Annoying package dependence concept
Debian's realization of package dependencies is, in my opinion,
too tight.
Two (out of many possible) examples may illustrate my point:
- A user doesn't want to install Debian's ghostscript since
he is a ghostscript beta tester and has a newer version
than Debian provides.
However, since he wants to use previewers like gv, ghostview
and xdvi (which depend on ghostscript) he MUST install the
Debian ghostscript.
- A user wants to install ghostscript.
Due to a dependence on "libpaper" which "doesn't seem to
be available" this fails. Since previewers like ghostview
and xdvi (why actually does xdvi depend on ghostscript ?)
depend on this package the user is left with a system
on which he cannot view .ps and .dvi files.
The basic problem is that deselect doesn't allow to override
any dependencies specified by package maintainers. This, however,
is necessary since package dependencies
- may point to non-existing packages.
- may not be reasonable (xdvi depends on ghostscript ?).
- may already be satisfied by local software deselect doesn't
know about.
It would already help a lot if deselect allowed the administrator
to install a package as a "ghost" in the sense that:
- the package counts as being installed as far as deselect
is concerned.
- deselect does not attempt to unpack/install the package.
But as it is currently, maintaining a Debian system by using
deselect is a real pain ...
Regards,
Johannes Plass
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