Buenas! What I used to do while running "stable" plus some packages from "testing" was this:
1. I installed and _use_ aptitude as frontend. This makes it simpler to follow dependencies. 2. In aptitude, I select Options > Dependency Handling and change "Install suggested/recommended packages automatically" to false. I do this to keep the installation small, however, sometimes I find out the hard way, that something is missing. This is my personal choice and not a general recommendation. 3. I create the file /etc/apt/apt.conf with this content: -------------------------------------------------- APT::Default-Release "stable"; -------------------------------------------------- This will make apt-get select "stable" unless instructed otherwise. 4. Add the "testing" branch to /etc/apt/sources.list -------------------------------------------------- # testing deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian testing main deb http://security.debian.org testing/updates main -------------------------------------------------- 5. run apt-get update Now, if you want package X out of testing, then you can 6a. either apt-get -t testing install X this will also take care of dependencies and possibly produce unwanted upgrades of many more packages ... 6b. or aptitude select package X (hit '/' for search) when the line of package X is selected, hit <Enter> to go into the package info. At the bottom under Versions, there will be the stable version, and the testing version if available. If you just hit '+' to select the package, "stable" will be chosen, if you go down to Versions, place the cursor in the version for testing and hit '+', the testing version will be selected, with all dependencies being checked. The dependencies are listed in the package info, so you have a chance to find out. if you are set, hit 'g' and a preview is listed, of what is going to change. Another 'g' will make the thing rock'n'roll ... Please read the manpage before! This is a mighty tool, and you can mess up everything as well. A note of caution: If e.g. glibc ends up selected for an update (most likely through a dependency), then almost everything will change. So you may choose not to do the upgrade on package X after all, but at least you can see, what is involved. Also watch the "broken Packages" Counter on top of the aptitude screen. Searching for '~b' will get your cursor to them. Of course this works with plain apt-get as well, or another front end like synaptic or ... Hope this helps. Erich -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
