Fast little question :

When uninstalling some apps, like amarok, dependencies are not removed, had to do that manually.

After installing kde games I decided to uninstall it, but wait, it wants take the whole kde with it ?

How do I get around this ?


I'm on Debian


btw : I of course understand that if I removed kde, then kdegames wouldn't need to be there anymore, but the other way around ? this one struck me by suprise..

You are using apt to do this? Can you post the message it gives you when running apt-get remove kde-games...

output from apt-get :

sar:/home/happyhd# apt-get remove -s kdegames
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
kde kde-amusements kdegames
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 3 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Remv kde [5:45]
Remv kde-amusements [5:45]
Remv kdegames [4:3.4.2-1]
sar:/home/happyhd#

Debian terminology is "install" and "remove."

It would be helpful for you to include the commands you used. You definitely should consult the APT How To:
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap.../index.en.html

It would also make sense to post Debian-specific questions in Debian, though you may get attention here quicker.

Here's how I would do it if I were unsure:

First, I check out the package.
Next, I would test it, using the -s switch to simulate the removal. (Done as root.)
Notice it didn't actually start removing anything, or asking me if I'm sure, it just simulated the process.

Sure enough, it wants to remove kde, not sure why. Obviously KDE the desktop environment does not depend on kdegames. However, keep in mind that the package kde is more than the core of KDE. In fact, there is a package called kde-core. Try this:

$ apt-cache show kde-core

I realize I'm not offering a definitive answer here, I don't have enough experience with the rather complex package that KDE is...

Looks like I was just a little too long with my answer.

I'll interested to see what a good answer is.

lol

but thanks man ! replies are appreciated.

I've cruised man pages without success so far..

In your place I would
a) leave the games for a rainy day, or
b) do a quick Google on kde dependencies in Debian packaging

I don't think the man pages will say anything about package dependencies.

Ok, I think figured it out...

Have a look at this page:
http://packages.debian.org/stable/kde/kde

So 'kde' is a meta package that installs _all_ the major kde packages.
When apt says it is removing 'kde' it is just saying that you no longer want all of them.

It am not sure if this will actually remove all the kde packages (forcing you to install them again individually), or just let apt know that you want to deal with the packages separately...

This is what I was hinting at.

For kicks, you could just go ahead and apt-get remove kdegames, and let it remove whatever it wants. I'd be more than willing to bet that KDE will still be on your box. Right after the remove, give in "apt-cache policy kde-core".

If KDE gets screwed, you can always just reinstall it -- that's the nice thing about Debian. I don't know whether it keeps profiles stored, probably so if you don't do a purge remove.

You know what ? I'll just dive into it ! Live and learn..

I'll post back here to everybodys learning (hopefully not amusement)

Thanks for the fast replies ppl !

I have KDE installed but it's not my main DE, so I tried it with you. Sure enough, it left KDE intact. Unfortunately, since I've installed KDE I've added a testing to my sources.lst, so it now wants to add a whole huge list of new packages and download for 20 minutes. lol

I'll do it tomorrow, case closed.

Yup! I tested it too, kde still intact !

well, that's one thing less to think about