How to tell which version of a application is running

[Xen]

Ralf Mardorf schreef op 18-04-2017 2:37:
> Hi,
> 
> I guess the easiest dirty hack would be to uninstall the local build
> and to keep the original "tracker" packages from the Ubuntu
> repositories.
> 
> Then the OP could build a new local version again, but now by
> configuring with
> 
> ./configure --prefix=/usr --libexecdir=/usr/lib/tracker
> 
> seemingly done by
> https://tracker.debian.org/media/packages/t/tracker/rules-1.10.5-1 ,
> too. Maybe this does overwrite the existing files. This doesn't protect
> against upgrades, but at least it's not such a complicated hack as
> purging the package(s) might cause.
> 
> I recommend to backup the install, before doing this, just in case
> "--prefix=/usr --libexecdir=/usr/lib/tracker" shouldn't do the job. I
> didn't check the whole Debian/Ubuntu package ;).

So you recommend to overwrite all files even though specific versions 
may be in use by other packages,

and instead of letting the original files sit on the system save for the 
one you renamed.

As the "easiest dirty hack" that then also requires recompiling the 
software even though the problem is already solved.

So "easiest dirty hack" means to you "endless work to create a perfect 
system even in the space of creating hacks around issues, that can then 
even create more problems if they go wrong."

How on earth can you suggest actually overwriting all files of the 
previously installed package if the problem is already solved for now? 
That can only create more problems!!!

The "easiest dirty hack" is the one that influences the least amount of 
files.

NOT overwriting all files you can. By GOD. Stop this NONSENSE.

I know I did my share of that by not remembering the earlier suggestion 
I had given and not realizing the OP hadn't tried it, but now you are 
doing the same by not mentioning your dpkg-divert command anymore.

Dpkg-divert is still the way to go people, it was not my suggestion, but 
it is.

So thank you for that Ralf but please don't move the goalposts here.