LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] how to make apt-get ignore broken packages

- Debian (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/debian-26/)

- - how to make apt-get ignore broken packages (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/debian-26/how-to-make-apt-get-ignore-broken-packages-876411/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gujedan (Post 4332456)

those things require way too much work, I'm probably just gonna go with rewriting the necessary components of a major distro

and that does not require too much work? m come on...:rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by gujedan (Post 4332456)

those things require way too much work, I'm probably just gonna go with rewriting the necessary components of a major distro

Slackware is a major distro and has package management without dependency-checking. Would be much less work to install that, instead of re-inventing the wheel. Don't forget to remove the check for mounted filesystems in fsck and your backup for frequently reinstalling because of a broken system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by utanja (Post 4332552)

and that does not require too much work? m come on...:rolleyes:

actually not as in this context 'necessary' means only what needs to be changed, right now that only includes apt-get and synaptics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobiSGD (Post 4332565)

I still want dependency-checking, but I want to be able to skip that whenever I want to.
I've tried Slackware - the number of packages available is much, much lower and often you find yourself compiling from source (2/3 of the times it does not really work out and you end up googling for 2 hours for the solution). Things take tons of time to get to work and sometimes they simply don't work, whatever you do. (maybe that's just my lack of knowledge but those are my experiences with Slackware)
As for the backup part I've never had to reinstall my system or any part of it. Everything works flawlessly regardless of the 'broken' status of some packages.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gujedan (Post 4332690)

Everything works flawlessly regardless of the 'broken' status of some packages.

No, not everything works flawlessly. Your package-manager does not.
But every one to his own. I just don't see the point in changing your package management instead of just fixing your issues. But it is up to you to do with your system what you want.

OK, will you run this, in that order, for start that is:

Code:

apt-get update

apt-get autoremove

apt-get clean

apt-get autoclean

dpkg --configure -a

apt-get update

Then try to install whatever and if needed use -f.

Also if you will post the output of:

Code:

apt-show-versions -u

If needed install apt-show-versions.

Btw, what's your DE?

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan_ri (Post 4333807)

OK, will you run this, in that order, for start that is:

Code:

apt-get update

apt-get autoremove

apt-get clean

apt-get autoclean

dpkg --configure -a

apt-get update

Then try to install whatever and if needed use -f.

The whole point of this is not to use -f or autoremove because that would uninstall some packages I need.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan_ri (Post 4333807)

Also if you will post the output of:

Code:

apt-show-versions -u

If needed install apt-show-versions.

Code:

apache2.2-bin/squeeze upgradeable from 2.2.16-6 to 2.2.16-6+squeeze1

base-files/squeeze upgradeable from 6.0 to 6.0squeeze1

bind9-host/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

console-setup/squeeze upgradeable from 1.68 to 1.68+squeeze2

desktop-base/squeeze upgradeable from 6.0.5 to 6.0.5squeeze1

dnsutils/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

gdm3/squeeze upgradeable from 2.30.5-6 to 2.30.5-6squeeze2 <------------------------------- my DE

gedit/squeeze upgradeable from 2.30.4-1 to 2.30.4-1squeeze1

gedit-common/squeeze upgradeable from 2.30.4-1 to 2.30.4-1squeeze1

gnome-screensaver/squeeze upgradeable from 2.30.0-2 to 2.30.0-2squeeze1

host/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

isc-dhcp-client/squeeze upgradeable from 4.1.1-P1-15+squeeze1 to 4.1.1-P1-15+squeeze2

isc-dhcp-common/squeeze upgradeable from 4.1.1-P1-15+squeeze1 to 4.1.1-P1-15+squeeze2

keyboard-configuration/squeeze upgradeable from 1.68 to 1.68+squeeze2

libbind9-60/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

libdns69/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

libisc62/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

libisccc60/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

libisccfg62/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

liblwres60/squeeze upgradeable from 1:9.7.2.dfsg.P3-1.1 to 1:9.7.3.dfsg-1~squeeze1

libmozjs2d/squeeze upgradeable from 1.9.1.16-5 to 1.9.1.16-6

libnautilus-extension1/squeeze upgradeable from 2.30.1-2 to 2.30.1-2squeeze1

libnm-glib-vpn1/squeeze upgradeable from 0.8.1-6 to 0.8.1-6+squeeze1

libnm-glib2/squeeze upgradeable from 0.8.1-6 to 0.8.1-6+squeeze1

libnm-util1/squeeze upgradeable from 0.8.1-6 to 0.8.1-6+squeeze1

libnss3-1d/squeeze upgradeable from 3.12.8-1 to 3.12.8-1+squeeze1

libpulse-mainloop-glib0/squeeze upgradeable from 0.9.21-3 to 0.9.21-3+squeeze1

libpulse0/squeeze upgradeable from 0.9.21-3 to 0.9.21-3+squeeze1

libtiff4/squeeze upgradeable from 3.9.4-5 to 3.9.4-5+squeeze1

libvlc5/squeeze upgradeable from 1.1.3-1squeeze3 to 1.1.3-1squeeze5

libvlccore4/squeeze upgradeable from 1.1.3-1squeeze3 to 1.1.3-1squeeze5

linux-base/squeeze upgradeable from 2.6.32-30 to 2.6.32-31

linux-image-2.6.32-5-686/squeeze upgradeable from 2.6.32-30 to 2.6.32-31

nautilus/squeeze upgradeable from 2.30.1-2 to 2.30.1-2squeeze1

nautilus-data/squeeze upgradeable from 2.30.1-2 to 2.30.1-2squeeze1

python/squeeze upgradeable from 2.6.6-3+squeeze5 to 2.6.6-3+squeeze6

python-minimal/squeeze upgradeable from 2.6.6-3+squeeze5 to 2.6.6-3+squeeze6

sudo/squeeze upgradeable from 1.7.4p4-2.squeeze.1 to 1.7.4p4-2.squeeze.2

ttf-liberation/squeeze upgradeable from 1.05.2.20091019-4 to 1.05.2.20091019-4squeeze1

tzdata/squeeze upgradeable from 2010o-1 to 2011c-0squeeze1

usb-modeswitch-data/squeeze upgradeable from 20100826-1 to 20100826-1+squeeze0

vlc/squeeze upgradeable from 1.1.3-1squeeze3 to 1.1.3-1squeeze5

vlc-data/squeeze upgradeable from 1.1.3-1squeeze3 to 1.1.3-1squeeze5

vlc-nox/squeeze upgradeable from 1.1.3-1squeeze3 to 1.1.3-1squeeze5

vlc-plugin-notify/squeeze upgradeable from 1.1.3-1squeeze3 to 1.1.3-1squeeze5

vlc-plugin-pulse/squeeze upgradeable from 1.1.3-1squeeze3 to 1.1.3-1squeeze5

x11-xserver-utils/squeeze upgradeable from 7.5+2 to 7.5+3

xserver-common/squeeze upgradeable from 2:1.7.7-11 to 2:1.7.7-13

xserver-xephyr/squeeze upgradeable from 2:1.7.7-11 to 2:1.7.7-13

xserver-xorg-core/squeeze upgradeable from 2:1.7.7-11 to 2:1.7.7-13

xserver-xorg-video-intel/squeeze upgradeable from 2:2.13.0-5 to 2:2.13.0-6

xulrunner-1.9.1/squeeze upgradeable from 1.9.1.16-5 to 1.9.1.16-6

Well, I will tell you like this;

Dependencies are there for a reason and APT is configured so that it works in a way that would be useful for the majority of people who use it and APT itself does not allow broken package dependencies to exist on a system, but if someone wants to break his/her system, well I say, just do it.
APT will not brake your system, that you have to do by yourself.

You didn't want to say what do you want to install exactly, if you did, maybe something could've been done.

Just to clarify;

Quote:

-f --fix-broken Fix; attempt to correct a system with broken dependencies in place. This option, when used with install/remove, can omit any packages to permit APT to deduce a likely solution. Any Package that are specified must completely correct the problem. The option is sometimes necessary when running APT for the first time; APT itself does not allow broken package dependencies to exist on a system. It is possible that a system's dependency structure can be so corrupt as to require manual intervention (which usually means using dselect or dpkg --remove to eliminate some of the offending packages). Use of this option together with -m may produce an error in some situations. Configuration Item: APT::Get::Fix-Broken. -m --ignore-missing --fix-missing Ignore missing packages; If packages cannot be retrieved or fail the integrity check after retrieval (corrupted package files), hold back those packages and handle the result. Use of this option together with -f may produce an error in some situations. If a package is selected for installation (particularly if it is mentioned on the command line) and it could not be downloaded then it will be silently held back. Configuration Item: APT::Get::Fix-Missing. --no-download Disables downloading of packages. This is best used with --ignore-missing to force APT to use only the .debs it has already downloaded.

To note something, you can always install package manually, APT will automagically call dpkg when needed too.

Three links where you can read about some options how to modify and use APT, even if you want to effectively brake your system;
http://linux.die.net/man/8/apt-get
http://linux.die.net/man/5/apt.conf
http://linux.die.net/man/5/apt_preferences

And finally;
http://manpages.debian.net/cgi-bin/m...html&locale=en
http://manpages.debian.net/cgi-bin/m...html&locale=en
http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-pkgtools.en.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by alan_ri (Post 4334320)

Well, I will tell you like this;

Dependencies are there for a reason

Actually they aren't always there for a reason. Good example: metapackages (imo the most stupid idea ever, they should be banned). When you install gnome in debian it comes with a ton of pointless crap it 'depends' on in the package management system, but actually can run just fine without it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gujedan (Post 4334433)

Actually they aren't always there for a reason. Good example: metapackages

Then don't install the meta packages. I generally don't use them.

Evo2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo2 (Post 4335047)

Then don't install the meta packages. I generally don't use them.

Evo2.

Yup, kind of an easy fix for that problem.

I can't help but think this is taking the "freedom" aspect of Linux a little to far. Do a mini install and only put in what you want, better still go LFS and build your own package management system.

okay, thanks for all the suggestions. can someone please point me to a site where I can download non-meta .deb gnome packages as I'm having a hard time finding one.

you can get all packages directly from Debian.

Just pick the packages that you want. For example look at what the "gnome" meta package depends on, and from that list install only the packages that you want. To see the list of packages you can do:

Code:

apt-cache show gnome | grep ^Depends

For this particular case I think you'll find that one of the dependencies (gnome-desktop-environment) is also a type of meta package, so just do the same thing with that package:

Code:

apt-cache show gnome-desktop-environment | grep ^Depends

HTH,

Evo2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo2 (Post 4335413)

Just pick the packages that you want. For example look at what the "gnome" meta package depends on, and from that list install only the packages that you want. To see the list of packages you can do:

Code:

apt-cache show gnome | grep ^Depends

For this particular case I think you'll find that one of the dependencies (gnome-desktop-environment) is also a type of meta package, so just do the same thing with that package:

Code:

apt-cache show gnome-desktop-environment | grep ^Depends

HTH,

Evo2.

Ou you use

Code:

apt-cache depends gnome