On Sat, Apr 16, 2022 at 02:24:32PM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote: > On 04/16/2022 09:21 AM, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote: > > On Sat, Apr 16, 2022 at 08:50:22AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote: > > > A goal of the Debian installer is to create a system that can be used by > > > *ALL* people to use for *ANY* possible purpose.
The goal of the installer - debian-installer - is to install a Debian system adequately, nothing more nor less. We all hope that Debian is useful to people but can't claim suitablility for any possible purpose: what are the axioms for suitability and how will you know that a purpose is impossible? :) > > > > > > I find the resulting system: _What_ resulting system: what do you install / how do you install it? > > > 1. consumes more disk space than necessary. What's necessary in terms of disk space? > > > 2. consumes excessive bandwidth during installation. Again, what's excessive bandwidth? Debian can be installed from a DVD with no network bandwidth incurred in the install or can be installed, say, from a netinst in which case many packages will be downloaded from the 'Net - but the install process itself will update packages to the latest versions with security fixes during the install? For single board ARM computers, a minimal install with U-boot on an SD card will be significantly different > > > [I have a low monthly cap on my internet connection.] > > > 3. installs packages I whose function I don't need/want. What don't you need / want: tell the rest of us and we can help you remove them if feasible. > > > 4. doesn't install functions I routinely use. What do you need/use that you don't have? > > > 5. installs packages that unsatisfactorily perform needed functions. > > > [I have to install additional packages.] As above: what do you have to install to make your system suitable for you - tell us. > > > > > > I plan to get around these problems by creating a local repository and > > > several very custom metapackages. My internet search turned up tools to > > > create and/or modify both. > > > > > > I did not find authoritative descriptions of the structure of either > > > repositories or metapackages. > > > > > > Where do I find such? > > > TIA > > > Others have suggested a preseed install: if you could once get a system installed the way you like it, you could take a list of packages and use that to bootstrap any further system. dpkg --get-selections > [filename foo] dpkg --set-selections < foo > > > > Hi Richard, > > > > I don't think you _need_ a full repository - but > > Agreed! *GRIN* > What I _need_ is something that apt/aptitude/synaptic/etc will treat as a > "normal" repository. As to its _content_, it will be a close approximation > to DVD1.iso . In some sense, if you're using synaptic and a desktop environment you've already lost a minimal install. > > In fact, if I had fully described what I wish to accomplish, the automatic > response of this group would have been to use either apt-cache or loop mount > DVD1.iso . > > > > > > https://wiki.debian.org/DebianRepository/Format > > > > will give you a start as will > > > > https://wiki.debian.org/DebianRepository. > > The later addresses my perspective. If my project is to succeed, I will NEED > the former's content. > I suspect you might just need a list of .deb packages to install. > > I'd suggest that you begin with a debootstrap / with a minimum Debian > > installation. I'd do an expert mode text install, then use tasksel to > > remove all packages that are checked - no desktop environment, no > > standard packages - and build out from there. > > *GRIN* > That's where I started in days of Squeeze. > It raised the questions I wish to answer. > > > > > You _will_ hit dependency problems, I can guarantee it > > *I _AGREE_* !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > I have hit them. > Part of my motivation is to reproducibly demonstrate an installer > *BUG*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > If your goal it to demonstrate a bug - tell us about it and we'll see if we can reproduce it and if it is a bug for anyone else. > > but if you're sure > > that you know absolutely what you want, you can deal with it. We've been round this bouy several times over the last couple of years in messages from you describing what you need in fairly vague terms. Without wishing to solutioneer more than usual - give a more precise list of requirements and the good folk on this list may help. This does require you to show your workings or more precisely what works and what doesn't, however - hence the (semi)-serious list of questions above. > > If you don't want to do this over the 'Net, I'd suggest using a DVD and > > a virtual machine of some description to bootstrap this effort. > > > > All the very best, as ever, > > > > Andy Cater > > As above :) > > > > > >
