On Wed 12 Nov 2025 at 03:23:55 (+0100), Vincent Lefevre wrote: > On 2025-11-05 09:43:02 +0700, Max Nikulin wrote: > > I used > > > > - [X] Debian desktop > > - [ ] GNOME > > - [ ] KDE > > > > expecting to get some common packages (e.g. desktop-file-utils), branding > > like wallpapers, etc., expecting no DE packages. I got GNOME despite it was > > unchecked. Installing new instances is not regular activity for me. Maybe > > next time I will try parent + some non GNOME checkbox to be sure. > > I had the same issue with bookworm. I just wanted the packages > common to desktop machines (in particular for the network), but > got GNOME without any warning first. FYI, I was just interested > in Xorg + FVWM, none of the listed desktop environments (IIRC, > this was possible in the past).
The Packages files in the 18 Debian suites show that nothing has ever pulled in fvwm; you've always had to install it for yourself. (BTW installing fvwm doesn't pull in an X server.) According to what's quoted above, and their earlier post, Debian desktop minus GNOME successfully installs GNOME, whereas in https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2025/11/msg00079.html GNOME minus Debian desktop "completely fails X". But read the rest of the line: "It's seldom a good idea to deselect/uncheck essential/standard installation tasks." Somewhat ambiguous, but let's get some common sense in here: unchecking "standard system utilities" is not going build a system that supports X, let alone a DE. Which of the DE options is checked in this case is irrelevant. As I pointed out in msg00097.html, running the d-i with the option --no-install-recommends might lead to problems with a GNOME minus Debian desktop installation, but I think it's reasonable to assume that sysadmins should know what they're doing if they override the d-i's Recommends default. So I don't yet see comparison test results with the d-i's anyDE minus Debian desktop installation in this thread. Cheers, David.
