How to install new software using slapt-get?
 

I am a beginner of slackware. When i want to install a new software i have to install the installation packages from some webpages such as linuxpackages.net. But i really want to do it much easier than before, so slapt-get should be a perfect choice. Unfortunately, after i installed slapt-get successfully, i used slapt-get --search *** command and got nothing. Of course i can't use slapt-get to install any software. What's the problem and how to fix it?
Thanks

If you want a system with a package manager I would strongly advise you to steer away from slackware. I do however recommend using slackpkg for updates/upgrades to a clean slackware system. Just my thoughts!

After installing slapt-get, go into the config file (/etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc) and make sure there is at least one valid entry for a repository. Then run "slapt-get --update" to get the repository database.

If you are trying to install something that is not in the standard Slackware release, then you have to put another repository in slapt-getrc

What will slapt-get give you that slackpkg won't?

Possibly a broken system. ;)

slackpkg comes on the Slackware DVD (in /extra),
syncs only to an official Slackware mirror,
and can be used to update the latest release to -current
or can keep a Slackware release fully patched.

slapt-get will sync to any Slackware "repo" on the net,
supposedly does dependency resolution
(if the author of the package includes them all),
occasionally misses an official package update
(e.g. the recent links browser update),
and in general has a fair chance of borking your install.

I say use slackpkg to keep you system up to date,
use SlackBuilds for any other package you need,
and resolve dependencies for yourself (you are better at it
than any package manager will ever be).
Besides, It's the "Slackware way".

After reading this thread I think I will start using slackpkg instead of slapt-get.

Besides that, Is there a way to delete uneeded files after upgrading through slackpkg upgrade-all? This if slackpkg leaves residual files after upgrading (I am not sure it does)

Thanks,
Glore2002.-

I'm a rank novice with Slackware, but I have learned that Slapt-Get syncs ONLY to the repos that you tell it to. If you sync it only to the "official" sources, then how can it hurt you?

Yes, if slapt-get is pointing only to an official Slackware mirror
the only way it can hurt you is by missing updates.
I already provided one example of a security update that slapt-get
doesn't detect.

Slackpkg is designed to sync to an official mirror, and no other.
And it won't miss any upgraded (or downgraded) packages.

To remove, use slackpkg --remove <packagename> - man slackpkg to get a full list of options. You could also run pkgtool to get a more visual idea of what's on your system and the option to remove packages.

I prefer to manually download, install software from the official Slackware site or I use Robby and Eric's build scripts.

Agreed.

If you want to install software that isn't available at SlackBuilds.org, Alien Bob's or Robby Workman's sites you can use src2pkg to make a Slackware package.
And of course, there's always LinuxPackages.net and Slacky-eu for ready-to-go-packages (mind you, the quality of the packages is not always as it should/could).

I find that slacky.eu has pretty good packages and always includes a SlackBuild so you can modify the build options and create your own package. linuxpackages.net *sometimes* has build scripts, but not always -- and the packages are not always of the highest quality. If you use linuxpackages.net, you should stick to packages made by packagers known to make good packages (that's a little tough to identify without experience though).

Yes, i have added a entry to linuxpackages.net. Although it doesn't work with slapt-get command, i think there might be no problem now just because i read all the replies and advise above. I think i will learn to use slackware more deeply although i am a newbie for it. All of your help encourage me to work with much more confidence. In addition, i don't know if someones usually use irc to discuss and get help, i find two usefull irc channel about slackware, they are #slackware in EFnet and #slackware in FreeNode. I think all of us can get what we want quickly there.
Regards.