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 * If you do mess with package management, don't expect any of the package managemet tools to work any more :) Debian is very sensitive to its package database being up-to-date and correct.  * If you do mess with package management, don't expect any of the package managemet tools to work any more :( Debian is very sensitive to its package database being up-to-date and correct.


Don't mess with DebianPackageManagement!

  • One of the most common new-Debian-user mistakes involves forcing packages to install. Do not do this unless you know exactly how it affects everything else. Do not install an application from source, expecting Debian packages to use it properly. Debian packages often have Debian-specific bits; packages that depend on other packages will likely depend on the Debian-specific bits as well.

  • Installing a program from source into /usr/local is ok, so long as no Debian packages depend on that program, and it doesn't mess with anything outside /usr/local.
  • When installing a program from source into /usr/local, consider using stow or checkinstall.
  • If you really want to install a program from source, but other Debian packages depend on that program, have a look at the 'equivs' package.
  • Use apt-get, dselect, or another dpkg frontend. dpkg itself should be reserved for admins who are familiar with Debian installations.
  • If you do mess with package management, don't expect any of the package managemet tools to work any more :( Debian is very sensitive to its package database being up-to-date and correct.

Tips are sub-catogorised as follows;

  • ?SystemInstallTips - installing and upgrading systems

  • ?HardwareInstallTips - installing hardware and related software

  • PackageInstallTips - installing and upgrading individual ["package"]s.

  • ?SourceInstallTips - installing things from ["source"]

See also