So for testing we have this scenario:
User with existing Debian machine. Wants to try out Hurd but not wipe out their existing machine or play around with complex virtual machinery nor command line tricks. ... how do we get there? The "Debian Way" is to install packages. Problem #1: tutorial for non-expert users doe not exist as far as I can tell. Everything seems to assume the command line is to be used and very much require an expert/dev level of skills and interest. 1) User opens the Debian admin tools for installing software: OS Menu: Administration->Synaptic package manager 2) User now needs to add the ports repository: Synaptic Menu: Settings->Repositories Click "New" button Type: deb URI: [arch=hurd-i386] http://deb.debian.org/debian-ports/ Distribution: unstable Sections(s): main Click "New" button Type: deb URI: [arch=hurd-i386] http://deb.debian.org/debian-ports/ Distribution: unreleased Sections(s): main Click "Okay" button Click "Reload" Button when prompted 3) User now need to install the package. Problem #2: which one? Thanks to the arch qualifier including the string "hurd" searching for it is difficult. After a bit we find a package hurd-prof with description: " GNU Hurd This is the GNU Hurd package. It contains essential system software and libraries, with gprof profiling enabled. " So clearly this is the package to install. 4) User selects (only) that package to be installed Select tickbox by package name Click "Okay" button on prompt to add dependencies etc. Clicks "Apply" button to begin the install Problem #3: Ouch ... " Could not apply changes! Fix broken packages first " And thusly the user gives up thinking Hurd is unusable. :( Resorting to command line I find: apt-get install hurd-prof:hurd-i386 Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable distribution that some required packages have not yet been created or been moved out of Incoming. The following information may help to resolve the situation: The following packages have unmet dependencies: hurd-libs0.3:hurd-i386 : Depends: zlib1g:hurd-i386 (>= 1:1.1.4) but it is not going to be installed libc0.3:hurd-i386 : Depends: libgcc-s1:hurd-i386 but it is not going to be installed libparted2:hurd-i386 : Depends: libuuid1:hurd-i386 (>= 2.16) but it is not going to be installed E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages. HTH, Cheers Amos
