Bug#194727: apt: wish it would allow non-root to download packages

[Filip Van Raemdonck <mechanix@debian.org>]

retitle 194727 make downloading binary packages as non-root easier
thanks

On Mon, May 26, 2003 at 05:59:52PM +1000, Russell Coker wrote:
> 
> "apt-get -d install package" wants to put the package in
> /var/cache/apt/archives which is not writable by non-root.

That's right, OTOH apt-get -d source puts it into $CWD by default.

However, the problem is not that it's not possible; it's just not easy.
And the directory isn't the only problem; apt (at least 0.5.4, I have no
system with 0.5.5+ handy to test) also tries locking /var/lib/dpkg which
fails as non-root.

> I would like to be able to tell it to download into another directory that I
> have write access to.

apt-get -o 'dir::cache::archives=/path' -o 'debug::nolocking=true' -d install pkgname

You still have to make sure theres a partial/ directory underneath /path.
And that'll create binary cache files in /path unless you use other options
to tell apt not to use those.


Regards,

Filip

-- 
"My OS unders~1 long filena~1, does yours?"
	-- Alain Schroeder