Hello,
This can be a big deal, especially with packages commonly placed in dependecy
lists. For example: Perl. Debian-stable's version of Perl is 5.004xx and the
upcoming release in unstable is essentially the same. :( But the current
stable
version of Perl on CPAN is 5.00502 - it's been out for a long while and contains
many valuable new features. Also, Perl has it's own system of module maintance
and dependentcy checking between modules - especially when installing things
via.
the CPAN.pm script. There ought to be some reliable way to inform dpkg that a
package with a certian version number is installed, but is outside of it's
maintenance
control - i.e. don't mess with it, but you got it, as far as dependentcy is
concerned.
This is not the same as overriding dependentcy checking in dpkg - doing *that*
creates a persisting complaint from dpkg until fixed or undone.
There should be a way of doing this easily - with a program command line like:
$ external-package --installed perl 5.00502
I would run this command after de-installing the original (internal) perl
package
and doing the usual CPAN download, build and install to /usr/local. This
external-package program (or wrapper script) would take the flags:
--installed Announce to the system that you have installed
something.
--uninstalled Announce " " removed
something.
--list List current externally installed packages and
version
#'s
I would certianly need something like this, since I don't understand .deb
internals.
Paul Schwebel wrote:
>
> What's the best way to manage installed software on a Debian system?
> Say, for example, I install a *.deb package for software that I use. I
> then find a newer version of the software that I can download from the
> writer in *.tar.gz form.
>
> But since this isn't a *.deb package, deselct/dpkg isn't "aware" of it.
> Now, I have to start keeping track of applications installed via dpkg
> and those that are not.
>
> Would I be better off taking my *.tar.gz file and making a *.deb out of
> it? Do I have to wait until I find an updated *.deb on the web? Or is
> there some way to update/install software with *.tar.gz installs and
> make dselect/dpkg aware of it?
>
> ===
> Paul Schwebel
> Tech Support
> San Dieguito Union High School District
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--
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Work: (914) 773-8017 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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The opinions expressed are solely my own, and not my employer's.
