(SOLVED) apt-get vs. Synaptic

[Yankee]

Used apt-get today to do upgrades and 7 packages, primarily
mesa related,  were held back.

Using Synaptic it will upgrade these packages, install 9 packages,
and remove 2 packages AFAIR.

Is this normal, OK, or whatever.

Wonder why apt-get upgrade held them back ?

THX

Yankee

[pags]

Used apt-get today to do upgrades and 7 packages, primarily
mesa related,  were held back.

Using Synaptic it will upgrade these packages, install 9 packages,
and remove 2 packages AFAIR.

Is this normal, OK, or whatever.

Wonder why apt-get upgrade held them back ?

THX

Yankee

Because

Code: [Select]

apt-get upgrade
is not the correct way to upgrade this rolling release!

If you're not sure, you should be using Synaptic, as it handles all the dependencies.

If, however, you're insistent on using apt-get (even though it is discouraged, and therefore unsupported), the correct syntax is:

Code: [Select]

apt-get dist-upgrade

Cheers!

[Yankee]

If, however, you're insistent on using apt-get (even though it is discouraged, and therefore unsupported), the correct syntax is:

Code: [Select]

apt-get dist-upgrade

Cheers!

Just tried it today for variety, and I did not know that.
Crashed an upgrade last night and had some duplicate
packages to remove but everything appears normal
after that.

OK then, I'll just run these upgrades thru Synaptic then.

thanks for the response.

Yankee   

[Bald Brick]

If, however, you're insistent on using apt-get (even though it is discouraged, and therefore unsupported), the correct syntax is:

Code: [Select]

apt-get dist-upgrade

Cheers!

Just tried it today for variety, and I did not know that.
Crashed an upgrade last night and had some duplicate
packages to remove but everything appears normal
after that.

OK then, I'll just run these upgrades thru Synaptic then.

thanks for the response.

Yankee   

Running "apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade" is more ore less equivalent to updating your system with Synaptic. But using Synaptic is safer and makes it easier to see what apt-get is actually going to do.

It's using "apt-get upgrade" without "dist-" that sooner or later will break your system. If you glance at the man page for apt-get you will learn that the plain "apt-get upgrade" command means that "under no circumstances are currently installed packages removed, nor are packages that are not already installed retrieved and installed".

Now, this sounds safer than using "apt-get -dist-upgrade", which may remove less important packages and install new ones. It isn't. "apt-get upgrade" ignores that dependencies change and may leave you with a partially upgraded and broken system.

If you don't have any special needs the safest choice is using Synaptic. It will tell you what is going to be installed and what is going to be removed before you hit the "Apply" button.

[daniel]

@Bald Brick
+1
This is clear wrote...
Regards
Daniel

[Bald Brick]

Thanks.

[Yankee]

Perhaps one further question.

"apt-get install --no-install-recommends somepackage"

Some people use the above command to install a
package where many other packages are pulled in.
Haven't tried it with PCL but, for example, Thunar,
used to pull in 300 MB's of other packages.   The
above command would or should eliminate those
extras from being included and just let Thunar be
installed.

Is this OK or a better way available to do that.

thanks for the response(s).

Yankee     

[Old-Polack]

Perhaps one further question.

"apt-get install --noinstall-recommends somepackage"

Some people use the above command to install a
package where many other packages are pulled in.
Haven't tried it with PCL but, for example, Thunar,
used to pull in 300 MB's of other packages.   The
above command would or should eliminate those
extras from being included and just let Thunar be
installed.

Is this OK or a better way available to do that.

thanks for the response(s).

Yankee     

Without those "extra" packages the requested application won't work right, if at all. Bad move, that will lead to a borked system.

[Bald Brick]

"apt-get install --no-install-recommends somepackage"

Some people use the above command to install a
package where many other packages are pulled in.

...

Is this OK or a better way available to do that.

I think O-P was correct when he told you that it isn't OK. But for the sake of completeness: you can achieve the same result in an equally unsafe way from within Synaptic. Just untick "Consider recommended packages as dependencies" in the "Preferences" dialogue under "Settings". (In principle it shouldn't break your system - although it may - but it will lead to less than optimal functionality in your installed programs.)

[Yankee]

Just untick "Consider recommended packages as dependencies" in the "Preferences" dialogue under "Settings". (In principle it shouldn't break your system - although it may - but it will lead to less than optimal functionality in your installed programs.)

Mine is unticked.   This install is well filled with packages and I don't
recall that item ever being ticked or even noticed.     Have to consider
that item as use at some risk then, as was said.     The basic installs I
must be doing then,  the machine is doing 100% with everything on here,
so far.     I usually don't install every plugin available,   as on this LXDE,
the basic program(s) have enough features when I install something.

Next time I get 100's of MB's of extra packages I'll take a look at that
option just to see what it would do then.    And post a question.

thanks again,

Yankee