Re: Debian/Debian Gnome
On Wed 12 Nov 2025 at 03:23:55 (+0100), Vincent Lefevre wrote:
> On 2025-11-05 09:43:02 +0700, Max Nikulin wrote:
> > I used
> >
> > - [X] Debian desktop
> > - [ ] GNOME
> > - [ ] KDE
> >
> > expecting to get some common packages (e.g. desktop-file-utils), branding
> > like wallpapers, etc., expecting no DE packages. I got GNOME despite it was
> > unchecked. Installing new instances is not regular activity for me. Maybe
> > next time I will try parent + some non GNOME checkbox to be sure.
>
> I had the same issue with bookworm. I just wanted the packages
> common to desktop machines (in particular for the network), but
> got GNOME without any warning first. FYI, I was just interested
> in Xorg + FVWM, none of the listed desktop environments (IIRC,
> this was possible in the past).
The Packages files in the 18 Debian suites show that nothing has
ever pulled in fvwm; you've always had to install it for yourself.
(BTW installing fvwm doesn't pull in an X server.)
According to what's quoted above, and their earlier post,
Debian desktop minus GNOME successfully installs GNOME,
whereas in https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2025/11/msg00079.html
GNOME minus Debian desktop "completely fails X".
But read the rest of the line:
"It's seldom a good idea to deselect/uncheck essential/standard
installation tasks."
Somewhat ambiguous, but let's get some common sense in here:
unchecking "standard system utilities" is not going build a system
that supports X, let alone a DE. Which of the DE options is checked
in this case is irrelevant.
As I pointed out in msg00097.html, running the d-i with the
option --no-install-recommends might lead to problems with a
GNOME minus Debian desktop installation, but I think it's
reasonable to assume that sysadmins should know what they're
doing if they override the d-i's Recommends default.
So I don't yet see comparison test results with the d-i's
anyDE minus Debian desktop installation in this thread.
Cheers,
David.
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