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author | Daniel Baumann <daniel@debian.org> | 2011-02-01 21:09:21 +0100 |
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committer | Daniel Baumann <daniel@debian.org> | 2011-03-09 19:17:33 +0100 |
commit | 26d74703053425539dc19fa50bf71db88298a223 (patch) | |
tree | 9c19c4077c3b8d283418294ea8e4e14924c2ebb6 /includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-pkgtools.en.html | |
parent | ada0bb07e7f94851e806b8589307edb849735492 (diff) | |
download | live-build-26d74703053425539dc19fa50bf71db88298a223.zip live-build-26d74703053425539dc19fa50bf71db88298a223.tar.gz |
Updating includes for squeeze.
Diffstat (limited to 'includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-pkgtools.en.html')
-rw-r--r-- | includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-pkgtools.en.html | 1199 |
1 files changed, 1199 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-pkgtools.en.html b/includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-pkgtools.en.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..763c63a --- /dev/null +++ b/includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-pkgtools.en.html @@ -0,0 +1,1199 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> + +<html> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - The Debian package management tools</title> + +<link href="index.en.html" rel="start"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="prev"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="next"> +<link href="index.en.html#contents" rel="contents"> +<link href="index.en.html#copyright" rel="copyright"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html" rel="chapter" title="1 Definitions and overview"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="chapter" title="2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="3 Choosing a Debian distribution"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="chapter" title="4 Compatibility issues"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="chapter" title="5 Software available in the Debian system"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html" rel="chapter" title="6 The Debian FTP archives"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="chapter" title="7 Basics of the Debian package management system"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="chapter" title="8 The Debian package management tools"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="chapter" title="9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="chapter" title="10 Debian and the kernel"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html" rel="chapter" title="12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="13 Contributing to the Debian Project"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html" rel="chapter" title="14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html" rel="chapter" title="15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html" rel="chapter" title="16 General information about the FAQ"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq" rel="section" title="1.1 What is this FAQ?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian" rel="section" title="1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux" rel="section" title="1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux" rel="section" title="1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-difference" rel="section" title="1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-gnu" rel="section" title="1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation" rel="section" title="1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version" rel="section" title="2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable" rel="section" title="2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies" rel="section" title="2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom" rel="section" title="2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdimage-symlinks" rel="section" title="2.5 Why does the official stable released CD-ROM contain symlinks for `frozen' and `unstable'? I thought this CD contains just `stable'!"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-remoteinstall" rel="section" title="2.6 Can I get and install Debian directly from a remote Internet site?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller" rel="section" title="2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1" rel="section" title="3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2" rel="section" title="3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches" rel="section" title="4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs" rel="section" title="4.2 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices" rel="section" title="4.3 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherpackages" rel="section" title="4.4 Can I use Debian packages (".deb" files) on my Red Hat/Slackware/... Linux system? Can I use Red Hat packages (".rpm" files) on my Debian GNU/Linux system?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs" rel="section" title="4.5 How should I install a non-Debian program?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap" rel="section" title="4.6 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx" rel="section" title="4.7 Why can't I install AccelX?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-motifnls" rel="section" title="4.8 Why do my old XFree 2.1 Motif applications crash?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps" rel="section" title="5.1 What types of applications and development software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors" rel="section" title="5.2 Who wrote all that software?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pkglist" rel="section" title="5.3 How can I get a current list of programs that have been packaged for Debian?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv" rel="section" title="5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing" rel="section" title="5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-no-devs" rel="section" title="5.6 Why do I get "ld: cannot find -lfoo" messages when compiling programs? Why aren't there any libfoo.so files in Debian library packages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-java" rel="section" title="5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-isitdebian" rel="section" title="5.8 How can I check that I am using a Debian system, and what version is it?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish" rel="section" title="5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine" rel="section" title="5.10 Where is pine?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail" rel="section" title="5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash" rel="section" title="5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth" rel="section" title="5.13 Where is Google Earth?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip" rel="section" title="5.14 Where is VoIP software?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonfreewireless" rel="section" title="5.15 I have a wireless network card which doesn't work with Linux. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists" rel="section" title="6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames" rel="section" title="6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid" rel="section" title="6.3 What about "sid"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable" rel="section" title="6.4 What does the stable directory contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing" rel="section" title="6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable" rel="section" title="6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree" rel="section" title="6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections" rel="section" title="6.8 What are all those directories inside <samp>dists/stable/main</samp>?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source" rel="section" title="6.9 Where is the source code?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools" rel="section" title="6.10 What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming" rel="section" title="6.11 What is "incoming"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository" rel="section" title="6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package" rel="section" title="7.1 What is a Debian package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format" rel="section" title="7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname" rel="section" title="7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile" rel="section" title="7.4 What is a Debian control file?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile" rel="section" title="7.5 What is a Debian conffile?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts" rel="section" title="7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-priority" rel="section" title="7.7 What is an <em>Essential</em>, <em>Required</em>, <em>Important</em>, <em>Standard</em>, <em>Optional</em>, or <em>Extra</em> package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual" rel="section" title="7.8 What is a Virtual Package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-depends" rel="section" title="7.9 What is meant by saying that a package <em>Depends</em>, <em>Recommends</em>, <em>Suggests</em>, <em>Conflicts</em>, <em>Replaces</em> or <em>Provides</em> another package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends" rel="section" title="7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgstatus" rel="section" title="7.11 What is meant by <em>unknown</em>, <em>install</em>, <em>remove</em>, <em>purge</em> and <em>hold</em> in the package status?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold" rel="section" title="7.12 How do I put a package on hold?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs" rel="section" title="7.13 How do I install a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild" rel="section" title="7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs" rel="section" title="7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs" rel="section" title="8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-updaterunning" rel="section" title="8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-whatpackages" rel="section" title="8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles" rel="section" title="8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch" rel="section" title="8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-datapackages" rel="section" title="8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent" rel="section" title="9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-upgradesingle" rel="section" title="9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-savedebs" rel="section" title="9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-keepingalog" rel="section" title="9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate" rel="section" title="9.5 Can I automatically update the system?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptproxy" rel="section" title="9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-non-debian-kernel" rel="section" title="10.1 Can I install and compile a kernel without some Debian-specific tweaking?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel" rel="section" title="10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk" rel="section" title="10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules" rel="section" title="10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-removeoldkernel" rel="section" title="10.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-papersize" rel="section" title="11.1 How can I ensure that all programs use the same paper size?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess" rel="section" title="11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-consolefont" rel="section" title="11.3 How do I load a console font on startup the Debian way?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults" rel="section" title="11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-booting" rel="section" title="11.5 Every distribution seems to have a different boot-up method. Tell me about Debian's."> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-custombootscripts" rel="section" title="11.6 It looks as if Debian does not use <samp>rc.local</samp> to customize the boot process; what facilities are provided?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-interconffiles" rel="section" title="11.7 How does the package management system deal with packages that contain configuration files for other packages?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-divert" rel="section" title="11.8 How do I override a file installed by a package, so that a different version can be used instead?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-localpackages" rel="section" title="11.9 How can I have my locally-built package included in the list of available packages that the package management system knows about?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-diverse" rel="section" title="11.10 Some users like mawk, others like gawk; some like vim, others like elvis; some like trn, others like tin; how does Debian support diversity?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs" rel="section" title="12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources" rel="section" title="12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-searchtools" rel="section" title="12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs" rel="section" title="12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport" rel="section" title="12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib" rel="section" title="13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources" rel="section" title="13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations" rel="section" title="13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds" rel="section" title="14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree" rel="section" title="14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro" rel="section" title="14.3 I am making a special Linux distribution for a "vertical market". Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-commercialdebs" rel="section" title="14.4 Can I put my commercial program in a Debian "package" so that it installs effortlessly on any Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n" rel="section" title="15.1 Extended support for non-English users"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot" rel="section" title="15.2 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di" rel="section" title="15.3 Improvements in the Debian Installer"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches" rel="section" title="15.4 More architectures"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels" rel="section" title="15.5 More kernels"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors" rel="section" title="16.1 Authors"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback" rel="section" title="16.2 Feedback"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest" rel="section" title="16.3 Availability"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat" rel="section" title="16.4 Document format"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.1" rel="subsection" title="3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.2" rel="subsection" title="3.1.2 Will there be different different versions of packages in different distributions?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.3" rel="subsection" title="3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.4" rel="subsection" title="3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.5" rel="subsection" title="3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install testing or unstable?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.6" rel="subsection" title="3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.7" rel="subsection" title="3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Wont the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.8" rel="subsection" title="3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9" rel="subsection" title="3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.10" rel="subsection" title="3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.11" rel="subsection" title="3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.12" rel="subsection" title="3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (lenny). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.13" rel="subsection" title="3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.1" rel="subsection" title="3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.2" rel="subsection" title="3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.3" rel="subsection" title="3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen" rel="subsection" title="6.5.1 What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg" rel="subsection" title="8.1.1 dpkg"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get" rel="subsection" title="8.1.2 APT"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude" rel="subsection" title="8.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic" rel="subsection" title="8.1.4 synaptic"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel" rel="subsection" title="8.1.5 tasksel"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6 Other package management tools"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.1 dselect"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-deb" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-split" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.3 dpkg-split"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade" rel="subsection" title="9.1.1 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt" rel="subsection" title="9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-update_aptitude" rel="subsection" title="9.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror" rel="subsection" title="9.1.4 mirror"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable" rel="subsection" title="9.1.5 dpkg-mountable"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1 Mailing lists"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-mailinglistconduct" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1.1 What is the code of conduct for the mailing lists?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2" rel="subsection" title="12.2.2 Web forums"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3" rel="subsection" title="12.2.3 Wiki"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4" rel="subsection" title="12.2.4 Maintainers"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5" rel="subsection" title="12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI" rel="subsection" title="13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-FSF" rel="subsection" title="13.3.2 Free Software Foundation"> + +</head> + +<body> + +<p><a name="ch-pkgtools"></a></p> +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ 8 ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<h1> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +<br>Chapter 8 - The Debian package management tools +</h1> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-pkgprogs"></a>8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?</h2> + +<p> +There are multiple tools that are used to manage Debian packages, from graphic +or text-based interfaces to the low level tools used to install packages. All +the available tools rely on the lower level tools to properly work and are +presented here in decreasing complexity level. +</p> + +<p> +It is important to understand that the higher level package management tools +such as <code>aptitude</code> or <code>dselect</code> rely on <code>apt</code> +which, itself, relies on <code>dpkg</code> to manage the packages in the +system. +</p> + +<p> +See the <code><a href="http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/apt-howto/">APT +HOWTO</a></code> for more information about the Debian package management +utilities. This document is available in various languages and formats, see +<code><a href="http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#apt-howto">the APT HOWTO +entry on the DDP Users' Manuals overview</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-dpkg"></a>8.1.1 dpkg</h3> + +<p> +This is the main package management program. <code>dpkg</code> can be invoked +with many options. Some common uses are: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Find out all the options: <samp>dpkg --help</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Print out the control file (and other information) for a specified package: +<samp>dpkg --info foo_VVV-RRR.deb</samp> +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Install a package (including unpacking and configuring) onto the file system of +the hard disk: <samp>dpkg --install foo_VVV-RRR.deb</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Unpack (but do not configure) a Debian archive into the file system of the hard +disk: <samp>dpkg --unpack foo_VVV-RRR.deb</samp>. Note that this operation +does <em>not</em> necessarily leave the package in a usable state; some files +may need further customization to run properly. This command removes any +already-installed version of the program and runs the preinst (see <a +href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts">What is a Debian preinst, postinst, +prerm, and postrm script?, Section 7.6</a>) script associated with the package. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Configure a package that already has been unpacked: <samp>dpkg --configure +foo</samp>. Among other things, this action runs the postinst (see <a +href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts">What is a Debian preinst, postinst, +prerm, and postrm script?, Section 7.6</a>) script associated with the package. +It also updates the files listed in the <samp>conffiles</samp> for this +package. Notice that the 'configure' operation takes as its argument a package +name (e.g., foo), <em>not</em> the name of a Debian archive file (e.g., +foo_VVV-RRR.deb). +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Extract a single file named "blurf" (or a group of files named +"blurf*" from a Debian archive: <samp>dpkg --fsys-tarfile +foo_VVV-RRR.deb | tar -xf - blurf*</samp> +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Remove a package (but not its configuration files): <samp>dpkg --remove +foo</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Remove a package (including its configuration files): <samp>dpkg --purge +foo</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +List the installation status of packages containing the string (or regular +expression) "foo*": <samp>dpkg --list 'foo*'</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-apt-get"></a>8.1.2 APT</h3> + +<p> +APT is the <em>Advanced Package Tool</em> and provides the <code>apt-get</code> +program. <code>apt-get</code> provides a simple way to retrieve and install +packages from multiple sources using the command line. Unlike +<code>dpkg</code>, <code>apt-get</code> does not understand .deb files, it +works with the packages proper name and can only install .deb archives from a +source specified in <code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code>. <code>apt-get</code> +will call <code>dpkg</code> directly after downloading the .deb archives[<a +href="footnotes.en.html#f5" name="fr5">5</a>] from the configured sources. +</p> + +<p> +Some common ways to use <code>apt-get</code> are: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To update the list of package known by your system, you can run: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-get update +</pre> + +<p> +(you should execute this regularly to update your package lists) +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To upgrade all the packages on your system (without installing extra packages +or removing packages), run: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-get upgrade +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To install the <var>foo</var> package and all its dependencies, run: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-get install foo +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To remove the foo package from your system, run: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-get remove foo +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To remove the foo package and its configuration files from your system, run: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-get --purge remove foo +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To upgrade all the packages on your system, and, if needed for a package +upgrade, installing extra packages or removing packages, run: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-get dist-upgrade +</pre> + +<p> +(The command <samp>upgrade</samp> keeps a package at its installed obsolete +version if upgrading would need an extra package to be installed, for a new +dependency to be satisfied. The <samp>dist-upgrade</samp> command is less +conservative.) +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +Note that you must be logged in as root to perform any commands that modify the +system packages. +</p> + +<p> +The apt tool suite also includes the <code>apt-cache</code> tool to query the +package lists. You can use it to find packages providing specific +functionality through simple text or regular expression queries and through +queries of dependencies in the package management system. Some common ways to +use <code>apt-cache</code> are: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To find packages whose description contain <var>word</var>: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-cache search <var>word</var> +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To print the detailed information of a package: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-cache show <var>package</var> +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To print the packages a given package depends on: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-cache depends <var>package</var> +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +To print detailed information of the versions available for a package and the +packages that reverse-depends on it: +</p> + +<pre> + apt-cache showpkg <var>package</var> +</pre> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +For more information, install the <code>apt</code> package and read +<code>apt-get(8)</code>, <code>sources.list(5)</code> and install the +<code>apt-doc</code> package and read +<code>/usr/share/doc/apt-doc/guide.html/index.html</code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-aptitude"></a>8.1.3 aptitude</h3> + +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> is a package manager for Debian GNU/Linux systems that +provides a frontend to the apt package management infrastructure. +<code>aptitude</code> is a text-based interface using the curses library, it +can be used to perform management tasks in a fast and easy way. +</p> + +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> provides the functionality of <code>dselect</code> and +<code>apt-get</code>, as well as many additional features not found in either +program: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> offers access to all versions of a package. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> logs all its actions in <code>/var/log/aptitude</code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> makes it easy to keep track of obsolete software by +listing it under "Obsolete and Locally Created Packages". +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> includes a fairly powerful system for searching +particular packages and limiting the package display. Users familiar with +<code>mutt</code> will pick up quickly, as <code>mutt</code> was the +inspiration for the expression syntax. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> tracks which packages have been installed due to +dependencies and removes them automatically when the packages that needed them +are removed from the system. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> can automatically install <em>Recommended:</em> +packages[<a href="footnotes.en.html#f6" name="fr6">6</a>]. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> can be used to install the predefined tasks available. +For more information see <a href="#s-tasksel">tasksel, Section 8.1.5</a>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code>aptitude</code> in full screen mode has <code>su</code> functionality +embedded and can be run by a normal user. It will call <code>su</code> (and +ask for the root password, if any) when you really need administrative +privileges +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +You can use <code>aptitude</code> through a visual interface (simply run +<samp>aptitude</samp>) or directly from the command line. The command line +syntax used is very similar to the one used in <code>apt-get</code>. For +example, to install the <var>foo</var> package, you can run <samp>aptitude +install <var>foo</var></samp>. +</p> + +<p> +Note that <code>aptitude</code> is the preferred program for package management +from console both for package installations and package or system upgrades. +</p> + +<p> +For more informations, read the manual page <code>aptitude(8)</code> and +install the <code>aptitude-doc</code> package. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-synaptic"></a>8.1.4 synaptic</h3> + +<p> +<code>synaptic</code> is a graphical package manager. It enables you to +install, upgrade and remove software packages in a user friendly way. Next to +all features offered by aptitude, it also has a feature for editing the list of +used repositories, and supports browsing all available documentation related to +a package. See the <code><a href="http://www.nongnu.org/synaptic/">Synaptic +Website</a></code> for more information. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-tasksel"></a>8.1.5 tasksel</h3> + +<p> +When you want to perform a specific task it might be difficult to find the +appropiate suite of packages that fill your need. The Debian developers have +defined <samp>tasks</samp>, a task is a collection of several individual Debian +packages all related to a specific activity. Tasks can be installed through +the <code>tasksel</code> program or through <code>aptitude</code>. +</p> + +<p> +The Debian installer will typically install automaticaly the task associated +with a standard system and a desktop environment. The specific desktop +environment installed will depend on the CD/DVD media used, most commonly it +will be the GNOME desktop (<samp>gnome-desktop</samp> task). Also, depending +on your selections throughout the installation process, tasks might be +automatically installed in your system. For example, if you selected a +language, the task associated with it will be installed automatically too and +if you are running in a laptop system the installer recognises the +<samp>laptop</samp> task will be installed too. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-dpkg-extra"></a>8.1.6 Other package management tools</h3> + +<hr> + +<h4><a name="s-dselect"></a>8.1.6.1 dselect</h4> + +<p> +This program is a menu-driven interface to the Debian package management +system. For woody and earlier releases, this was the main package management +interface for for first-time installations, but currently users are encouraged +to use <code>aptitude</code> instead. Some users might feel more comfortable +using <code>aptitude</code> and it is also recommended over +<code>dselect</code> for large-scale upgrades. For more information on +<code>aptitude</code> please see <a href="#s-aptitude">aptitude, Section +8.1.3</a>. +</p> + +<p> +<code>dselect</code> can: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +guide the user as he/she chooses among packages to install or remove, ensuring +that no packages are installed that conflict with one another, and that all +packages required to make each package work properly are installed; +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +warn the user about inconsistencies or incompatibilities in their selections; +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +determine the order in which the packages must be installed; +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +automatically perform the installation or removal; and +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +guide the user through whatever configuration process are required for each +package. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +<code>dselect</code> begins by presenting the user with a menu of 7 items, each +of which is a specific action. The user can select one of the actions by using +the arrow keys to move the highlighter bar, then pressing the +<em><enter></em> key to select the highlighted action. +</p> + +<p> +What the user sees next depends on the action he selected. If he selects any +option but <samp>Access</samp> or <samp>Select</samp>, then +<code>dselect</code> will simply proceed to execute the specified action: e.g., +if the user selected the action <samp>Remove</samp>, then dselect would proceed +to remove all of the files selected for removal when the user last chose the +<samp>Select</samp> action. +</p> + +<p> +Both the <samp>Access</samp> menu item and the <samp>Select</samp> menu item +lead to additional menus. In both cases, the menus are presented as split +screens; the top screen gives a scrollable list of choices, while the bottom +screen gives a brief explanation ("info") for each choice. +</p> + +<p> +Extensive on-line help is available, use the '?' key to get to a help screen +at any time. +</p> + +<p> +The order in which the actions are presented in the first <code>dselect</code> +menu represents the order in which a user would normally choose +<code>dselect</code> to install packages. However, a user can pick any of the +main menu choices as often as needed (including not at all, depending on what +one wants to do). +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Begin by choosing an <strong>Access Method</strong>. This is the method by +which the user plans on accessing Debian packages; e.g., some users have Debian +packages available on CD-ROM, while others plan to fetch them using anonymous +FTP. The selected "Access Method" is stored after +<code>dselect</code> exits, so if it does not change, then this option need not +be invoked again. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Then <strong>Update</strong> the list of available packages. To do this, +<code>dselect</code> reads the file "Packages.gz" which should be +included in the top level of the directory where the Debian packages to be +installed are stored. (But if it is not there, <code>dselect</code> will offer +to make it for you.) +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<strong>Select</strong> specific packages for installation on his system. +After choosing this menu item, the user is first presented with a full screen +of help (unless the `--expert' command line option was used). Once the user +exits the Help screen, he sees the split-screen menu for choosing packages to +install (or remove). +</p> + +<p> +The top part of the screen is a relatively narrow window into the list of +Debian's 18200 packages; the bottom part of the screen contains description of +the package or group of packages which are highlighted above. +</p> + +<p> +One can specify which packages should be operated on by highlighting a package +name or the label for a group of packages. After that, you can select +packages: +</p> +<dl> +<dt>to be installed:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +This is accomplished by pressing the `+' key. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt>to be deleted:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +Packages can be deleted two ways: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +removed: this removes most of the files associated with the package, but +preserves the files listed as configuration files (see <a +href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile">What is a Debian conffile?, Section +7.5</a>) and package configuration information. This is done by pressing the +`-' key. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +purged: this removes <em>every</em> file that is part of the package. This is +done by pressing the `_' key. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +Note that it's not possible to remove "All Packages". If you try +that, your system will instead be reduced to the initial installed base +packages. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt>to be put "on hold"</dt> +<dd> +<p> +This is done by pressing `=', and it effectively tells <code>dselect</code> not +to upgrade a package even if the version currently installed on your system is +not as recent as the version that is available in the Debian repository you are +using (this was specified when you set the <strong>Access Method</strong>, and +acquired when you used <strong>Update</strong>). +</p> + +<p> +Just like you can put a package on hold, you can reverse such setting by +pressing `:'. That tells <code>dselect</code> that the package(s) may be +upgraded if a newer version is available. This is the default setting. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> + +<p> +You can select a different order in which the packages are presented, by using +the `o' key to cycle between various options for sorting the packages. The +default order is to present packages by Priority; within each priority, +packages are presented in order of the directory (a.k.a. section) of the +archive in which they are stored. Given this sort order, some packages in +section A (say) may be presented first, followed by some packages in section B, +followed by more packages (of lower priority) in section A. +</p> + +<p> +You can also expand meanings of the labels at the top of the screen, by using +the `v' (verbose) key. This action pushes much of the text that formerly fit +onto the display off to the right. To see it, press the right arrow; to scroll +back to the left, press the left arrow. +</p> + +<p> +If you select a package for installation or removal, e.g., +<code>foo.deb</code>, and that package depends on (or recommends) another +package, e.g., <code>blurf.deb</code>, then <code>dselect</code> will place the +you in a sub-screen of the main selection screen. There you can choose among +the related packages, accepting the suggested actions (to install or not), or +rejecting them. To do the latter, press Shift-D; to return to the former, +press Shift-U. In any case, you can save your selections and return to the +main selection screen by pressing Shift-Q. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Users returning to the main menu can then select the "Install" menu +item to unpack and configure the selected packages. Alternatively, users +wishing to remove files can choose the "Remove" menu item. At any +point, users can choose "Quit" to exit dselect; users' selections are +preserved by <code>dselect</code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h4><a name="s-dpkg-deb"></a>8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb</h4> + +<p> +This program manipulates Debian archive(<samp>.deb</samp>) files. Some common +uses are: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Find out all the options: <samp>dpkg-deb --help</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Determine what files are contained in a Debian archive file: <samp>dpkg-deb +--contents foo_VVV-RRR.deb</samp>) +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Extract the files contained in a named Debian archive into a user specified +directory: <samp>dpkg-deb --extract foo_VVV-RRR.deb tmp</samp> extracts each of +the files in <samp>foo_VVV-RRR.deb</samp> into the directory <samp>tmp/</samp>. +This is convenient for examining the contents of a package in a localized +directory, without installing the package into the root file system. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Extract the control information files from a package: <samp>dpkg-deb --control +foo_VVV-RRR.deb tmp</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +Note that any packages that were merely unpacked using <samp>dpkg-deb +--extract</samp> will be incorrectly installed, you should use <samp>dpkg +--install</samp> instead. +</p> + +<p> +More information is given in the manual page <code>dpkg-deb(1)</code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h4><a name="s-dpkg-split"></a>8.1.6.3 dpkg-split</h4> + +<p> +This program splits large package into smaller files (e.g., for writing onto a +set of floppy disks), and can also be used to merge a set of split files back +into a single file. It can only be used on a Debian system (i.e. a system +containing the <code>dpkg</code> package), since it calls the program +<samp>dpkg-deb</samp> to parse the debian package file into its component +records. +</p> + +<p> +For example, to split a big .deb file into N parts, +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Execute the command <samp>dpkg-split --split foo.deb</samp>. This will produce +N files each of approximately 460 KBytes long in the current directory. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Copy those N files to floppy disks. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Copy the contents of the floppy disks onto the hard disk of your choice on the +other machine. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Join those part-files together using <samp>dpkg-split --join +"foo*"</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-updaterunning"></a>8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?</h2> + +<p> +The kernel (file system) in Debian GNU/Linux systems supports replacing files +even while they're being used. +</p> + +<p> +We also provide a program called <code>start-stop-daemon</code> which is used +to start daemons at boot time or to stop daemons when the runlevel is changed +(e.g., from multi-user to single-user or to halt). The same program is used by +installation scripts when a new package containing a daemon is installed, to +stop running daemons, and restart them as necessary. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-whatpackages"></a>8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?</h2> + +<p> +To learn the status of all the packages installed on a Debian system, execute +the command +</p> + +<pre> + dpkg --list +</pre> + +<p> +This prints out a one-line summary for each package, giving a 2-letter status +symbol (explained in the header), the package name, the version which is +<em>installed</em>, and a brief description. +</p> + +<p> +To learn the status of packages whose names match the string any pattern +beginning with "foo" by executing the command: +</p> + +<pre> + dpkg --list 'foo*' +</pre> + +<p> +To get a more verbose report for a particular package, execute the command: +</p> + +<pre> + dpkg --status packagename +</pre> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-listfiles"></a>8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?</h2> + +<p> +To list all the files provided by the installed package <samp>foo</samp> +execute the command +</p> + +<pre> + dpkg --listfiles foo +</pre> + +<p> +Note that the files created by the installation scripts aren't displayed. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-filesearch"></a>8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?</h2> + +<p> +To identify the package that produced the file named <samp>foo</samp> execute +either: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<samp>dpkg --search filename</samp> +</p> + +<p> +This searches for <samp>filename</samp> in installed packages. (This is +(currently) equivalent to searching all of the files having the file extension +of <samp>.list</samp> in the directory <samp>/var/lib/dpkg/info/</samp>, and +adjusting the output to print the names of all the packages containing it, and +diversions.) +</p> + +<p> +A faster alternative to this is the <code>dlocate</code> tool. +</p> + +<pre> + dlocate -S filename +</pre> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<samp>zgrep foo Contents-ARCH.gz</samp> +</p> + +<p> +This searches for files which contain the substring <samp>foo</samp> in their +full path names. The files <samp>Contents-ARCH.gz</samp> (where ARCH +represents the wanted architecture) reside in the major package directories +(main, non-free, contrib) at a Debian FTP site (i.e. under +<samp>/debian/dists/etch</samp>). A <samp>Contents</samp> file refers only to +the packages in the subdirectory tree where it resides. Therefore, a user +might have to search more than one <samp>Contents</samp> files to find the +package containing the file <samp>foo</samp>. +</p> + +<p> +This method has the advantage over <samp>dpkg --search</samp> in that it will +find files in packages that are not currently installed on your system. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<samp>apt-file search <var>foo</var></samp> +</p> + +<p> +If you install the <code>apt-file</code>, similar to the above, it searches +files which contain the substring or regular expression <samp>foo</samp> in +their full path names. The advantage over the sample above is that there is no +need to retrieve the <samp>Contents-ARCH.gz</samp> files as it will do this +automatically for all the sources defined in <code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code> +when you run (as root) <samp>apt-file update</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-datapackages"></a>8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?</h2> + +<p> +Some packages are split in program (`foo') and data (`foo-data') (or in `foo' +and `foo-doc'). This is true for many games, multimedia applications and +dictionaries in Debian and has been introduced since some users might want to +access the raw data without installing the program or because the program can +be run without the data itself, making it optional. +</p> + +<p> +Similar situations occur when dealing with libraries: generally these get +installed since packages containing applications depend on them. When the +application-package is purged, the library-package might stay on the system. +Or: when the application-package no longer depends upon e.g. libdb4.2, but +upon libdb4.3, the libdb4.2 package might stay when the application-package is +upgraded. +</p> + +<p> +In these cases, `foo-data' doesn't depend on `foo', so when you remove the +`foo' package it will not get automatically removed by most package management +tools. The same holds true for the library packages. This is necessary to +avoid circular dependencies. If you use <code>aptitude</code> (see <a +href="#s-aptitude">aptitude, Section 8.1.3</a>) as your package management tool +it will, however, track automatically installed packages and remove them when +no packages remain that need them in your system. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ 8 ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +</p> + +<address> +version 4.0.4+nmu1, 3 January 2010<br> +<br> +Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br> +<br> +</address> +<hr> + +</body> + +</html> + |