Questions about GNOME-Pkgtool and dependancy checks on Slackware

[hop-frog]

There is only one thing stopping me from switching back to Slackware: there are no dependancy checks and there is no system-wide dependancy tree to be used a reference to to solving this manually.

Let us say: I have performed a minimal install with X. I want to install Mozilla.[/list=1]Do I just run the command-line installer and watch patiently as Mozilla doesn't load? Do I just guess and install 50 packages until it stops shedding core dumps?

The Web site (http://gnome-pkgtool.sourceforge.net/) for GNOME-Pkgtool is a little sparse, and I don't have slackware installed to try it out.[list] Does this make dependancy checks when installing?
Does it run system-wide dependancy repairs?
Can it get the packages from CD and will it tell me which CD I need to insert to install the package?
Does it store a master list of all packages on the HD, or does it constantly have to grab lists from the internet or from CD?

Thanks.

[JohnT]

I just simply run Swaret to "update". "upgrade", then "swaret --dep-a" to resolve dependencies.

[MMYoung]

Originally posted by JohnT
I just simply run Swaret to "update". "upgrade", then "swaret --dep-a" to resolve dependencies.
ditto. Also you can set swaret to use the Slackware CD's as a "source" for installing, of course you would then have to know which cd the program is on and mount it before installing.

If you want to install one program just type in, as root,
swaret --install packagename
In the situation you suggested for Mozilla it would be
swaret --install mozilla

Swaret would then pull the packages from the CD, or better yet, from the Slackware current mirrors and install it. Then it would check dependencies and would download and install any other necessary programs that Mozilla would require. After the install of all the programs it always runs another dependency check and then sets them using ldconfig. From my experience it does a first rate job of dependency checking/resolution as long as you stay with the Slackware mirrors. I have had some problems with trying to download programs fro Linuxpackages.net, actually it was only one program and that was because one of the dependent programs couldn't be downloaded. This has NEVER happened using the Slackware mirrors.

[aNoob]

Is there any graphical front-end for swaret except kswaret?

[serz]

Originally posted by aNoob
Is there any graphical front-end for swaret except kswaret?
zswaret (http://zswaret.stylix.org/)

[JohnT]

Originally posted by aNoob
Is there any graphical front-end for swaret except kswaret? You dont need a graphical front end. Its only one command at a time and you can see what going on when using the terminal. I recommend just staying with the terminal.

[MMYoung]

Originally posted by JohnT
You dont need a graphical front end. Its only one command at a time and you can see what going on when using the terminal. I recommend just staying with the terminal.
While I wholeheartedly agree with JohnT, some users don't like CLI nor terminals. So I checked out the ZSwaret link that Serz posted and actully found it to be "not too bad", IMHO.

Downloaded the file, it's a SlackPack, used installpkg (from a terminal as root) to install. The install put a "shortcut" in my GNOME Applications --> System Tools menu, no further input was necessary from the user. Opened it, typed in root password, and gave it a once over. Can update, upgrade, install, and even edit the swaret.conf file, all from within one UI. I give it an 8 on the "pretty neat" scale.

Personally I preferr the CLI, but for those that would rather use a gui frontend and preferr anything other than QT, I recommend ZSwaret.

Just my thoughts,
MMYoung

[hop-frog]

I have no problem using command line tools to install programs. I will not have internet access, so I can only use the CDs to install. If I mount a CD to install a program with Swaret, will it give me a chance to mount one of the other CDs so that it can install the dependancies from there? If not, will it at least report that I need to install thispackage.tar.gz and thisotherpackage.tar.gz so that I can mount and install the CD that those packages are on and then retry the install from the first CD?

[JohnT]

Originally posted by hop-frog
I have no problem using command line tools to install programs. I will not have internet access, so I can only use the CDs to install. If I mount a CD to install a program with Swaret, will it give me a chance to mount one of the other CDs so that it can install the dependancies from there? If not, will it at least report that I need to install thispackage.tar.gz and thisotherpackage.tar.gz so that I can mount and install the CD that those packages are on and then retry the install from the first CD?

I would suggest you read the included configuration, manpages and docs that come with swaret. All of these questions are more than easily answered.............. and understood. The homepage has a forum and FAQ that have covered these many times. Make use of these available resources. The application will not do anything that you do not want it to do. You are incomplete control.

*Usage: swaret --ACTION [KEYWORD] [OPTION]
--update
--upgrade [KEYWORD] [-a]
--install [KEYWORD] [-a|-p|-ap]
--reinstall [KEYWORD] [-a|-p|-ap]
--remove KEYWORD [-a]
--get [KEYWORD] [-a|-p|-ap|-s|-as|-u|-au]
--compile KEYWORD [-a]
--dep [KEYWORD] [-a]
--resume [-p|-s]
--list [-p|-s|-i|-u|-n|-np]
--search KEYWORD [-p|-s|-i|-u|-n|-np]
--show [KEYWORD] [-p|-i]
--changelog
--set KEYWORD
--extra
--gpg [-i]
--log [-t|-c]
--purge [-s|-d #|-ds #|-w #|-ws #|-v]
--config
--faq [KEYWORD]
--htus [KEYWORD]
--manual [-c]
--help
--morehelp
--version