On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:50:59 -0500 "Russell L. Harris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> * [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [070414 16:28]: > > I've been using Debian for about a month, and just upgraded to Etch. > ... > > I am wondering about the best way to install software. I have used > > the "apt-get" method, which is pretty simple, and have also > > downloaded and compiled from source "tarballs" which is a little > > more complicated but doesn't seem to be a big deal. Are there > > significant advantages and disadvantages to these methods, besides > > just convenience? I worry about dependencies, and maybe messing > > stuff up with "apt-get update." > > The Debian package manager was created because there is need for a > package manager. You would be a fool not to use it. > However, there occasionally is need for an application which has not > been packaged for Debian, and Debian has provision for installing such > packages. > > Unless you are a guru or a masochist, immediately after using tasksel > to install a desktop, you should install synaptic, if it has not > already been installed by tasksel. Then use synaptic exclusively for > installing Debian packages from Debian repositories. > > Synaptic also was created in response to a need. It is stable and > reliable. I have been using it exclusively for at least a year, > during which I have not been plagued with problems of the sort > reported almost daily by those who directly execute the lower-level > package tools apt-get and aptitude. apt-get and aptitude aren't lower level than Synaptic; they are just cli or GUI (dpkg and perhaps dselect are indeed lower level). Aptitude in particular is generally much more powerful than Synaptic. Most problems encountered with apt-get / aptitude are either network problems, update synch lag, gpg key problems, or other problems with the basic dependency system. I don't believe that using Synaptic eliminates most of them. If you've had a good experience, I'd say you've just been luckier or more skilled. Celejar -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
