Question about Debian installation

[Fenrir190]

Other distros like Fedora allowed me to pick specific packages that I wished to install during installation but debian didn't. When trying to install debian all it showed me was options like sql database, web server, etc. I only used one dvd for install however. Was that the problem? Do I need to get all the DVDs(or CDS since I'm out) in order to get that option because going through and installing packages one by one is a really pain. Trying to do it through the package manager is also a pain given that I need to install things in order and I don't remember dependencies of my packages. Thanks in advance guys.

 

[skittle]

Hi welcome to debian! This is the way things are done. Debian will install minimal base, then from there you build it into custom distribution.

You do not need to remember order... and the package manager takes care of dependencies and even configures things for you...

You do not need dvds or cds even, just the small 'net boot' ~100mb iso will be enough if you can have internet at boot.

Here is example for a system install (yes one command installs all you need for functional xfce desktop)

apt-get install xserver-xorg-core xorg hal udev gdm xfce4

This is why package managers exist

 

[Fenrir190]

Wow skittle thanks for that. I was just vexed by not being given the chance to specify. I'll post back when I get home my results. Have French followed by work which shouldn't take long.

 

[amdfangirl]

Don't forget most DEs have wikis! They do tell how to install from netboot and the such.

http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Debian

Netboot is a great way to save on bloat, you don't download more than you need and you don't need to update much after install. If you only have one computer, netboot makes the most sense.

 

[Fenrir190]

Should I use the synaptic package manager to install whats needed or should I use something?

 

[amdfangirl]

Well if you do a netinstall, you will be confined to command-time apt-get and aptitude until you install a DE and synaptic.

 

[skittle]

From a fresh install synaptic will not immediately be available. synaptic is a gtk front end/gui to debians package manager, APT, and needs xorg to be installed and running first. IMO synaptic is only a good tool to search the repository, its definitely not a necessity!

Apt: Advanced Packaging Tool
'apt-get' is the standard cli front end to APT.
Alternatively you can use 'aptitude' as it has a few enhanced features like better dependency resolving than apt-get (ie doesn't automatically fail/gives you options if a dependency conflict occurs).

Debian is very modular, install only what you want/need (and edit config files to fit your needs)! If you want more fine grained control, check out Arch linux or gentoo.

 

[bmouring]

...
If you want more fine grained control, check out Arch linux or gentoo.

Oh skittle, you rascal, beat me to it

I do tend to prefer the way that Debian-based distros approach system customization: the first Linux I installed was redhat 7.2 and had a deer-in-headlights moment when I was lambasted with a huge list of software that I had no idea what it was or did. Also, regardless of how well I thought I knew for what purposes I was going to use a machine, I would inevitably forget to install something and need to install a bunch of stuff after the fact anyway (this was in the dark days before package managers were the status quo and you had to resolve dependencies manually, uphill through the snow)

 

[amdfangirl]

I was lucky, my first distro was Fedora Core 3.

At least I'm old enough to still remember GNOME 1!

 

[audiovoodoo]

I'm wishing I wasn't old enough to remember this..

On the upside at least back then each game came with a free techno track

 

[amdfangirl]

Lol, I was about to edit your post to make the image work but it seems the the

 

[audiovoodoo]

I've been an 8bit baby, a 16bit teenager, a 32bit student and now find myself as 64bit middle aged fart. Moores the pity. [/New sig me thinks]

 

[Fenrir190]

Lol thanks guys. Loving Debian especially the whole bare minimum setup thing. If I need to use something like kate for programming then it's a snap to go into the terminal and get it installed even if it has dependencies. Now if I can just find a phone that isn't linux illiterate.

 

[Fenrir190]

Best answer selected by Fenrir190.