Finding Software

[jimbo-62]

I have been to the Debian Package page and browsed the various caregories and tried a few searches. But the process is overwhelming to say the least. The 20 or so categories do very little to narrow the search in 10,000 packages. Just one example: I want to find an application other than kfind to search through the files on my system. So far, I haven't come close to finding even one. In fact, I haven't even found a reference to kfind!

Can someone please help me get started with an efficient way to search for applications?

Thanks for any help, jimbo

[moonlight]

Hi,

Try using the Synaptic Package Manager.

For downloading :

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apt-get install synaptic

I am using this graphical package manager already for some time and I really like it, very easy to use, explaining package contents, dependencies, etc.

I have just tried do search for kfind, ... and sure it's there (I am using the testing version of Debian).

Cheers,

Moonlight

[Guest]

Hey, thanks for your reply. Yes, I have used Synaptic on another distro. But the problem remains, say I don't know that kfind is a file search tool. But a file search tool is what I want. How do I search the package data base to find a file search tool?

Thanks, jimbo

[moonlight]

Hi,

There is another package that can maybe help you, however I don't have any experience with this package (packagesearch), so just give it a try I would say.

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apt-get install packagesearche

Furthermore, your question referring towards a tool to search for files, for sure there are a lot of them available in Unix / Linux.

For example,

- the command line tool : find , is very useful ! Just have a look into the man pages for the necessary info

- if you like more graphic tools : konqueror, a kde tool and browser is also a tool for performing file searches.

Cheers, Moonlight

[jimbo-62]

Yes, but I was only using a find file as an example. Here is another search. I want a file that will edit jpg files. I want to edit one of the wall paper jpg files to add the word "Debian" to the wallpaper on the right side about half way up the page.

How do I start searching through 10,000 packages to find one that will do what I want?

Thanks, jimbo

[moonlight]

Hi,

I understand what you mean, but for such kind of problems I don't use the Debian package database as the starting point. I do it normally the following way :

- use a search engine (like google) and search for the kind of program you are interested in, for example use the following search string 'image manipulation linux'

- from the list provided by the search engine, you can read the details on the urls provided

- afterwards, you can check the Debian package database if the program you have selected is available

An example :

- search string 'image manipulation linux'
- results : www.gimp.org
- check Debian package database
- apt-get install gimp

Cheers, Moonlight

ps. another usefull method is asking friends, asking the community what good programs exists for a particular task.

[jimbo-62]

Hey Moonlight, that is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for! Thanks much.

jimbo