If I need to get a software that is not yet in the Debian system, are there any rules regarding how I can get/install it ? Will apt still help in this case ?
This is a basic question, however I am confused in this regard.

Also how about Slackware or rpm packages. Is there an easy way to install them directly in Debian ?

Thanks.

Vijay

There are "outside" Debian source repositories that you can use. For example, I know one I have in my sources.lst file is for mplayer and mplayer alone, since it's not a package included in the Debian source tree.


If the software you are trying to get is in the form of a RPM file or something else, you can use alien to convert it to a .deb and then install it via dpkg or whatever.


I'm not sure if you can generate a *.deb easily with a tarball though. Anyone know about this?

For your first question, apt will only help if someone has setup a debian repository for the
software you are trying to install. For example, if you want to install mplayer, you won't
find it in the official debian repository. So you need to add an additional source (link) to
your /etc/apt/sources.list file for you to be able to use apt to get mplayer.

Concerning rpm packges, there is a tool called 'alien' (which you can apt-get install) that
converts rpms to .deb packges (which can then be installed using dpkg -i).

If anything wasn't clear or you didn't understand something don't hesitate to ask.

WOW !!! I am glad I asked. This is good to know about alien. Thanks for the support and making me feel comfortable. I have been using Linux for over a year now. However, new to Debian. I really like Debian a lot as it makes a lot of things easy.
So in regards to my first question, if there is no debian repository for the source package that I am interested in then I am all on my own then ?

Here is anotehr question that I ahve inside of me. Which is the best Debian support mailing list ?

Thanks.

Vijay

I got alien right away !!! Thank you so much.

Vijay

No problem, I am always glad to help .
If no one has setup a non official repository holding the software you are trying to install,
then as you said you are on your own (compiling from source).
As for the Best Debian mailing list, I really don't know. I use exclusively LQs and my best friend google. I recommend u subscribe to one of debian's official mailing lists here.

Im gonna be semi helpful as I,for the life of me cannot remember the included with debian's package name that allows one to download source from a site and make it a .deb upon building then opening with ....say,kpackage or similar to install.This works and once its opened as a .deb by a debian package management app,it also is told whats dependant upon it.
Ugh!
I hate forgetting.
i do not install from websites much.


But,anywhoooo...if you do install from source,remember that you have to manually remove or update it....debian will not/can not handle this for you.Also...before make install....definately check out the code as to where its gonna install said program.

I will return with the apps name included with debian that turns rpm's and source into .deb's thus being easily handled by any of the many debian package managers.

In regards to using apt with source packages, these are source packages for which .deb packages already exist. These are source packages for developers to work on. I just recently read this in the apt manual.
It is confusing tho.

Vijay