Bug#798460: apt: Testing transition broken
On Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:02:49 +0200
Julian Andres Klode <jak@debian.org> wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 11, 2015 at 07:59:27PM +0800, Clayton wrote:
> > On Wed, 9 Sep 2015 22:08:18 +0200
> > David Kalnischkies <david@kalnischkies.de> wrote:
> >
> > Just because it is not "OMG ITS COMPLETELY BROKEN" does not mean it
> > is not still broken. apt-get dist-upgrade basically wants to remove
> > my whole desktop. "apt-get install apt" still wants to remove
> > essential desktop apps: most or all of KDE and libreoffice, for
> > starters.
>
> Be sure to do an upgrade (with --with-new-pkgs if you are still using
> apt-get) before the dist-upgrade. This way all packages will be
> upgraded that do not conflict with an installed one.
A dozen or so packages got through that way.
> You can then try to dist-upgrade.
Which is still in basically the same state.
> If it does not work, you can try specifying package names you
> absolutely want to keep. Keep in mind that maybe not all those
> packages are installable, as some were forcefully broken in testing
> to ease the transition.
Only one cherry-pick worked, netting another dozen packages. Several
hundred to go. I guess I will just wait a few days and see if things
improve.
There was a narrow window there where the transition was working. I
have a laptop with Gnome, KDE, multiple other desktops, and a whole
crap-load of other stuff that upgraded flawlessly. Wait a couple days,
and the other laptop (the subject of this e-mail) is a mess.
> > But I would like to be able to recommend Debian as a desktop to my
> > Ubuntu-using friends. I personally do not consider a two+-year old
> > Debian Stable a reasonable desktop option. Therefore Debian Testing
> > must work for a reasonable person who is not a software engineer if
> > we are to compete with Ubuntu. This behavior does not make the cut.
>
> It usually is. But this is the hardest transition since the libc
> transition, and it is a huge pain. It's not like this normally
> happens.
That is some comfort, I had not realized that recent events had already
become infamous. The reason I spoke up myself is I don't remember the
last time I saw such a mess on my own desktop (that did not involve my
own stupidity). Breaking the rolling release once in ten years is not
too bad.
Thanks,
Clayton
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