At Sun, 26 Oct 2025 12:57:32 -0700 Van Snyder <[email protected]> wrote:
> > On Sun, 2025-10-26 at 15:42 -0400, Greg Wooledge wrote: > > On Sun, Oct 26, 2025 at 12:25:43 -0700, Van Snyder wrote: > > > I would have expected "dpkg --add-architecture i386" followed by > > > "apt > > > update" and "apt install libgtk2\*" to install the i386 version > > > (and > > > dependencies). But it didn't. > > > > > > I had to run "apt install libgtk2\*:i386". > > > > > > What's the point of "dpkg --add-architecture i386" if it doesn't > > > really > > > add that architecture? > > > > On a system with multiple architectures available, the vast majority > > of your packages are still going to be the ones for your primary > > architecture.àYou wouldn't install multiple versions of coreutils > > or bash or whatever.àThat wouldn't even be possible. > > > > When you install a new package, it'll be for your primary > > architecture > > unless you explicitly request a secondary architecture. > > > > "dpkg --add-architecture" gives you the ability to install packages > > for a secondary architecture.àIt doesn't mean EVERY package you > > install > > from that point onward will be for the secondary arch. > > Thanks for that clarification â which I didn't see in any of the usual > places online. > > If I had not done "dpkg --add-architecture i386" and then did "apt > install libgtk2\*:i386", would it have installed? > No, apt install would have given you an error message... > > -- Robert Heller -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364 Deepwoods Software -- Custom Software Services http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Linux Administration Services [email protected] -- Webhosting Services
