Re: test for package dependencies without installing

[Paul Yeatman <pyeatman@ucsd.edu>]

->>In response to your message<<-
  --received from Ink Bottle--
>
> 
> I've found this little script around something
> I've heared about recently; it's a command dedicated
> to check dependencies.
> I don't know it it can be of some use.
> It's been hard to make it work (that's the bad part :)  ).
> 
> $ export LANG=C; 2>/dev/null apt-cache show $(dpkg-query -l "*"|grep "ii"|cut -d' ' -f3) $(dpkg-query -l "tetex-bin"|cut -d' ' -f3)|2>/dev/null edos-debcheck -failures tetex-bin; 2>/dev/null apt-cache show $(dpkg-query -l "*"|grep "ii"|cut -d' ' -f3) $(dpkg-query -l "tetex-bin"|cut -d' ' -f3)|2>/dev/null edos-debcheck -explain tetex-bin
> tetex-bin (= 2007.dfsg.1-5): FAILED
> tetex-bin (= 2007.dfsg.1-5): FAILED
> The following constraints cannot be satisfied:
>   tetex-bin (= 2007.dfsg.1-5) depends on texlive (>= 2007-11) {NOT AVAILABLE}
> 
> It is supposed to be fast at it (and probably other good properties).
> $ apt-cache show $(dpkg-query -l "*"|grep "ii"|cut -d' ' -f3) $(dpkg-query -l "tetex-bin"|cut -d' ' -f3)
> The already installed packages, plus, the packages I want to install.
> 
> If ever could be of some use.
> (man edos-debcheck)
> 
> Ink Bottle
> 

Thanks Ink Bottle.

Very interesting.  Never knew about edos-debcheck.

I see what you mean.  It is an unusual command and thus a bit of
challenge for me to understand and use.  Also, I'm not convinced that I
can run this on a debian package file, such as a debian package I
create and is not known by the package manager.

I think Chris' suggestion of dpkg -I is still my best option but I
appreciate all the ideas and will continue to look into them.

Thanks for the idea!

Paul