On Fri, Jun 25, 2021 at 08:48:47AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote: > One paragraph of "Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide"[1] causes me grief. > It is part of "6.3.5. Installing the Base System"[2]. > > That paragraph states: > > When packages are installed using the package management system, it will > > by default also install packages that are recommended by those packages. > > Recommended packages are not strictly required for the core functionality > > > of the selected software, but they do enhance that software and should, > > in the view of the package maintainers, normally be installed together with > > that software. > > I like the MATE Desktop. If the package mate-desktop-environment is in > stalled *WITHOUT* "recommended" packages I get my desired skeletal Debian > system. > > I believe changing one screen of the standard would give me what I want and > likely satisfy the maintainers mentioned above. In the screen titled > "Software selection", change the first line from "Debian desktop > environment" to "Install the desktop selected below with all recommended > utilities". If that option and the Gnome option are selected by default the > effect would be the same as the current installer. If I deselect the first > line and select MATE, I get my desired system. >
Everything you need is already in the Debian installer: use an expert instaLL and text mode to install it. Do not select Debian desktop environment: select only Mate - job done. Use what's already there: you may hve noted that I often give the advice on -user for a minimal install to start out with a text mode expert install and sort out _exactly_ what you want. Start with a text mode only - command line environment - then add mate-desktop-environment. Optionally, you can configure apt to ignore recommends. > Does such an installer already exist? > TIA > > [1] https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/index.en.html > [2] https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch06s03.en.html > > All best, as ever, Andy Cater
