to have to do this. I have, however, made the "restore point" file on occasion, I just haven't had to try to one yet.

RTFM "dpkg" & "dselect".

I know dpkg --get-selections. I have used it. Even succesfully.

But imho you are *not* making a snapshot of the package state of you system. The version information lacks.

jlinkels

You're right. After I posted, I made one & then examined it, & the ver. info. was lacking.

so I should go w/ the apt-get.org files? My understanding of the above posting is that the KDE version in sid won't work if I just upgrade that. If I upgraded to sid completely, then it should work?

Yes, if you upgraded to Sid, then it would work. Note though that upgrading may be a huge upgrade. However, apt-get.org packages aren't guaranteed to work either.

Wouldnt be too sure about that, gnome and kde have big problems in SID from what i've seen. Maintaining such big packages when they get updated constantly is sorta crazy. If you want to use gnome or kde all out, i'd suggest sarge or etch. You might get kde and gnome working if you are very selective on packages but i'd recommend some other windows manager for SID.

About getting certain files from SID on an etch system. That is a big mistake, with all the new libs we're getting updating in SID, like xfree -> x.org and gcc3.3 -> gcc4 and stuff i think that's probably the easiest way to break your system. Luckily if you search some sites like apt-get.org you can find backports for sarge or etch. These are newer versions (SID versions) of some programs compiled especifically for stable/testing branches of debian (altough mainly stable). These backports will probably work if you want to update only one or two programs. Another solution would be compiling it yourself, although these big apps will take a while.


EDIT: looking furthur down i've found an example of someone complaining about unmet dependencies installing kde in SID.

I updated to KDE 3.4 from
deb http://pkg-kde.alioth.debian.org/kde-3.4.1/ ./
and it seems to be working. Thank you

Didn't know this web site. Very nice.