[Sussex] "pre-depend" error upgrading to Woody

[Gavin Stevens]

On Tue, 2 Mar 2004 09:36:51 +0000, Steve Dobson <steve at dobson.org> wrote:

> Hi Gavin
>
> On Tue, Mar 02, 2004 at 12:19:10AM +0000, Thomas Adam wrote:
>> --- Gavin Stevens <starshine at gavmusic.uklinux.net> wrote:
>>
>> > Feeling somewhat ill-prepared for upgrading to Woody as a result
>> > of the error I encountered, I decided to do some reading &
>> > increase my knowledge a little more & get better prepared in the
>> > process.
>> > > I now have a good few pages of notes, mostly a mix of the Debian
>> > docs for upgrading from a previous version & the most helpful
>> > responses of Steve & Thomas.
>>
>> Excellent :)
>
> Thanks, it's so nice to be appricated.

I don't think my Linux experience would be much fun at all without the help 
on offer
>
>> > My plan is (& thoughts are welcome on this) to upgrade using the
>> > CDs, then activate the URLs afterwards & get security updates etc.
>> > My thinking is that this will be more manageable from a time point
>> > of view (ie - I won't suddenly find myself with a lengthy net
>> > session when I don't expect it or can't do it at that time).
>>
>> You could do it that way, but you'll want to keep syncing yourself with
>> the security updates. Most people just install off the net since it is
>> easier and saves you having to burn many ISOs.
>
> Debian make itself available in a number of formats just so you can do 
> think the way you want to.  But I tend to agree with Thomas, net installs
> are just easier.
>
> IIRC you have a modem link.  I assume (like me in the pre-broadband days)
> that you are one one of BT's (or whoever's) surf packages so it is time
> and not expensive that is the issue here.  I run Debian testing (sarge)
> so much more stuff changes week to week (day to day mostly).  I use to
> run my updates in dead time (overnight mostly).  Set them off and then
> go to bed, shopping, whatever.  It works.
>
> I would think about getting broadband - it really is worth it.

I'm with UKLinux on a modem connection. Money isn't the issue for me, at 
present it's simply being sure that I can see something through (especially 
something like an upgrade). A nearly 4 month old baby daughter ensures that 
computer time is not always guaranteed (I wouldn't change that for a 
moment).

I plan to get broadband (UKLinux seem well respected) as soon as is 
practical. I plan to build a new machine later in the year. Even with a 56K 
connection, net updates after the big upgrade are no problem.
>
>> > One further question, if I may: I take heed of Steve & Thomas's
>> > warning on dselect & I am planning on using apt-get. However, the
>> > Debian docs strongly urge using dselect for upgrading in preference
>> > to apt-get. I do not doubt the words of Steve & Thomas, but I would
>> > be interested to know why dselect is so bad for upgrading - I presume
>> > the warnings are based on bitter experience. What does it do wrong?
>>
>> It's not that it is bad, just a real horrible interface and features 
>> that
>> are now deprecated. In either case, apt-get (and aptitude, which will be
>> dselect's replacement hopefully) do a far better job.
> <snip>
>
> If you read the release notes/docs/manpage (I can't remember where I did) 
> you'll find that dselect was a first attempt by someone who, in his own 
> words, couldn't design user interfaces.  It was never ment as
> a "production" bit of software.  The problem was, for all its faults,
> it worked, and was never rewritten.
>
> Also, I admit it (and I think Thomas is too), a command line junkie.
> There is real power there.

I am a fan of the command line at heart - I was happy with DOS, years ago, 
but Windows made me soft. However, Windows crashed once too often & I got 
fed up with the M$ way. Today, I am simply a user with an interest in 
computing in general, who fell in love with the Linux/Open Source ideal & 
finally decided to make a leap & support that ideal by using the software. 
I have well & truly chucked myself in the deep-end & I certainly need the 
help of people who've already been there. I enjoy moving a little farther 
up the learning curve once in a while.
>
> If you don't want to do a "net install" then think about doing it this
> way.
>
> Just before going to bed run the command:
>
> # apt-get -d dist-upgrade
>
> This will pull on the packages you need from the net into the apt cache.  
> You can then go off line and upgrade later using
>
> # apt-get dist-upgrade
>
> Steve
>
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