On Sat, Apr 14, 2007 at 09:22:56PM +0000, georgepwhite@comcast.net wrote: > I've been using Debian for about a month, and just upgraded to Etch. > I'm very happy with it so far - my compliments to the people who > create this great piece of work. > > I am wondering about the best way to install software. I have used > the "apt-get" method, which is pretty simple, and have also downloaded > and compiled from source "tarballs" which is a little more complicated > but doesn't seem to be a big deal. Are there significant advantages > and disadvantages to these methods, besides just convenience? I worry > about dependencies, and maybe messing stuff up with "apt-get update." > > Thanks for your advice. > > George The reason people use software packages is for the easy management. With apt-get you can upgrade things and have it take care of getting all the needed dependencies and alert you of any problems. With software compiled from source, its all up to you to keep things working. If you have a choice between deb, rpm, tgz or source, then i'd use them in this order: deb rpm tgz source There are tools like alien to convert rpm or tgz to deb. And there is checkinstall to help with source. If you are more advanced, you can use the debian 'equiv' package to tell dpkg about dependencies or even create your own debian packages. The point is, folks like to make things easier, not harder. If you want to use a package that you can find in deb format. Ask here, we may know a better option than source or may know of a deb that you may not know about. -K -- | .''`. == Debian GNU/Linux == | my web site: | | : :' : The Universal |mysite.verizon.net/kevin.mark/| | `. `' Operating System | go to counter.li.org and | | `- http://www.debian.org/ | be counted! #238656 | | my keyserver: subkeys.pgp.net | my NPO: cfsg.org | |join the new debian-community.org to help Debian! | |_______ Unless I ask to be CCd, assume I am subscribed _______|
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