what to do about apt "suggestions" and "recommendations"

Bruce Hill · 10-22-2003, 09:57 AM

I've just installed Debian and upgraded from stable to testing. Still using the 2.4.18-bf2.4 kernel. So now I'm getting the packages to compile a new kernel. First one was to be gcc, but these messages are confusing me. After reading the Apt How-To, searching Google, and LQ I still don't know exactly what to do.

In addition to gcc and the extra packages, it lists "suggested packages" and even "recommended packages" but isn't going to install them. Is there a way to make apt install those packages, or should I get them next, or what?

paul:/mnt/debian# apt-get install gcc
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
binutils gcc-3.3
Suggested packages:
manpages-dev automake flex gdb gcc-3.3-doc
Recommended packages:
libc-dev
The following NEW packages will be installed:
binutils gcc gcc-3.3
0 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
Need to get 3746kB of archives.
After unpacking 9740kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.
paul:/mnt/debian#

Bruce Hill · 10-23-2003, 09:11 AM

bump

h/w · 10-23-2003, 01:02 PM

say yes - install wont be affected.
recommendations are well hat - u dont have to take em.

Bruce Hill · 11-09-2003, 07:02 PM

bump

Does anyone have any idea what to do concerning the Suggested and Recommded packages? I know you can "say yes" but there is a reason the developer put this is APT and I'd like to know what should be done.

BittaBrotha · 11-09-2003, 09:21 PM

Well it's certain order you need to install those Suggested packages. When you try installing one at time, if it installs and give error on another package then try installing the new package it mentions first then continue with the original one you started with.

I hope that makes sense to you!

HappyTux · 11-09-2003, 11:01 PM

You almost always want the recommends and most of the time you want the suggests they usually have extra little things that make your life easier when you use the package(s) you are installing. If you want a description of a package being installed the apt-cache show package_name if on reading the description you think you do not need the package then do not install it.

mdg · 11-10-2003, 02:47 AM

Here's a more-or-less official explanation:

http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-pkg_basics.en.html

Go to section 6.7

mdg · 11-10-2003, 02:49 AM

Here's a more-or-less official explanation:

http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-pkg_basics.en.html

Go to section 6.9

Bruce Hill · 11-11-2003, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mdg
Here's a more-or-less official explanation:

http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-pkg_basics.en.html

Go to section 6.9

Thank you so much. That is the answer.

I am still amazed at where answers are, and where they are not.

It's good to have another resource, and I am definitely not making enough use of www.debian.org but I will bookmark it as the definitive source for information on Debian.