[SOLVED] Debian 6 / Graphical package manager?

Pearlseattle · 10-08-2012, 03:25 PM

Hi

Sorry for the dumb question but I just downloaded Debian 6 and I cannot find in the menu the entry for the package manager "GUI"-version.
Did I miss something or does Debian offer in its default installation only dpkg through the command line?
Thanks a lot

TobiSGD · 10-08-2012, 03:33 PM

Before you use dpkg you should go for apt-get or aptitude. but usually Debian comes with the Synaptic GUI package manager.

Pearlseattle · 10-08-2012, 03:38 PM

Well, I feel quite stupid, but after the standard installation I just cannot find any kind of GUI-based synaptic manager.
I'm using myself Gentoo, have some experience with CentOS and Fedora and was just evaluating other distros... .
Thx!

k3lt01 · 10-08-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearlseattle

Well, I feel quite stupid, but after the standard installation I just cannot find any kind of GUI-based synaptic manager.

It should be in System Tools menu, if it isn't

Code:

apt-get install synaptic

will fix that for you.

barnac1e · 10-08-2012, 10:50 PM

Yeah, I can tell you that you will not have Synaptic, the GUI, right from the get-go on Debian, unless you install it from a Live CD. In most cases, just using an install DVD or a net boot will give you only apt-get to start with.

k3lt01 · 10-08-2012, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnac1e

In most cases, just using an install DVD or a net boot will give you only apt-get to start with.

An install DVD will give you synaptic, install CDs may not but most certainly DVDs do.

TobiSGD · 10-08-2012, 11:36 PM

If you are connected to the net during the installation from CD you should come up with exactly the same package set as when you install from DVD, IIRC.

Pearlseattle · 10-10-2012, 12:02 PM

Thank you!
Weird that synaptic wasn't included as default - X, KDE etc... were all installed as default but not the graphical packet mngr.
Well, in any case: thanks!

JaseP · 10-10-2012, 03:35 PM

Synaptic is a GTK app, & it looks like you were going with KDE as your desktop,.. KDE is based on QT,... It's not surprising that Synaptic wouldn't be installed by default. Plus Debian is more deferential towards it's users, in terms of what they decide to install, for the most part. If you pick a package, and it has dependencies, they'll be installed. But from the small amount of experience I have with it, it doesn't go out of its way to spoon feed you an installed system.

k3lt01 · 10-10-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearlseattle

Thank you!
Weird that synaptic wasn't included as default - X, KDE etc... were all installed as default but not the graphical packet mngr.
Well, in any case: thanks!

As already said above Synaptic is a GTK application. Debian's default install is Gnome if you had said you were using KDE the answer would have been different.

KPackageKit is KDEs package installer, in Wheezy and Sid it is now called Apper. I have never actually seen it nor have I used it.