On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 01:49:03PM -0800, Kushal Koolwal wrote: > I just got curious and I decided to count the total number of > packages (across all architectures and all branch - main, contrib, > non-free) in the current Sid branch. > > Here is what I did: > > 1. Downloaded the file: > http://packages.debian.org/unstable/allpackages?format=txt.gz > > > 2. and then give the command: > wc -l allpackages.txt > 30454 > > 3. Subtract 6 (because of the header in the beginning) from the total that > you get. > > So is it correct to say that Debian Sid has around 30448 (roughly) packages?
I wouldn't quite say that. It is difficult to put it that way, because several (most?) source packages produce several binary packages. For example, the source package libitpp produces binary packages libitpp-dev, libitpp6gf, libitpp6-dbg and libitpp-doc, all of which are being recounted. You would also recount multiple versions of several packages, like libraries (libnet0, libnet1 along with their *-dev packages). You also count several Debian native packages; while some of them (like ikiwiki) are generic, others (like dpkg) are Debian (derivative) specific. You have counted 67 packages which begin with iceweasel-l10n-. There are several such cases you have to look out for and decide whether to include in your search or not. As far as I can see, there isn't any unambiguous way by which you can arrive at an exact number, though you can estimate it if you account for the things I mention (and other problems). HTH. Kumar -- Kumar Appaiah
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