A Better Package Manager

[0x00FE]

Hello all,

I've used few releases till now of both Ubuntu & Kubuntu and I have a request.

KDE developers, you've done a great job so far but please, we need a better package manager =)

I'm still using Kubuntu 8.04 on my desktop & planning to switch to 10.04 as soon as it is released.

The "Add/Remove Programs" button in the KDE menu here in KDE3 is amazing, it is easy to search for applications upon categories, it doesn't have to show you all related packages & dependency packages and all that.
You simply click on the application & it gets installed.
Of course if you require more details or packages not included there you can just launch "Adept"

The latest package manager in Kubuntu 9.10 gave me real headache few times, just try to install KDE games for example, you'll see a huge number of packages, you won't even know which to select.

If you compare the latest KDE package manager with the one in Ubuntu 9.10, the Ubuntu's is way easier.

Perhaps there should be a button for "Simple/Advanced" installation.

Anyhow I thought I should point this out.
Best of luck fixing it before the next release ; )

[Chopstick]

Re: A Better Package Manager

I switched from Windows to kubuntu about a year ago, and ever since I've been using Synaptic. I find it very intuitive, I usually find what I need (even as a newbie), and you can also perform most more complex task.

I highly recommend trying synaptic! (Although it is not KDE, so I agree with 0x00FE that KDE needs a better package manager.

Chopstick

[Telengard]

Re: A Better Package Manager

I still use Adept on my Kubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron system. For all later Kubuntu releases I depend solely on apt-get and aptitude. I won't even let KPackageKit update my system.

[Qqmike]

Re: A Better Package Manager

Exactly what 0x00FE said.
Exactly what Telengard said (my Adept on my 8.04 is great).

[Mountain Man]

Re: A Better Package Manager

I highly recommend trying synaptic!

I agree. Synaptic is a great program. It's easy to use but very flexible. I don't ever have to touch the command line unless I'm doing something specialized. A Synaptic clone for KDE would be the only compelling reason to stop using Synaptic.

[Zorael]

Re: A Better Package Manager

I always recommend Synaptic to people who want a graphical interface, and aptitude to those confident in their terminal-fu.

I'm not sure where KPackageKit is going - I heard that PackageKit doesn't support dialogs popping up during package installation like debs are prone to doing? Doesn't that completely invalidate PackageKit in a Debian-based distro? Likely I'm just misunderstanding something.

As for apt, aptitude will suggest fixes for those dependency issues that apt-get will only freak out over.

[Snowhog]

Re: A Better Package Manager

As for apt, aptitude will suggest fixes for those dependency issues that apt-get will only freak out over.

That's why I use apt-get dist-upgrade package when using the CLI.

[claydoh]

Re: A Better Package Manager

Wow, it wasn't so long ago that Adept was totally and completely and universally reviled
Maybe that could have been a small part of why the developer for it moved on to other things?

[quarkslot]

Re: A Better Package Manager

For GUI I use Synaptic.

I keep looking at KPackageKit; I use it on virtual machines and while it still seems to be a work-in-progress it is a lot better than it was, for example it doesn't appear to have a problem with blocked updates any more.

[The Liquidator]

Re: A Better Package Manager

Personally I rather like adept, although it does miss the odd thing that you can pick up with synaptic or apt-get.

I too think it had more promise than many people made out, and maybe did not deserve some of the stick it got.

[Telengard]

Re: A Better Package Manager

Wow, it wasn't so long ago that Adept was totally and completely and universally reviled
Maybe that could have been a small part of why the developer for it moved on to other things?

I can not recall offhand ever having serious problems with Adept. When I first began learning Linux it took time for me to adjust to the whole idea of a package manager, which is very different from the Windows way. Those complaints may have been justified at that time, but the Adept I use on Kubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron today works great.

[claydoh]

Re: A Better Package Manager

you never used the kde4 version, or read the many numerous rips against either version's ui or bugs back in the day

[geezer]

Re: A Better Package Manager

Kpackagekit in 9.10 is a big improvement over 9.04. At least for the automatic updates it works okay.

For searching and installation on my own, Synaptic is still the best.

[Zorael]

Re: A Better Package Manager

KPackageKit still doesn't handle dependencies well, from what I hear.

From this thread on uf.org;

nortexoid: How'd you install the non-free codec? It keeps giving me dependency issues.

Thelasko: I just went into synaptic and installed it. The only dependency issue it had was that it had to uninstall the free codec.

nortexoid: Ah, KPackageKit was making it impossible so I just did an install via konsole/terminal.

[Telengard]

Re: A Better Package Manager

Some non-free software requires you to agree to the license interactively during the install process. One example is Sun Java, which throws up a text based license notice and confirmation button in the console. Of course that works fine with apt-get and aptitude. Adept even handles it properly from what I remember. KPackageKit can't do it though, so the install just fails somehow.