[SOLVED] Installing MDM (mint display manager)...?

[grayedfox]

Hi there,

I know this should be obvious - I apologise if it is - but after reading the following posts (both outdated, yet top Google results) I still am getting errors when trying to apt-get install mdm.

* http://www.noobslab.com/2015/01/mdm-dis ... e-now.html
* http://www.webupd8.org/2012/11/how-to-i ... splay.html

I can't quite figure out how to download and then use the Mint Display Manager for my latest Debian (stable stretch) build.

I installed using expert installation and opted out of installing any desktop suite - I wanted to choose each piece (i3 + MDM + later rice) - so when I boot into Debian log in using the CLI (no terminal app installed yet either).

Interestingly, I can see the package is apparently available for my arch: http://packages.linuxmint.com/pool/main/m/mdm/

If anyone knows the exact line I need to add to my sources.list file (or some other method) which will allow me to install the Mint Display Manager using the apt-get package manager I would really appreciate it!

Thanks for your time

[grayedfox]

Similar question here: https://askubuntu.com/questions/516709/ ... untu-14-04

[4D696B65]

https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian

[GarryRicketson]

If anyone knows the exact line I need to add to my sources.list file---- snip ------

Please, for your own sake DO NOT add the Linux Mint repos to your Debian sources.list.

If the wiki does not convince you, take a look at this topic/thread:
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=114130

Both of the blogs you show links to are saying this can work on Ubuntu, but Debian is not Ubuntu, nor Linux Mint.

For Debian, there is a list of display managers, and they are in the Debian repositories:
https://wiki.debian.org/DisplayManager

[stevepusser]

The only way to make sure that you have a compatible version is to build it from source into packages on your own distro's libraries. Or find someone that knows how to do that, but according to a certain poster here, you should only install from a "Debian PPA" or the official Debian repositories.

The way to find a Debian Launchpad PPA is to ask the nearest unicorn and get directions.

[grayedfox]

Haha... well, fast and great responses. That thread has convinced me, I will behave (for now).

SDDM it is.

[grayedfox]

Although maybe I should follow the steps here and just create a package request

[GarryRicketson]

Post by stevepusser » 2017-10-23 20:25
The only way to make sure that you have a compatible version is to build it from source into packages on your own distro's libraries.

If you are advanced enough, you can do this, and with some programs/packages it is not to difficult.
But,
You talking about the display manager, and it is one specially designed for Linux Mint, really if you feel
you must have it, the best option would be to install Linux Mint, with the MDM . You will then have a system that is supported and there will be security updates, and updates , probably often, but at least
you will be able to use them . I don't think Linux Mint is a good choice as a distro, but many people do like it, and often it is recommended to people new to Linux.
If you want to experiment, etc. for learning purposes and have a extra computer you can use to do these things on, that is a option. Some people use VM's as well, but often what works on a VM does not work on a bare metal machine.
Stevepusser has a lot of experience doing this kind of thing, if you really are serious and ask nicely you might be able to co borate with him and learn how to do this.

------just create a package request

I don't think you'll get any results on this one, from the Debian developers, and packagers , they are all
pretty well occupied with the regular Debian packages.

[stevepusser]

Not to mention that a totally different package already is named "mdm" in the Debian and Ubuntu repositories:

https://packages.debian.org/search?keyw ... ection=all

This shows a disturbing lack of due diligence in the Mint developers, or that they just didn't give a flip.

I didn't have any trouble with building it on Jessie and Stretch: https://build.opensuse.org/package/show ... er:mdm/mdm

More info: https://software.opensuse.org/download. ... ackage=mdm