I asked myself the questions: How do I add the occasional unstable
package to my testing system in a better way than downloading debs
and using dpkg to install them? How do I track packages in testing
that I originally got out of unstable? Finally, and less often, how
do I track a particular package in unstable?
I searched the archives, discovered preferences, and read the
apt-preferences man page. I came up with this:
Package: *
Pin: release a=testing
Pin-Priority: 600
Package: *
Pin: release a=unstable
Pin-Priority: 80
Package: netsaint
Pin: release a=unstable
Pin-Priority: 601
I learned that I could install an unstable package by appending
/unstable to the package name, like this:
apt-get install netsaint/unstable
From then on, apt-get update/upgrade should do the Right Thing.
Right? Does this configuration answer my questions above?
The apt-preferences man page is baffling. It definitely needs
examples (like the one above). It needs better explanations. For
example, Joey once included this preferences file:
> Package: *
> Pin: release a=testing
> Pin-Priority: 900
>
> Package: *
> Pin: release o=Debian
> Pin-Priority: -10
Even after pouring over the apt-preferences man page a few times, I
have no idea what is meant by the second stanza.
Examples should be added to /usr/share/doc/apt as well.
--
Bill Wohler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.newt.com/wohler/ GnuPG ID:610BD9AD
Maintainer of comp.mail.mh FAQ and mh-e. Vote Libertarian!
If you're passed on the right, you're in the wrong lane.
