Re: apt-get install synaptic / sources.list

On Sat, Apr 28, 2007 at 10:00:09PM +0100, somethin2cool wrote:
Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:


No, it isn't too obvious to bother writing anywhere: it may be obvious
to many that some users don't bother _READING_ anywhere.
Google is your friend, as is browsing the archives of the mailing list.

Hope this helps,

Andy


Andrew I'm sure you get a lot of threads where people haven't bothered
looking. But i did notice you linked to www.debian.org. Well I'm sure
it's there somewhere. As for Google, I read every link for 6 pages and
nothing was relevant.


Try

apt-get sources list debian format

into google: first hit is APT Howto, second is the Debian tutorial, both
on www.debian.org or its mirrors.

OR

man apt-get
OR

man aptitude

(which points you to man 8 apt-get) that points to sources.list man page
then:
man 5 sources.list

gives you _exactly_ the format.

I am trying to point out that this is a problem. Why not have a look
yourself, without cheeting by searching for the strings you already have
(assume you don't know the format)

so search for "debian repository list" or "official debian repositories"
be imaginative and post back if you find a keyword which brings up
something useful.

The problem, is that the net is littered with people asking and not
getting responses. Hiding any older, useful information completely.


Look in the archives for the debian-user mailing list: there are
regular queries about "apt-get doesn't work / there's something wrong
with my sources.list" - usually, it turns out that someone has made
a typo in copying a line or whatever - we can all do it - but, almost
invariably, someone will post a correct set of sources.list entries as
part of the reply.

Similarly with "mirror $foo isn't working at the moment, anybody got a
valid set of entries in $country that they'd care to share"?

If anybody else dare think that I have not tried, why not just try
yourself rather than making assumptions. this list is so presumptious!


Do you think I _don't_ try when these questions come up? Stop being so
presumptuous yourself :) Normally, my first response is to Google likely
keywords or search the archives myself to reassure myself that the
information is readily accessible out there.

Only some readers of this list and posters to the list assume an
inordinately high level of knowledge: most expect you to at least
try to problem solve/show you have researched the problem and it
is sometimes helpful to show exactly what you have done.

So, for a contrived example, "My webcam doesn't work in Debian. Debian
suxx" is not a useful comment.

"I have a Logitech QuickCam [model]. The main machine is an AMD64,
running Debian 4.0 with the stock kernel 2.6.18. I've installed what I
believe to be the correct sources and compiled an appropriate module.
[Steps I took]. Video card is an Nvidia - using the stock nv
driver from the Debian x.org packaging.

Trying to use it with GNOME and Ekiga, it gives me a green screen. Has
anybody else experienced similar problems" is very good.

"I've got a Logitech QuickCam model $foo. I've tried to get it running
under Debian on an AMD64 machine with an Nvidia card but I'm having
problems using it as a web cam. Can someone help/point me to a HOWTO?
Prepared to give more details as required."

is also useful _if_ you're prepared to answer questions to solve the
problem and give feedback with the eventual solution at the end of the
thread. Someone else may be searching Google for similar problems - and
you build up the documentation that's missing.
(Something like "Logitech QuickCam model $foo webcam problem [SOLVED] as
a mail subject is very useful here.)

Wikipedia - Debian - package management system - APT would have got you
there just as well.

Andy



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