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Re: dpkg's version comparison algorithm?



On Fri, 9 Jan 1998, David Frey wrote:

: Hello collegues,
: 
: I don't understand dpkg's version compare algorithm:  (david@eos)
: /var/debian/unstable/binary-i386/math$dpkg --compare-versions 1.15 lt
: 1.2-1; echo $?  1 (david@eos)
: /var/debian/unstable/binary-i386/math$dpkg --compare-versions 1.15 lt
: 1.20-1; echo $?  0 (david@eos)
: /var/debian/unstable/binary-i386/math$dpkg --version Debian Linux
: `dpkg' package management program version 1.4.0.19 (i386 elf). 
: Copyright 1994-1996 Ian Jackson, Bruce Perens.  This is free software; 
: see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or later for copying
: conditions.  There is NO warranty.  See dpkg --licence for details. 
: (david@eos) /var/debian/unstable/binary-i386/math$
: 
: Why is 1.15 > 1.2 ? Is it necessary to fill in trailing zeroes?

Well, think of it this way:  which is greater, 2 or 15?  (The "." is a
delimiter, not a decimal placeloder)

Think of kernel version numbers and this will start to make sense.
Kernel 2.0.4 is not newer than 2.0.32.

: 
: David
: -- 
: David Frey (51F35923114FC864 7D05FF173C61EFDE)
: Those who do not understand Unix are condemned to reinvent it, poorly.
:   -- Henry Spencer
: 

--
Nathan Norman
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