<strong>Report forwarded</strong> to <code>debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org, Ian Jackson &lt;ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk&gt;</code>:<br>
<code>Bug#9797</code>; Package <code>dpkg</code>.


debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.orgIan Jackson <ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk>

Subject: Bug#9797: dselect feature req (not user interface!)
Reply-To: Barak Pearlmutter <bap@cs.unm.edu>, 9797@bugs.debian.org
Resent-From: Barak Pearlmutter <bap@cs.unm.edu>
Resent-To: debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org
Resent-CC: Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
Resent-Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 07:48:01 GMT
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Resent-Sender: iwj@debian.org
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X-Debian-PR-Package: dpkg
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Received: via spool by bugs@bugs.debian.org id=B.86359545010705
          (code B ref -1); Wed, 14 May 1997 07:48:01 GMT
Message-Id: <m0wRYca-0003DZC@sweat.cs.unm.edu>
Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 01:37:12 -0600 (MDT)
From: Barak Pearlmutter <bap@cs.unm.edu>
To: submit@bugs.debian.org

Package: dpkg
Version: 1.4.0.8

When using the ftp method to access a repository, often the Packages
files do not quite match the .deb files in the distribution.  Almost
always this is due to version skew, and some .deb files have slightly
higher version numbers than the corresponding entries in the Packages
file.  When attempting to INSTALL, error like

 getting: big-long-dir/pack_vera-verb.deb (xxx)
 big-long-dir/pack_vera-verb.deb: No such file OR directory.

This is a very very common problem, so basically the loop for
upgrading a debian box by ftp is usually:

 Update
 Select
 Install
 (manually record bad files)
 (manually fetch new versions)
 (manually install new versions)
 (manually delete those that installed successfully)
 Quit

(The reason this doesn't get you into trouble is that dpkg won't let
you hurt yourself due to dependency problems.  Bravo dpkg.)

People have complained about this, and proposed various mechanisms for
ensuring that the Packages files stay more consistent with the actual
packages available.  But given network reliability & mirroring
software, this problem cannot be fixed entirely.

How about if, instead, dselect and dpkg-ftp automated the above manual
process: it is easy enough to notice the missing file and instead of
just reporting it, get a DIR looking for newer versions in the
appropriate directory, and present the user with a message like:

 can find: big-long-dir/pack_vera-verb.deb, but pack_(vera+1)-1.deb is
 available.  Should I try to use that instead?

And if this results in dependency problems later, well so be it.
(Maybe there should be a chance for the user to resolve dependency
problems after the fetch but before actual install, when the new
control files are actually available.  Or maybe not, if that would be
a hassle to hack up.)



<strong>Acknowledgement sent</strong> to <code>Barak Pearlmutter &lt;bap@cs.unm.edu&gt;</code>:<br>
New bug report received and forwarded.  Copy sent to <code>Ian Jackson &lt;ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk&gt;</code>.


-t

From: owner@bugs.debian.org (Ian Jackson)
To: Barak Pearlmutter <bap@cs.unm.edu>
Subject: Bug#9797: Acknowledgement (was: dselect feature req (not user interface!))
Message-ID: <handler.9797.B.86359545010705.ack@bugs.debian.org>
In-Reply-To: <m0wRYca-0003DZC@sweat.cs.unm.edu>
References: <m0wRYca-0003DZC@sweat.cs.unm.edu>
X-Debian-PR-Message: ack 9797

Thank you for the problem report you have sent regarding Debian Linux.
This is an automatically generated reply, to let you know your message has
been received.  It is being forwarded to the developers' mailing list for
their attention; they will reply in due course.

Your message has been sent to the package maintainer(s):
 Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk>

If you wish to submit further information on your problem, please send
it to 9797@bugs.debian.org (and *not* to
bugs@bugs.debian.org).

Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message,
unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system.

Ian Jackson
(maintainer, Debian bug tracking system)



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Message-Id: <m0wRYca-0003DZC@sweat.cs.unm.edu>
Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 01:37:12 -0600 (MDT)
From: Barak Pearlmutter <bap@cs.unm.edu>
To: submit@bugs.debian.org
Subject: dselect feature req (not user interface!)

Package: dpkg
Version: 1.4.0.8

When using the ftp method to access a repository, often the Packages
files do not quite match the .deb files in the distribution.  Almost
always this is due to version skew, and some .deb files have slightly
higher version numbers than the corresponding entries in the Packages
file.  When attempting to INSTALL, error like

 getting: big-long-dir/pack_vera-verb.deb (xxx)
 big-long-dir/pack_vera-verb.deb: No such file OR directory.

This is a very very common problem, so basically the loop for
upgrading a debian box by ftp is usually:

 Update
 Select
 Install
 (manually record bad files)
 (manually fetch new versions)
 (manually install new versions)
 (manually delete those that installed successfully)
 Quit

(The reason this doesn't get you into trouble is that dpkg won't let
you hurt yourself due to dependency problems.  Bravo dpkg.)

People have complained about this, and proposed various mechanisms for
ensuring that the Packages files stay more consistent with the actual
packages available.  But given network reliability & mirroring
software, this problem cannot be fixed entirely.

How about if, instead, dselect and dpkg-ftp automated the above manual
process: it is easy enough to notice the missing file and instead of
just reporting it, get a DIR looking for newer versions in the
appropriate directory, and present the user with a message like:

 can find: big-long-dir/pack_vera-verb.deb, but pack_(vera+1)-1.deb is
 available.  Should I try to use that instead?

And if this results in dependency problems later, well so be it.
(Maybe there should be a chance for the user to resolve dependency
problems after the fetch but before actual install, when the new
control files are actually available.  Or maybe not, if that would be
a hassle to hack up.)



<strong>Information forwarded</strong> to <code>Ian Jackson &lt;ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk&gt;</code>:<br>
<code>Bug#9797</code>; Package <code>dpkg</code>.


Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk>

Subject: Bug#9797: dselect feature req (not user interface!)
Reply-To: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>, 9797-maintonly@bugs.debian.org
Resent-From: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>
Orignal-Sender: Klee Dienes <klee@fashion-technology.com>
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From: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>
To: Barak Pearlmutter <bap@cs.unm.edu>, 9797-maintonly@bugs.debian.org
References: <m0wRYca-0003DZC@sweat.cs.unm.edu>
Date: 16 May 1997 02:22:28 -0400
In-Reply-To: Barak Pearlmutter's message of Wed, 14 May 1997 01:37:12 -0600 (MDT)
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Sender: Klee Dienes <klee@fashion-technology.com>


A good idea.  I'll look into adding it to dpkg-ftp in maybe a week or
so.

Thanks
 - Klee



<strong>Acknowledgement sent</strong> to <code>Klee Dienes &lt;klee@mit.edu&gt;</code>:<br>
Extra info received and forwarded to maintainer.  Copy sent to <code>Ian Jackson &lt;ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk&gt;</code>.


-t

From: owner@bugs.debian.org (Ian Jackson)
To: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>
Subject: Bug#9797: Info received for maintainer only
         (was Bug#9797: dselect feature req (not user interface!))
Message-ID: <handler.9797.M9797.86376384210999.ackinfomaint@bugs.debian.org>
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References: <wo4lo5g0wd7.fsf@sauron.fashion-technology.com>
X-Debian-PR-Message: ack-info 9797

Thank you for the additional information you have supplied regarding
this problem report.  It has been forwarded to the developer(s) (but
not to the mailing list) to accompany the original report.

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 Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.greenend.org.uk>

If you wish to continue to submit further information on your problem,
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Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message,
unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system.

Ian Jackson
(maintainer, Debian bug tracking system)



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From: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>
Reply-To: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>
To: Barak Pearlmutter <bap@cs.unm.edu>, 9797-maintonly@bugs.debian.org
Subject: Re: Bug#9797: dselect feature req (not user interface!)
References: <m0wRYca-0003DZC@sweat.cs.unm.edu>
Date: 16 May 1997 02:22:28 -0400
In-Reply-To: Barak Pearlmutter's message of Wed, 14 May 1997 01:37:12 -0600 (MDT)
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A good idea.  I'll look into adding it to dpkg-ftp in maybe a week or
so.

Thanks
 - Klee



<strong>Bug reassigned from package `dpkg' to `dpkg-ftp'.</strong>
Request was from <code>Klee Dienes &lt;klee@mit.edu&gt;</code>
to <code>control@bugs.debian.org</code>. 


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From: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>
Reply-To: Klee Dienes <klee@mit.edu>
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Subject: reassign 9797 dpkg-ftp
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Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 11:54:52 -0400


reassign 9797 dpkg-ftp