Alex V . Khmara wrote:
There is already "apt-cache search <keyword>" that may be used. There is alsoI am now enjoy Debian 3.0. Yes, it's a good system. It is a big, very big system... And to hard select from thouthands packages. For example, how can I now select e-mail client? I must go throught hungreds of packages, it's take many time and attention. Yes, you offer many choices; and it will be very good, if you'll introduce categories of software. Your current sections system is too weak. It have too few sections and do not allow to place application in several categories. For example, Mozilla is a news reader, Web browser and e-mail client. Problem may be solved by inserting in package info line like this (for Mozilla): Services: net/www net/communication/email net/communication/news In my opinion, categories must have tree-like structure, so user can easily search needed. Of cource, APT must support database of this categories, including non-installed packages, and give tool to managing packages this way.
the web interface to the search available at http://packages.debian.org/ There are also a number of virtual packages that are already used. Of coursereplacing that with a Services line would be a cleaner approach. But then again we already have the Section field. Maybe extending the section field to include
another sublayer or two would be nice. Anyway, for stuff as common as a mail reader [that's one of the virtual packages] apt-cache showpkg mail-reader [snip to Reverse Provides] Reverse Provides: tkrat 1:2.0.3-3 xfmail 1.5.2-3 mush 7.2.5unoff2-16 communicator-smotif-477 4.77-2 xjed 0.99.15-5 xemacs21-nomule 21.4.8-1 xemacs21-mule-canna-wnn 21.4.8-1 xemacs21-mule 21.4.8-1 xemacs21-gnome-nomule 21.4.8-1 xemacs21-gnome-mule-canna-wnn 21.4.8-1 xemacs21-gnome-mule 21.4.8-1 wl-beta 2.9.14+cvs.2002.07.18-1 wl 2.8.1-5 vm 7.07-1 tkmail 4.0beta9-8 t-gnus 6.15.6.01-1 sylpheed-claws 0.8.1claws3-1 sylpheed 0.8.1-1 spruce 0.7.4-1.1 pyne 0.6.7-5 postilion 0.9.2-3.1 pms 0.2.19-2 nmh 1.0.4+dev-20010317-1 nail 9.31-1 mutt 1.4.0-2 mozilla-mailnews-snapshot 0.0.20020717.09.trunk-1 mozilla-mailnews 2:1.0.0-3 mew-bin 1:2.2-6 mew 1:2.2-6 mailx 1:8.1.2-0.20020411cvs-3 mailutils 20020805-1 kmail 4:2.2.2-14.1 jed 0.99.15-5 im 1:141-18 gnus 5.8.8-8 evolution 1.0.7-3 emacs21 21.2-1 emacs20-dl 20.7-14.3 emacs20 20.7-13.1 elm-me+ 2.4pl25ME+95-3 cronosii 0.2.2.23-1 cmail 2.61.1+20011011-3 balsa 1.2.4-2 af 2.0-6 - Adam