Re: LEAN Debian install: Exploring task selection menu
On Wed 16 Sep 2020 at 03:54:57 (-0500), Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 09/15/2020 06:50 PM, David Wright wrote:
> > On Tue 15 Sep 2020 at 21:23:20 (+0200), Fabrice BAUZAC-STEHLY wrote:
> > > Brian writes:
> > > > On Mon 14 Sep 2020 at 08:12:50 -0400, Greg Wooledge wrote:
> > > >
> > > > The Debian desktop environment installs task-desktop. This package
> > > > recommends desktop task packages. task-gnome-desktop is the first one
> > > > listed, so it will be the one installed. In that sense, the installer
> > > > does know what the default is.
> > > >
> > > > Suppose a user installs with base-installer/install-recommends set to
> > > > false. With the Debian desktop environment being the only option ticked,
> > > > a user would not install task-gnome-desktop but would get xorg and
> > > > enough software to use X. The suggested scheme would not cater for this.
> > >
> > > When during a Debian install a random user gets in front of the tasksel
> > > dialog, they probably don't know about this complex behaviour. I think
> > > we should make this dialog less ambiguous to let users know what boxes
> > > to check according to what they want.
> > >
> > > Do you think the behaviour "without Recommends" should be an option
> > > presented to the user?
> >
> > No. On the basis of little evidence, I think naive users need software
> > installed that offers its full functionality.
>
> Agreed. Where the menu says "Debian desktop environment" I would:
> 1. remove the check-box.
> 2. rephrase it as "Cho[o]se a Debian desktop environment".
Without considering Brian's point as to the wisdom of (1),
(2) doesn't allow for zero, or two upwards. (IOW we have a
set of checkboxes, not radio buttons.
> 3. add a default check by GNOME.
>
> > The more sophisticated
> > users who yearn after simplicity can easily find out how to prevent
> > Recommends from being installed.
>
> "easily" ???
> Probably after first time you have success ;/
I recall your difficulty back in October, but that was just
accidentally missing out the "install" command. For others, the first
hit for "recommends" in man apt-get is:
--no-install-recommends
Do not consider recommended packages as a dependency for
installing. Configuration Item: APT::Install-Recommends
which covers the command line method and the configuration file method.
> > But also bear in mind that not so many people have actually run the
> > debian-installer itself without Recommended packages being installed.
> > I certainly never have (I don't know how to do it), even though at
> > one time I ran an already installed system in that manner. Perhaps
> > a "show of hands" is in order. Is it pain-free?
Felix just reminded me of a paragraph that I probably read about ten
years ago and promptly forgot about, as it ends with "This option
should therefore only be used by very experienced users."
That statement might answer my last question.
Cheers,
David.
Reply to: