Donald - Thanks! :) I hope you don't mind me forwarding this to Chris and the list. (If I have correctly interpreted your disposition, I suspect you don't mind.) He did some interesting tests that IIRC he just sent to everyone, so IIRC you got a copy from him too. I thought he might find your comments informative.
See also other comments & questions below. (I'd suggest you send your answers to the list, so everyone can benefit from them. :) ) Chris - I thought you might find some of this info useful. --- "Donald R. Spoon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > tluxt wrote: .... > ========================================================================== > > > > Re: How pull packages from unstable to a Woody system? > > From: "Donald R. Spoon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > The subject of "pinning" has been discussed several times late last year ... > OOPS! This next paragraph should have been #7. > > > 6. If you want to install a SPECIFIC package from "unstable" just run > > "apt-get -t unstable install <package name>". In the case of > > installing kghostview from unstable the command would be "apt-get -t > > unstable install kghostview". > > > > There are other methods and other recommended "Pin-Priority" numbers > > discussed in the previously mentioned messages. You might want to > > review them to see all your options. All I can say is this particular > > method has worked quite well for me during the last 2-3 months. > > > > Donald: Does this do the "apt-get upgrade" properly? > > > ========================================================================== > > Yes. It will "upgrade" and EXISING package on your system plus any > dependencies. IT WILL NOT INSTALL A PACKAGE THAT ISN'T ALREADY > INSTALLED! There is one 'caveat"...see the NOTE below. Hmm. So, that looks problematic, if (as I guess I am) this howto is being written for someone not highly familiar with using the apt tools. What do you suggest be done for that case (or is that just a hopeless case, might as well not bother to write a howto for such a person)? > NOTE: I have occasionally had some problems with a few KDE packages > that have made it into "testing" but still depended on some external > packages remaining in "unstable". These would not install untill I > installed the required dependencies from "unstable". What is the kind of error message you got that let you know there was such a problem? Then, how did you solve it? > The current > pinning system will treat the "source" of a package being upgraded as > the "source" for meeting any dependencies. As long as you keep your KDE > stuff current from "unstable" then you should be OK on this account. I > have noticed some "drift" over time in this regard, and you have to keep > on top of it. In this context, please define what you mean by 'drift'. How does one 'keep on top of it'? > > IMHO, there is "no way" you will ever get to where you want to be for > the following reasons: What do you mean by 'where you want to be'? If you are right, then what would you suggest is the plan of action that should be followed? > > 1. "Woody" (testing) is undergoing CONSTANT changes! I recently did an > "apt-get dist-upgrade" from Potato to Woody and it installed about 200+ > new packages. When I do my almost daily "apt-get upgrade" on my system, > I have noticed anywhere from 20 to 60 "new" packages being installed. > That is almost EVERY DAY (most certainly EVERY WEEK), and is a > SIGNIFICANT portion of the ENTIRE INSTALL!! There is still a LOT of > "tweaking" going on. This includes the "apt-get" program! The bottom > line is anything you put into your "HOWTO" will be outdated quite soon. > This situation will NOT change due to the basic philosophy of Debian > development. Woody, despite having a name, IS NOT THE "OFFICIAL" > RELEASE yet, and will have rough edges. > > 2. A good understanding of just how the APT series of packages work > and how the relate to dpkg and dselect will solve most install problems. > It does some things very well, but it certainly DOESN'T cover every > possibility that comes up. If you limit your "HOWTO" to just apt-get > procedures, then you are doing the equivalent of tying one arm behind > your back. I frequently find myself going into dselect to get some info > on what has caused a "hang" or other problem with an install. Over the > years, I have gathered a "bag of tricks" to try when a package doesn't > want to install properly. Each program has its strong points and MUST > be viewed as a "suite" of tools, rather than as a "replacement" or > alternative. IMHO, a "HOWTO" on APT and how to use it would be a much > more useful project. If you understand APT, DPKG, DSELECT, then you > have to tools to install almost any combination of packages from various > Debian trees you choose! I recently found this excellentd ocument, which you might like to view. :) APT HOWTO http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/apt-howto/index.en.html > 3. Have you defined your "target" audience? I cannot figure this out. > Also, are you prepared to "maintain" the HOWTO. This could be a > tremendoug job in view of the constantly changing nature of Woody. I > tried to write up one on doing "Dial on Demand" for PPP connections in > Corel Linux a couple of years ago. It was obsolete almost before I > could get it out the door! Once I described "A WAY TO DO IT", I got a > lot of "BETTER WAYS" suggested (causing more changes), and there was > always that 10% that couldn't make it work at all! I used to work with > this latter group individually, but it was QUITE frustrating!! The > tail-end of this project will "eat you alive". Once you publish it, YOU > become the "EXPERT" <grin>. > > I admire your vision and energy. Don't let me throw too much "cold > water" on it. It is a worth-while project, just something I wouldn't > want to try! <grin> > > Cheers & Good Luck, > -Don Spoon- > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE Valentine eCards with Yahoo! Greetings! http://greetings.yahoo.com
