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**dibl** · Mar 13, 2008, 06:51 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Excellent explanation -- thank you very much, Rog!

**Qqmike** · Mar 13, 2008, 06:53 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

I'll second that.
Copied to OOo Writer for closer study later!

Thanks.

**MoonRise** · Mar 14, 2008, 05:39 PM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Very good! Nice to have this around.

**Fenyx** · Mar 14, 2008, 06:04 PM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Very nice! Good job Rog!

You might want (or not) to mention KPackage, a KDE package manager for APT/Dpkg and RPM. It also has some advantages for Adept but the KDE 3 version is quite unmaintained. The KDE 4 version now uses Smart PM for its backend.

It's released together with the rest of KDE and is found in the kdeadmin module.

Again, great job!

**Rog131** · Mar 15, 2008, 07:06 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Jucato:

You might want (or not) to mention KPackag...

Thank you for your information. Added info of the smart front-ends.

**Rog131** · Jun 21, 2008, 09:21 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Adept 3 alpha3

Linking to the Adept future

Update > Topic: Adept getting the boot(?)

> Topic: Adept 3 Alpha 6

Alpha, beta, rc warning:

This is an alpha/beta/rc (pre-) release. Pre-release versions of programs are NOT encouraged for anyone needing a stable system or for anyone who is not comfortable running into occasional, even frequent, breakage. Pre-release versions of programs ARE recommended for developers and those who want to help in testing, reporting, and fixing bugs (or are curious).

Downloading adept sources from the Debian repositories:

adept_3.0~alpha3.dsc
adept_3.0~alpha3.tar.gz

and compiling them (FAQ: Installing from source). Compiling with Kubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex pre alpha; KDE 4.1 Beta 1. =>

adept_3.0~alpha3_all.deb
adept-manager_3.0~alpha3_i386.deb
adept-common_3.0~alpha3_all.deb

Updating adept (Topic: Making Local Repository):

Upgraded the following packages:
adept (2.1.3ubuntu26) to 3.0~alpha3
adept-common (2.1.3ubuntu26) to 3.0~alpha3
adept-manager (2.1.3ubuntu26) to 3.0~alpha3

Hmm - some things are not implemented (Sources) but the outlook is different:

Attached Files

**ulsterman** · Aug 02, 2008, 05:46 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Gosh, this is good stuff. Thanks! Took some effort to pull this information together, then organize and type/post it. You did a great job of explaining what is, especially to newcomers, a sometimes complex process. Even us folks that have used Debian based linux for awhile and think we're up to date can use a refresher recap.

**Rog131** · Sep 30, 2008, 04:40 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Packagekit

> PackageKit Main Page

What is PackageKit?

PackageKit is a system designed to make installing and updating software on your computer easier. The primary design goal is to unify all the software graphical tools used in different distributions, and use some of the latest technology like PolicyKit to make the process suck less.

The actual nuts-and-bolts distro tool (yum, apt, conary, etc) is used by PackageKit using compiled and scripted helpers. PackageKit isn't meant to replace these tools, instead providing a common set of abstractions that can be used by standard GUI and text mode package managers.

PackageKit itself is a system activated daemon called packagekitd. Being system activated means that it's only being run when the user is using a text mode or graphical tool, and quits when it's no longer being used. This means we don't delay the boot sequence or session startup and don't consume memory when not being used.

gnome-packagekit is the name of the collection of graphical tools for PackageKit to be used in the GNOME desktop.

PackageKit-Qt is the name of the QT graphical tools designed for PackageKit...

> KPackageKit

Description:
KPackageKit is the KDE interface for PackageKit.

It's intended to be ONLY a PackageKit interface, this means if there is some cool feature like improving the performance of a yum database it is PackageKit related and distro specific stuff that should be discussed there.

Well if you don't already know PackageKit take a look at our website. If you use Fedora >9 it's the default package manager (from the UI point of view).
So now you can use PackageKit from a KDE app

This is the first release, after 6~7 months of working we bring you a very stable and nice application. We had four beta versions, and to the last one the library was completely rewritten to have a better design and to fix the remaining bugs.
The user interface (KPackageKit) also fixed lots of bugs, and now is able to do almost every thing gnome packagekit can. The small part left will be soon available through a 0.2 release.
We hope you enjoy KPackageKit, and please report bugs, make wished gives us feedback so we can improve this application.

This is with the Kubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex (alpha-6, almost beta

)

PPA repositories > Show PPAs matching: packagekit > PPA for Anthony Mercatante

Installing kpackagekit, that will install:

These NEW packages will be installed:
kpackagekit libpackagekit-qt0 packagekit packagekit-backend-apt

Update
This is with the Kubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope (alpha-1, almost 2

)

PPA repositories > Show PPAs matching: packagekit > PPA for PackageKit-Team

Upgrading:

kpackagekit (version 0.1-0ubuntu1) will be upgraded to version 0.3.1+20081211-0ubuntu1~ppa1
libpackagekit-qt11 (version 0.3.12-0ubuntu1~ppa2) will be installed

After installation K > Applications > System > Software Management (KPackageKit)

Update II
With the Jaunty (alpha-4, almost 5

)

KpackageKit is in the standard repositories

Installing KPackageKit (sudo apt-get install kpackagekit)

The following extra packages will be installed:
libpackagekit-qt11
The following NEW packages will be installed:
kpackagekit libpackagekit-qt11

and installing PackageKit (sudo apt-get install packagekit)

The following extra packages will be installed:
libpackagekit-glib11 packagekit-backend-apt python-packagekit
The following NEW packages will be installed:
libpackagekit-glib11 packagekit packagekit-backend-apt python-packagekit

Attached Files

**Rog131** · Nov 28, 2008, 04:44 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Synaptic package manager

Synaptic package manager (0.62.2 / Jaunty alpha-1) has a "Get Screenshots" button (pic 1). It will get a screenshot from the screenshots.debian.net if availalble (pic 2).

Links:

> Accepted synaptic 0.62.2

> screenshots.debian.net

How does this website work?

This is a public repository of screenshots taken from applications contained in the Debian GNU/Linux distribution. It was created to help getting an impression of what a certain software will look like on your desktop before you install it. Everybody can take screenshots and upload them. Our admin team will just review your changes before they become publicly visible.

Two images attached (FAQ: Attached files are show only to the members ?) :

Attached Files

**kevinc** · Jun 10, 2009, 10:03 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

In Jaunty, Kpackage kit is the default. I was not very impressed with it, did a few things with apt-get, remembered Adept from previous versions, installed that and found that it seems to be worse. When I was using Intrepid, by the end of the six months I though Adept (despite the initial criticism) was not too bad. But now in Jaunty it is not very good at finding packages or listing what's installed or not installed. Has adept changed for the worse?

I was for a very brief time running Ubuntu Jaunty and I've had Debian Etch and Lenny for some months and weeks respectively before replacing them with Kubuntu or something else. Synaptic seems to work quite well in Gnome desktops.

Is it KDE or Kubuntu that keeps changing the package manager? And why not concentrate on having one that works instead of having several? I've gone back to using apt which works nicely.

**Rog131** · Jun 10, 2009, 10:57 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Is it KDE or Kubuntu that keeps changing the package manager? And why not concentrate on having one that works instead of having several? I've gone back to using apt which works nicely.

EARLIER (Jaunty):
> Adept wiki
> Kubuntu/Meetings/Minutes/2008-09-11
> Re: Jaunty Release Schedule, Plans, KDE 4.2
>> Blueprint: Kubuntu Jaunty Package Manager
>>> full specification
> Farewell, Adept

NOW (Karmic):
> (Ubuntu forums) Karmic Koala Testing and Discussion >> The Packagekit Thread.

This is Linux, there are lot of options and you could use whatever works with you. The developers are setting some applications as default applications but you don't have to use them or install /1/ them.

/1/ The KPackageKit is part of the kubuntu-desktop metapackage /2/ - you could build your very own desktop with minimum defaults, earlier > Topic: installation & program selection

/2/ > MetaPackages

One of the handy features of apt (the packaging system used by Ubuntu) is the use of metapackages. These packages do not contain actual software, they simply depend on other packages to be installed. This setup allows entire sets of software to be installed by selecting only the appropriate metapackage. For example, an Ubuntu user can install the Kubuntu environment (KDE and all its associated programs) by selecting "kubuntu-desktop."

**kevinc** · Jun 11, 2009, 02:52 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Originally posted by Rog131

This is Linux, there are lot of options and you could use whatever works with you. The developers are setting some applications as default applications but you don't have to use them or install /1/ them.

Absolutely. I agree completely. Many thanks for your many links. I took half an hour to read them. Generally I try to use the default applications.

In the case of PackageKit, I thought of trying it to remove Adept 3.0 beta - since it is discontinued and replaced by default PackageKit and it froze everything. I couldn't even take a screenshot, only reboot. I will keep it and try it after it has an update, but stick to apt-get for the present.

**Rog131** · Oct 26, 2009, 02:05 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Synaptic and the Kubuntu

If you want to install the Synaptic to the Kubuntu:

1) As default the K/X/ubuntu will install recommended packages /1/.

Default Synaptic installation will install about 73 packages that is 50 MB of Gnome/GTK stuff /2/, /3/.

But if you use the "no-install-recommends" option then the Synaptic installation will only install 9 packages that is 2.31 MB /2/, /3/.

If you need those Gnome/GTK application you could add them later.

2) The Synaptic is a GTK application so it is using the GTK theming.

But there is an option to use the QtCurve /4/ with the GTK applications /5/:

QtCurve brings a refinement of the Oxygen-like widget style so that your GNOME apps will look more at home in KDE.

As default the QtCurve is working for an ordinary user but when you are using the Synaptic (or other GTK applications ) as root /8/ the theming is the GTK. To fix this you need to copy the hidden file .gtkrc-2.0-kde4 (note the dot !) from your home directory to the /root/ with name .gtkrc-2.0 (note the dot !) so the "root" /8/ can use the QtCurve /6/, /7/. Konsole:

Code:

sudo cp .gtkrc-2.0-kde4 /root/.gtkrc-2.0

The left is using the GTK theme and the right is using the QtCurve.

Links:

/1/ > 9.04 Releasenotes

Recommended packages installed by default

In accordance with the Debian Policy Manual (which says "The 'Recommends' field should list packages that would be found together with this one in all but unusual installations"), the package management system now installs packages listed in the Recommends: field of other installed packages as well as Depends: by default. If you want to avoid this for specific packages, use apt-get --no-install-recommends; if you want to make this permanent, set APT::Install-Recommends "false"; in /etc/apt/apt.conf. Be aware that this may result in missing features in some programs.

/2/ > Topic: Kpackage Kit

/3/ > Project Timelord -- Initial consideration

/4/ > QtCurve wiki

/5/ > Karmic Koala RC Kubuntu

/6/ > Topic: [USER-Solved] Synaptic doesn't theme properly

/7/ > How to make Synaptic look native?

/8/ > FAQ: Root Password

**Rog131** · Jul 05, 2010, 10:38 AM

Re: FAQ: Package Managers

Muon

As told here > Topic: Introducing Muon, a new Package Manager under Development by a Kubuntu Dev and >> Introducing QApt and the Muon Package Manager there will be brand new option to manage the packages.

It is now available for the user who want to give it a try and experiment /1/. There are packages for the Lucid and the Maverick.

[img width=400 height=300]http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1138/muon.png[/img]

The developer is telling:

...this will not be the default package manager for Kubuntu 10.10...
...
So let’s just let Muon and QApt cook for a while, and then we can see where we stand for Kubuntu 11.04. It’ll be worth the wait...

Note!
As told by the "claydoh". The muon_0.2-0ubuntu1 needs the libdebconf-kde0.

Code:

muon

muon: error while loading shared libraries: libdebconf-kde.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

/1/ This is posted under the Experimentation/Customization/Optimization (> Topic: Rules for posting in this forum).

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FAQ: Package Managers

FAQ: Package Managers

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