Front end package managers

[Michael Hirsch]

Mark,

I think you have it slightly wrong.  Adept, synaptic, kpackage, and
others are all front ends for apt-get.  apt-get is the command-line
tool for installing packages and upgrading.  The above mentioned
programs are largely wrappers around apt-get.

With the upgrade from edgy to fiesty, adept_manager and synaptic
(maybe others, too) have an additional feature: they detect a release
upgrade and offer to perform it for you.  In the past you had to go
and edit your /etc/apt/source.list file.

I used adept_manager to upgrade.  Several things broke, but I managed
to recover.  OTOH, I've been using Linux for 14 years now and am
pretty good at recovering from upgrade problems.  I'd say this one was
pretty buggy.  I'm not sure I'd recommend using that upgrade path.  I
have a lot of sympathy for folks who just want to do a fresh install.
That is why everyone should put their home directory on a separate
partition--it makes it much easier to do a fresh install.

Michael

On 4/22/07, Mark Wallace <newburghmark at aol.com> wrote:
> I will admit to being confused about something!
>
> The original post that I was responding to was someone who wanted to install
> acroread.
>
> I was saying( and I still don't have Kubuntu in front of me so I am trying
> to recall this)
>
> 1. Use adept to install synaptic
> 2. Open synaptic
> 3. At the toolbar at the top, check the box that says include proprietary
> 4. search for Acroread  (Acrobat Reader)  It will appear.
> 5. Follow install procedure in synaptic.
> 6.  If acroread does not become the default pdf opener, uninstall the ones
> that you plan on using
>
> If synaptic is not a front end for adept or vice versa, the whole point on
> installing other package managers might not be well taken.  It can't help
> but have at least some different features.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Derek Broughton" <news at pointerstop.ca>
> To: <kubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 11:44 AM
> Subject: Re: Front end package managers
>
>
> > Mark Wallace wrote:
> >
> >> Yes, I am clear that the other package managers are front ends that wind
> >> up using synaptic.
> >
> > Oh boy.  Apparently you aren't very clear.  Other package managers use
> > _apt_
> > and dpkg, not synaptic, which is just another front-end.
> >
> >> They are in there because they are more user friendly
> >> interfaces.  But because I don't have Linux in front of me at the second
> >> I
> >> don't know if they allow you to change the download source.  They also
> >> might be selective about what they show up.
> >
> > Certainly some are.
> > --
> > derek
> >
> >
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>
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