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Good god

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:09 pm
by alex.barylski
Edit: I was trying to get G++ to execute but Bash was saying it doesn't exist...I just found it, but it's not G++ it's G++-4.0.3 or something similar...PITA...why not keep the names the same and just overwrite existing binaries to keep everything nicely updated??? Anyways, how do I create a link to G++-4.02.4 so I can from the prompt type G++ instead of that overly long annoying name??? Thanks again

As nice as Ubuntu is...it's tiring trying to get all the dependancies togather and working properly...

I have as it stands about 3-4 version of GCC and verison 4.0 of it's G++ which is all I want, but I cannot remove them using the tool because of dependancies which I *really* don't want to get rid of...

Can I go one level lower (instead of suing Synaptic) and use apt-get to remove all the C compilers, etc...as I don't want or need them (but I can always reinstall later)???

Secondly, if I don't wish to use apt-get can I locate the binaries directly inside /usr/bin/ and manually delete the files?

What database does apt-get, Synaptic and Ubuntu package manager update when they remove or add applications?

I just looked inside my /home/MyName/ directory and noticed a tons of .xxxxx files and folders which are hidden, but related to vaiours applications I have installed and removed while playing in Ubuntu???

Can I manually remove those files/directories when I know I no longer have them installed? Why do they stay put anyways? Is it so if I later reinstall (which I have already) I can have the saved environment back without having to manually set everything up (which admittedly was nice) but I hate a cluttered HDD...

When I remove something I want it gone and done with...likewise when I install something...I want it fresh and new...

I'm slowly getting comfortable with downloading packages independantly, for instance, trying to compile gEdit...

WOW...PITA...I need gtk+ libraries, G++ and various other dependancies all working in harmony before anything good happens, not to mention setting up the build environment using perl and others...making sure make was availble (I managed to get that installed while still keeping imake???)

Anyways, does anyone know of a resource which explains how to manually add/remove applications how about a doucment explaing the layout of a Debian file system so I know what directories hold what, etc???

I liked using the Synaptic and getting used to apt-get, but I hate the cruft, doing things manually (although time consuming) will not only make me better user but also make things cleaner...

Any ideas, suggestions, etc???

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:00 pm
by Chris Corbyn
To create a link use:

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linux -$  ln -s /bin/g++-4.0.3 /bin/g++
I've never seen it named like that though :?

Ubuntu's package manager has nothing to do with the deps. The deps will always be deps irregardless of the distro. It's just something you get used to with linux.

Don't delete files manually if the package manager put them there. It will think they are still there if they are in it's DB.

apt-get and synaptic are the same thing. It's just that synaptic gives you a GUI. You'll probably have a bit more control with apt-get through command line though. I only ever use apt-get, I don't believe I've ever used synaptic. I just feel more comfortable with a command line.

The DB apt-get uses is Berkeley as far as I know. I could be wrong.

Debian filesystem:

/bin (core/kernel binary application launchers)
/sbin (core/kernel binaries only to be run as root -- eg fsck, mount)
/lib (core/kernel libraries)
/var (system variables)
/dev (devices)
/etc (config files... almost always any ini or .conf file can be found here)
/etc/init.d (service startup scripts)
/home (obvious)
/boot (grub/lilo install files and launcher -- often on their own partition)
/proc (running processes -- notice the pids. `cat' a few of them ;)?)
/tmp (temp files)
/opt (specialized apps such as desktop environements)
/sys (kernel/system settings)
/root (root's home)
/mnt (mountpoints)
/media (ubuntu's choice to place mountpoints here)

/usr (user installed apps -- specifically, see below)
/usr/bin (binary files to launch apps)
/usr/sbin (binary files to launch services and apps only to be run as root)
/usr/lib (libraries for user installed apps)
/usr/var (user installed app variables)

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:36 pm
by alex.barylski
Don't delete files manually if the package manager put them there. It will think they are still there if they are in it's DB.
I figured, but where is the DB? Can I do a apt-get reverse update or something???

All the damn dependancies is whats really killing Linux for me :( And the different compiling environments...I mean I have worked with MAK files, but on Linux they are essential...I tried using Anjuta to build an entire skeleton from which I could modify as I learned, but no sir...it was missing this depedancy and that... :P

So I've started from scratch...bare bones...single CPP file and I'll include libraries as I go, once I have a Hello World which uses wxWidgets...I'm set for success :P

I'm used to Windows, I prefer working with checkboxes instead of command line switches...but I'll learn em' as nessecary I guess...
apt-get and synaptic are the same thing.
I figured so, synaptic just seems to be a GUI wrapper around the binary CLI application...which so brings me back to the days of working under Windows and DOS :P

Built in package manager I believe is just one more "stupid" level although it was nice when I first started...I think I can get by using apt-get and synaptic for now on...although the Ubuntu package manager does create menu entries, etc...which is nice also...
The DB apt-get uses is Berkeley as far as I know. I could be wrong
Shoot, so it's no XML or similar...DOH!!! ah well...Soon enough I'm gonna start cleaning my system (as I learn it's file system) using apt-get I guess...and deleting left over files/folders as required...then I want to make an ISO copy of it and burn it or GHOST it, so I can reinstall later from the totally tweaked starting point. :) It's why I switched in the first place, but I need to gain more knowledge of the file structure and how Linux ticks before I do anything...

It's interesting, but impeding on my development in PHP and C++...which is sorta irritating :)

Thanks for the debian file structure...although I'd like something a little more pretty so I can print it and wade through the file system step by step and search out which each file does, etc...

I don't know why synaptic has so many versions of C++ and GCC available...so I downloaded the latest but cannot remove the earlier versions because of dependancies...

I need to read up on apt-get and learn to how force remove dependancies I know I don't need or want:
1) Accessibility for instance...it's nice but i'll never need it

One thing which still has me choked about Ubuntu is why my sound card doesn't seem to work once logged in...

When I log in...I get a quick sound clip (drum beat) and after that I get errors telling me Totem is not loading or something similar...and sounds don't play anymore, except in one ADMIN panel...can't remember what it was, but sounds get played in their still???

Any ideas? I posted this in the Ubuntu forums and no one could help me just give me little tips here and there...I don't understand the overall system well enough to go debugging it myself just yet, but I'd like sounds ASAP...

Cheers :)

p.s-Thanks for mentioning debian file system I'll search google for that instead of Ubuntu, never even occured to me to do that :)

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:06 pm
by Chris Corbyn
The sound card thing try installing alsa and all it's parts:

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root @w3style /home/d11wtq/public_html/data_mapper# apt-cache search alsa | grep -iE '^alsa'
alsa-base - ALSA driver configuration files
alsa-utils - ALSA utilities
alsa-oss - ALSA wrapper for OSS applications
alsa-source - ALSA driver sources
alsa-tools - Console based ALSA utilities for specific hardware
alsa-tools-gui - GUI based ALSA utilities for specific hardware
alsamixergui - graphical soundcard mixer for ALSA soundcard driver
alsaplayer-alsa - PCM player designed for ALSA (ALSA output module)
alsaplayer-common - PCM player designed for ALSA (common files)
alsaplayer-daemon - PCM player designed for ALSA (non-interactive version)
alsaplayer-esd - PCM player designed for ALSA (EsounD output module)
alsaplayer-gtk - PCM player designed for ALSA (GTK version)
alsaplayer-jack - PCM player designed for ALSA (JACK output module)
alsaplayer-nas - PCM player designed for ALSA (NAS output module)
alsaplayer-oss - PCM player designed for ALSA (OSS output module)
alsaplayer-text - PCM player designed for ALSA (text version)
alsaplayer-xosd - PCM player designed for ALSA (osd version)
alsa-firmware-loaders - ALSA software loaders for specific hardware
Those components. There will be more than you need there but the vital ones are alsa-base, alsa-utils, alsa-oss, alsa-tools.

ALSA is "Advanced Linux Sound Architecture" and is essentially a huge collection of drivers.

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:19 pm
by alex.barylski
Binder Dundat... :P

Still not working...except in that one admin panel...it's the weirdest thing...I can't figure out why...

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:58 am
by Chris Corbyn
The admin panel will be running with root priveleges.

Try this as root:

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usermod -G audio <your_user>
Perhaps the user who has been created does not have privileges to access the audio hardware.