Hurd UX testing
So for testing we have this scenario:
User with existing Debian machine. Wants to try out Hurd but not wipe
out their existing machine or play around with complex virtual machinery
nor command line tricks.
... how do we get there?
The "Debian Way" is to install packages.
Problem #1: tutorial for non-expert users doe not exist as far as I can
tell. Everything seems to assume the command line is to be used and very
much require an expert/dev level of skills and interest.
1) User opens the Debian admin tools for installing software:
OS Menu: Administration->Synaptic package manager
2) User now needs to add the ports repository:
Synaptic Menu: Settings->Repositories
Click "New" button
Type: deb
URI: [arch=hurd-i386] http://deb.debian.org/debian-ports/
Distribution: unstable
Sections(s): main
Click "New" button
Type: deb
URI: [arch=hurd-i386] http://deb.debian.org/debian-ports/
Distribution: unreleased
Sections(s): main
Click "Okay" button
Click "Reload" Button when prompted
3) User now need to install the package.
Problem #2: which one?
Thanks to the arch qualifier including the string "hurd" searching for
it is difficult. After a bit we find a package hurd-prof with description:
"
GNU Hurd
This is the GNU Hurd package. It contains essential system software and
libraries, with gprof profiling enabled.
"
So clearly this is the package to install.
4) User selects (only) that package to be installed
Select tickbox by package name
Click "Okay" button on prompt to add dependencies etc.
Clicks "Apply" button to begin the install
Problem #3: Ouch ...
"
Could not apply changes!
Fix broken packages first
"
And thusly the user gives up thinking Hurd is unusable. :(
Resorting to command line I find:
apt-get install hurd-prof:hurd-i386
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
hurd-libs0.3:hurd-i386 : Depends: zlib1g:hurd-i386 (>= 1:1.1.4) but it
is not going to be installed
libc0.3:hurd-i386 : Depends: libgcc-s1:hurd-i386 but it is not going to
be installed
libparted2:hurd-i386 : Depends: libuuid1:hurd-i386 (>= 2.16) but it is
not going to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
HTH, Cheers
Amos
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