[plug] APT-RPM problems

[Steege, Phil E]

Based upon comments from the mailing list, I loaded apt-rpm last night to
give this apt stuff a try.  I am a RedHat user but was very interested in
the good things I have heard about using apt to resolve dependencies.
I went to http://apt-rpm.tuxfamily.org/ ,followed the instructions and
loaded apt-0.3.19cnc55-4sp_rh7x.i386.rpm
Everything went well with the installation.  I ran 'apt-get update' which
worked just fine. ( I ran 'apt-get update' twice as recommended in the
documentation).

I first did a small test using the command 'apt-get install gkrellm'  That
worked fine.  There were no dependent programs and I did not have it
previously installed.  I thought then I would try something which may have
some dependencies to watch the process work.

I tried to do an upgrade of abiword with the command 'apt-get upgrade
abiword'.  The apt system told me I would have to download 47MB of files
which included things like gcc, a bunch of libraries and many other
programs. ( I can provide the printout if required
I decided to let it go ahead and do it so I left it running and went to bed.
In the morning all I got was a screen full of comments about how the older
version of some file conflicted with a newer version I already had.  It
failed to do any upgrades.  I thought apt would have ignored trying to
upgrade programs which were already at a higher version.

Why would an upgrade of just abiword require so many other programs.  I
understand about dependencies, but what does gcc and gcc libraries have to
do with a binary of abiword?  I find it hard to believe abiword would
require 47Mb of dependent programs.

If someone sees where I made an incorrect apt command, please let me know.
I read the apt documentation and I believe I followed the instructions
properly.
So far I found apt works fine when I use it to install a program I don't
already have, but upgrading is not working for me.

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Ringer [mailto:craig at postnewspapers.com.au] 
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 2:31 AM
To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
Subject: Re: [plug] Redhat 7.3 install (argh!!!!)


> Install apt-rpm, you'll appriciate it

Heh... a little while ago I set up Mandrake 8.2 (? whatever's latest) on 
my laptop because at the time I didn't have woody CDs at home and I 
wanted to test out the hardware before I bought it. Anyway, being a 
debian user I immediately thought "arrggh, must have apt" and ran:

apt-get install apt-rpm

before even thinking. This was followed by the sound of grinding 
teeth... especially when all attempts at using Mandrake's GUI 
update/install util failed miserably.

Anyway, an amusing (at least to me) reminder of just how used one gets 
to having _something_ _else_ handle package deps and downloads.

-- 
Craig Ringer
GPG Key Fingerprint: AF1C ABFE 7E64 E9C8 FC27  C16E D3CE CDC0 0E93 380D
	-- if it ain't broke, add features 'till it is. (or:)
	while (! broken) { features ++ ; broken = isBroken(features) }